Environmental groups sue EPA over weedkiller polluting Western waterways
Three environmental and public health groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its failure to establish water quality protections for a widely used weedkiller that’s contaminating rivers and streams across the country, including parts of the Mountain West. Atrazine is primarily used on crops like corn and sorghum. While most contamination is concentrated in the Midwest, affected watersheds extend into eastern Colorado and New Mexico. A recent report from the Center for Biological Diversity estimates that atrazine contaminates 25% of river miles in the continental U.S. at levels the EPA considers harmful to aquatic life. … Scientific research has linked atrazine exposure to harmful effects on aquatic plants and wildlife. The pesticide has also raised concerns about human health and drinking water.
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