The New Exchange / E.P.A. Chief, Rejecting Science, Chooses Not to Ban Insecticide

**Posted by Goose** 3/30/2017 5:00 pm

Climate Change scientists should not feel singled out.
In fact, our President is against ANY science that irritates big business.

The Little Guy loses again.

E.P.A. Chief, Rejecting Agency’s Science, Chooses Not to Ban Insecticide

WASHINGTON —
Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, moved late on Wednesday to reject the scientific conclusion of the agency’s own chemical safety experts who under the Obama administration recommended that one of the nation’s most widely used insecticides be permanently banned at farms nationwide because of the harm it potentially causes children and farm workers.

The ruling by Mr. Pruitt, in one of his first formal actions as the nation’s top environmental official, rejected a petition filed a decade ago by two environmental groups that had asked that the agency ban all uses of chlorpyrifos. The chemical was banned in 2000 for use in most household settings, but still today is used at about 40,000 farms on about 50 different types of crops, ranging from almonds to apples.

Late last year, and based in part on research conducted at Columbia University, E.P.A. scientists concluded that exposure to the chemical that has been in use since 1965 was potentially causing significant health consequences. They included learning and memory declines, particularly among farm workers and young children who may be exposed through drinking water and other sources.

But Dow Chemical, which makes the product, along with farm groups that use it, had argued that the science demonstrating that chlorpyrifos caused such harm is inconclusive — especially when properly used to kill crop-spoiling insects.

An E.P.A. scientific review panel made up of academic experts last July also had raised questions about some of the conclusions the chemical safety staff had reached. That led the staff to revise the way it had justified its findings of harm, although the agency employees as of late last year still concluded that the chemical should be banned.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/us/politics/epa-insecticide-chlorpyrifos.html?smid=fb-share&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F

Last edited by Goose (3/30/2017 5:01 pm)

**Posted by Just Fred** 3/30/2017 5:43 pm

God (or somebody more powerful and compassionate) help us before we destroy ourselves.

**Posted by Common Sense** 3/31/2017 12:13 pm

"The United States, by contrast, has the cleanest air and water in the world, due in large part to Republican efforts, from the creation of the EPA during President Nixon's tenure to the sweeping 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments signed by President George H.W. Bush."

**Posted by tennyson** 3/31/2017 12:24 pm

Common Sense wrote:
"The United States, by contrast, has the cleanest air and water in the world, due in large part to Republican efforts, from the creation of the EPA during President Nixon's tenure to the sweeping 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments signed by President George H.W. Bush."

And you think the current Administration direction is going to help ?

**Posted by Goose** 3/31/2017 12:53 pm

Common Sense wrote:
"The United States, by contrast, has the cleanest air and water in the world, due in large part to Republican efforts, from the creation of the EPA during President Nixon's tenure to the sweeping 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments signed by President George H.W. Bush."

So, you are arguing that the EPA and Clean Air Act have been spectacularly successful.
I agree.

After all, as you have stated, we enjoy the cleanest air and water in the world.

Thanks. You've done a wonderful job pointing out how destructive and foolhardy President Trump is by undoing the great work of past Presidents, both republican and democratic. He really is an aberration.

Last edited by Goose (3/31/2017 12:57 pm)