Can you afford to spend more on inputs? While costs skyrocket, EPA is taking another swing at atrazine, disregarding sound science, transparency, and regulatory framework.
Included in more than 90 herbicide products across the U.S., limiting atrazine will have broad implications. The proposed rule will impact more than 70 percent of U.S. corn acres, significantly reducing application rates and requiring additional conservation measures and reporting procedures. It also prohibits all aerial application and application during a rain or storm event or when rain is forecast within 48 hours. If adopted, EPA’s proposal would impact 81 percent of corn acres in Kentucky.
In 2020, EPA published its final atrazine registration review decision, setting the aquatic level of concern (CE-LOC) at 15 parts per billion (ppb). Extreme environmental groups retaliated with a lawsuit, opening the door for EPA to shift tactics and alter its 2020 published decision. On June 30, EPA proposed an ultra-low CE-LOC of 3.4 ppb, dramatically limiting atrazine’s use on corn, sorghum, and other crops. This proposed level is not supported by scientific research.
EPA estimates the cost to replace atrazine is $42 per acre based on alternative herbicide expenses and reduced yields from poor pest control. If adopted, there will be significant implications for no-till and conservation tillage, negatively impacting efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Allowing environmental activists to win here-when atrazine has more than 7,000 science-based studies over 60 years proving its safety-sets a dangerous precedent for regulating atrazine and all other crop inputs.
Join us in the fight and take action by October 7, 2022:
- Add your name to the long list of growers battling to stop EPA’s latest overreach. Sign the Petition
- Please take two minutes to fill out the comment form and join us in stopping EPA from using regulatory tricks to drastically limit your use of a critical input. Tell EPA to stick to sound science and the 2020 finalized atrazine registration review. Anything less is unacceptable.
Submit Comments
Updates as of September 7, 2022
FIFRA SAP Mentioned in Court Update
We are making progress! Due to our collective efforts to push for sound science, EPA has formally stated its intent to convene a FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). According to the agency’s latest status report provided to the Ninth Circuit Court, “EPA has determined that aspects of the agency’s aquatic plant risk assessment supporting the revisions to the Interim Decision should undergo an additional round of peer review by the FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (the “Panel”)…EPA is currently working to secure a date for the Panel meeting by compiling the necessary materials and submitting the request to the Panel’s Peer Review and Ethics Branch Chief. EPA must submit the documentation at least six months before a meeting with the Panel.” Thank you to everyone who pushed for this critical clarification at every opportunity! Let’s keep the pressure up!
Congressional Letter Submitted
Speaking of pressure, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) and Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) led the charge in submitting a letter to EPA, signed by 92 of their House colleagues and raising key concerns regarding the agency’s flawed proposed revisions to the interim decision for atrazine. Our thanks to all who helped push for this strong show of support!
Thanks for your efforts to hold EPA accountable and follow the science. It is making a difference – but our work isn’t done yet!