Summary

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes worked with Bayer Crop Science and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to estimate the range of potential operational, reputational, legal, and regulatory risks associated with compliance with the U. S. Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act mandates that the U. S. Federal Government take actions to conserve threatened and endangered species and their associated ecosystems. Critical to the success of the ESA is engaging with the private sector to build understanding of how biodiversity conservation and business practices can be complementary and synergistic.

The evidence-based comprehensive framework assesses pre-compliance and compliance costs. It provides critical value to decision-making in the private sector (e.g. providing cost-efficiencies, reduction of regulatory risks, enhanced stakeholder reputation), but also increases awareness of sustainable practices.

For both power and agricultural industries, it is important to estimate the costs of compliance concerning actions affecting species already listed or under consideration for ESA listing. Understanding these costs allows companies to make more informed decisions around regulatory risk and helps to understand protection for endangered species.