The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) defines a noxious weed as any plant designated by a Federal, State or county government as injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. Such plants are also characterized by their ability to grow out of place and their resistance to common pest control methods.

In a report published on December 27, the BLM analyzed the environmental impact of seven active ingredients in herbicides and their effectiveness against these noxious weeds and invasive species. The agency noted that 79 million acres under its management have been affected by these weeds and could suffer further damage if not properly controlled.

"One of the BLM's highest priorities is to promote the health of our public lands, and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of noxious and invasive weeds. The BLM applies an integrated approach to vegetation management that includes smart and appropriate use of herbicides to manage such weeds," said Sharif Branham, BLM assistant director for resources and planning.

Branham also mentioned that the BLM is considering expanding their approved list of herbicides with seven additional ingredients used in pesticides. These ingredients, which include Indiazflam, are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA maintains a list of pesticides and evaluates each for potential harm to humans, fish, plants, other animals, surface or groundwater contamination risk, and even label language accuracy. As stated on the EPA’s website on pesticide registration, the agency evaluates human health risks, environmental risks, reviews all available scientific data for each product or ingredient before making risk management decisions and publishing a notice of registration in the federal register.

According to information from the BLM’s National NEPA Register, a decision record should be available in February. The notice of availability was published on December 29th, 2023.