EPA Lawsuit Over 97% Pesticide Exemption

[{"selector":"#anim-38654bcb-315b-4d67-8b34-b315fb27f289","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a1137c3-a63e-451e-965b-6ac61d27eaf8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3739aa3-2a19-48ee-8a1f-3cc4c9867802","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c88b377-514c-4327-bc5f-21d61eedf272","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] EPA Lawsuit Over 97% Pesticide Exemption Govind Tekale

Center for Biological Diversity has sued the EPA over a "free-for-all" system that allows pesticides to be sprayed directly into America's lakes and streams without proper oversight.

[{"selector":"#anim-d25d86fc-4c5a-42a7-b245-c1a1e014b668","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84709f8d-7ffa-4212-909c-fd05b89a40d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fec10bd-7269-406b-b65e-6aa03c814614","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfb5cbab-4ec6-47ad-93ef-278ac6848495","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0cb2a84-6a84-4bfe-a40f-5c0e273ce8a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: ECTran71 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Federal wildlife agencies warn that current pesticide permits threaten hundreds of endangered species with extinction, including Pacific salmon and whooping cranes.

[{"selector":"#anim-d610d911-93bd-425a-a816-5194ebbdd6d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-303090fc-8eb0-4421-988f-1397ac471dfd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64ec46c0-e3ce-4d6d-a29b-6a096894d220","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-856e809e-2ac0-457d-9b63-84c4d53c6626","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c170ac27-55a7-4bdc-9738-d139be0765df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0)

A shocking 97% of pesticide users can skip basic safety requirements like reporting what chemicals they're using or monitoring environmental impacts.

[{"selector":"#anim-27404c62-ee45-4081-901e-8d6198c4db8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0892dc5-fa56-45f6-9aae-94a430439cc2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9292c3db-8ddf-4718-a5f4-ed5300745140","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c36a6f9b-c02e-4cab-8331-6ed148e610bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-449ff542-4d07-4482-991f-7843310d2fbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Dpu-ucl (CC BY 2.0)

Toxic pesticide cocktails create more dangerous "mixture toxicity" in waterways than single chemicals alone, yet EPA typically evaluates only active ingredients.

[{"selector":"#anim-bd4879c3-28c7-4c07-b7f1-d88d90066926","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73754e85-8e22-4a24-8c08-76ca1c0b3853","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.12348%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31fe54d2-5ba2-493b-a8f5-cd3a5b8394ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8da34af2-468f-4566-bde9-58f90ef73151","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d229dddf-8189-4711-8b7e-6070b6b92967","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Adityamadhav83 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Organophosphates and pyrethroids in water can damage fish nervous systems, while herbicides like atrazine (banned in Europe) destroy crucial aquatic habitats.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b5ffc90-26fe-41b1-aefe-8f51b7f92545","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b381eca1-f0b5-42d5-ac66-ed223740b36a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efbc2674-87c0-4f18-bd54-b3df876375fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58fdc08b-e451-440d-82ee-b0cb012695ab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7d175e1-abc1-4778-8cb4-880c6eaad5f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credits: Daniel Mayer (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Pesticides not only kill fish outright but disrupt hormones and survival behaviors, making it harder for already struggling species to feed or reproduce.

[{"selector":"#anim-7cf6af93-59ce-4fb5-9e72-d0403d1fc1bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02856a41-e151-480c-aa75-1d2688bab1fd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9d0f679-bab8-4c03-8b06-f7fde5a25598","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7802128-a16a-4177-a8c8-4e4a952d5d29","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7ac8917-e0af-4e04-ba5f-539dbf8ac2e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Library of Congress (Picryl)

The lawsuit aims to close regulatory gaps that make it "impossible for EPA to understand" the true impact of chemicals polluting drinking water sources.

[{"selector":"#anim-618fb2b9-5a9b-4342-a304-d7745b190c47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54088ff6-44a5-474b-8de1-0bda147c4b8c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c2634f8-a5d9-4575-b19d-ae68b2aca02f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be517869-a2e2-4d17-b860-f8356c45e15b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3351c418-09b7-4e00-b5ce-b5b51bcd9dba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yogendra Singh (Pexels)

Removing pesticides from water supplies poses technical challenges and high costs for treatment facilities, creating downstream problems for communities.

[{"selector":"#anim-b4253711-34b3-4514-86e9-47486229e839","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-287afe97-2935-4b81-bf10-6073e7900630","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.36915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a455b63-66f5-4705-bbb0-1db886c45eff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b32763e-b3e0-4c89-a433-6a17a6aa702d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24b99a20-3c68-4a0c-9ede-0b8469c80fe5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Lifekey23 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Center argues a complete permit system overhaul is needed to stop "unchecked spraying of harmful poisons" threatening both wildlife and people.

[{"selector":"#anim-7fd05232-5e72-42e3-90e9-42d9ebd6026f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7289703b-56dd-480c-8b0b-516a5612939a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b47a77f-ae97-4fa3-963a-ef44de7cba3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d208f080-13c6-4f01-a198-c9823bde37b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-388ec800-d4d3-4df5-855f-8e8521d545f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Dibakar Roy (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-2da763af-acda-4874-992f-8a9f9a80a37f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-416cebc4-bc98-4451-83ec-91c88458caba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38f24ac1-1880-4c74-be7c-18070a9b40ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09226602-72df-4ccb-9241-303ec2d458a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c71bcf2c-ef2f-4cde-bb9d-db33d22aeea1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Mumbai Residents Can Test Water at BMC Lab, Unfit Rate 0.46% Learn more