Comment submitted by Tina Bailey

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the pesticide petitions included in Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-0332. I urge the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate each petition using the best available independent scientific evidence and to place the protection of human health, pollinators, wildlife, water quality, and biodiversity at the center of its decision-making process. Pollinators—including native bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other beneficial species—are essential to healthy ecosystems and agricultural productivity. Scientific research continues to demonstrate that pesticide exposure can have effects beyond immediate mortality, including impaired navigation, reproduction, immune function, larval development, and long-term population health. Risk assessments should therefore consider chronic exposure, cumulative effects from multiple pesticides, and realistic field conditions rather than relying solely on short-term laboratory studies. I also encourage EPA to carefully evaluate impacts on threatened and endangered species, aquatic ecosystems, and non-target organisms. Protecting these resources is not only an environmental responsibility but also an economic one, as healthy ecosystems support agriculture, recreation, tourism, and resilient communities. Where significant scientific uncertainty exists, EPA should apply a precautionary approach by requiring additional data before approving new tolerances or expanding pesticide uses. Decisions should be transparent, supported by peer-reviewed science, and clearly explain how the Agency evaluated risks to pollinators, wildlife, and vulnerable human populations. As a Florida resident, I have a personal interest in protecting pollinators and healthy ecosystems. I maintain several gardens specifically to provide habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and I garden without synthetic pesticides or herbicides. I have seen firsthand how diverse pollinator populations benefit from healthy native habitat. Federal pesticide decisions have real consequences for these species and the ecosystems on which they depend. Thank you for considering these comments and for your commitment to science-based decision-making that protects both present and future generations.