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EPA to Evaluate Pesticides by Associated Press Capital Press - April 26, 2002

SACRAMENTO -- At least 18 pesticides need to be evaluated to determine how they might affect endangered salmon and forest plants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to evaluate the chemicals as part of a lawsuit settlement reached with three California environmental groups. It will be the first time the agency has taken a formal, critical look at the chemicals -- and how they fit with the Endangered Species Act - in about 10 years.

Patty Clary, executive director for Californians for Alternative to Toxics, said her group pursued a lawsuit against the agency after finding that EPA hadn't completed a study on the impact of chemicals on endangered species since 1992. Under the ESA, the agency must consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when a species is listed.

"There's a lot of pressure on the EPA," Clary said. "For years and years they haven't had that kind of pressure. We wanted to get something happening that's been stalled for this decade."