Pesticide makers sent letters to federal regulators asking them to “set aside” agency research into the risks to endangered species from three organophosphate pesticides — chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion — says The Associated Press. Dow Chemical (whose chief executive “is a close adviser” to President Trump), FMC Corp. and Adama, sent letters to the EPA and the Commerce and Interior Departments to argue the studies should not be used.
Government scientists have compiled 10,000 pages of material to show the pesticides are a risk to nearly all of the 1,800 endangered species that were studied. “Regulators at the three agencies, which share responsibilities for enforcing the Endangered Species Act, are close to issuing findings expected to result in new limits on how and where the highly toxic pesticides can be used,” said AP.
Dow is the maker of chlorpyrifos, widely used in agriculture. FMC sells malathion, also an agricultural pesticide, and Adama makes diazinon. At the end of March, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt denied a petition by environmental groups to ban chlorpyrifos in agriculture. Household use ended in 2000.