News

States sue over EPA's decision to keep pesticide on market

Posted July 06, 2017 7:00 am

By MICHAEL BIESECKER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Several states want to join a legal challenge to the Trump administration's decision to keep a widely used pesticide on the market, despite studies showing it can harm kids' brains.

Led by New York, the coalition of states filed a motion Wednesday to intervene in the legal fight over the continued spraying of chlorpyrifos on food. Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia also joined the suit.

The states claim that Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt violated the law by ending his agency's push to ban the pesticide sold by Dow Chemical after federal scientists concluded it can interfere with the brain development of fetuses and infants.

Public-health advocates have been pushing for years to ban chlorpyrifos.

EPA says it is reviewing the lawsuit.

FILE - In this june 2, 2017 file photo, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt looks back after speaking to the media during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. A coalition of five states is seeking to join a legal challenge to the Trump administrationâs decision to keep a widely used pesticide on the market, despite studies showing it can harm children's brains. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Nation and World News

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.