Cookie Control

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

Some cookies on this site are essential, and the site won't work as expected without them. These cookies are set when you submit a form, login or interact with the site by doing something that goes beyond clicking on simple links.

We also use some non-essential cookies to anonymously track visitors or enhance your experience of the site. If you're not happy with this, we won't set these cookies but some nice features of the site may be unavailable.

By using our site you accept the terms of our Privacy Policy.

(One cookie will be set to store your preference)
(Ticking this sets a cookie to hide this popup if you then hit close. This will not store any personal information)

"Suit Challenges Calif. Approval of Farm Pesticide"

"LOS ANGELES — A coalition of environmental and farmworker groups said in a lawsuit announced Monday that state pesticide regulators improperly cut off public comment on a controversial agricultural fumigant in order to secure its passage before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's term ended.

The suit, filed by the lawyers with Earthjustice and California Rural Legal Assistance Inc., accuses the Department of Pesticide Regulation of violating state law by mischaracterizing methyl iodide's approval last month as an emergency action.

"DPR created a political 'emergency' by insisting on locking in its decision before a new administration takes office," CRLA attorney Mike Meuter said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court, also says that regulators did not sufficiently evaluate the pesticide's risk and that their approval was based on insufficient data, among other claims. It seeks to have the pesticide's approval vacated. "

Jacob Adelman reports for the Associated Press January 3, 2011.

Source: AP, 01/04/2011