The class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids have been linked repeatedly with bee decline. (Photo: dni777/ cc/ Flickr)
Jul 08, 2014
Environmental groups on Tuesday called out the state of California for illegally pushing new agricultural uses for certain pesticides despite mounting evidence that they are devastating honeybee populations.
A suit (pdf) filed by Earthjustice charges that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is "rubber-stamping" the approval of new pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids or neonics, "without first complying with laws enacted to ensure that they are safe."
"DPR has been saying for five years that neonicotinoid pesticides may be killing California's honey bees, and yet the agency allows more and more of these pesticides to be used each year," said Greg Loarie, an attorney at Earthjustice. In 2009, DPR began a scientific review of neonics in response to overwhelming evidence that linked the pesticides to bee decline.
The legal challenge, which was filed in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, demands that the court review DPR's June 13 decision to expand the use of two powerful neonics, known as Venom Insecticide and Dinotefuran 20SG, despite the office's still-pending review of their impact to pollinators.
"Unless halted, the use of these pesticides threatens not only the very survival of our pollinators, but the fate of whole ecosystems," said Andrew Kimbrell, executive Director of Center for Food Safety, which along with Beyond Pesticides and the Pesticide Action Network prompted the suit.
"Scientists have consistently documented widespread environmental contamination from neonicotinoids as they build up in our soil and waterways, especially in California," Kimbrell continued. "The DPR has a responsibility to step in and say no."
In August, California lawmakers are expected to take up legislation that demands DPR complete their long-pending evaluation of neonics by July 1, 2015 and issue a final determination by January 2016.
"It's past time for DPR to fix its broken evaluation system and protect our bees and our agricultural economy," Loarie added.
_____________________
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Environmental groups on Tuesday called out the state of California for illegally pushing new agricultural uses for certain pesticides despite mounting evidence that they are devastating honeybee populations.
A suit (pdf) filed by Earthjustice charges that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is "rubber-stamping" the approval of new pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids or neonics, "without first complying with laws enacted to ensure that they are safe."
"DPR has been saying for five years that neonicotinoid pesticides may be killing California's honey bees, and yet the agency allows more and more of these pesticides to be used each year," said Greg Loarie, an attorney at Earthjustice. In 2009, DPR began a scientific review of neonics in response to overwhelming evidence that linked the pesticides to bee decline.
The legal challenge, which was filed in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, demands that the court review DPR's June 13 decision to expand the use of two powerful neonics, known as Venom Insecticide and Dinotefuran 20SG, despite the office's still-pending review of their impact to pollinators.
"Unless halted, the use of these pesticides threatens not only the very survival of our pollinators, but the fate of whole ecosystems," said Andrew Kimbrell, executive Director of Center for Food Safety, which along with Beyond Pesticides and the Pesticide Action Network prompted the suit.
"Scientists have consistently documented widespread environmental contamination from neonicotinoids as they build up in our soil and waterways, especially in California," Kimbrell continued. "The DPR has a responsibility to step in and say no."
In August, California lawmakers are expected to take up legislation that demands DPR complete their long-pending evaluation of neonics by July 1, 2015 and issue a final determination by January 2016.
"It's past time for DPR to fix its broken evaluation system and protect our bees and our agricultural economy," Loarie added.
_____________________
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
Environmental groups on Tuesday called out the state of California for illegally pushing new agricultural uses for certain pesticides despite mounting evidence that they are devastating honeybee populations.
A suit (pdf) filed by Earthjustice charges that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is "rubber-stamping" the approval of new pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids or neonics, "without first complying with laws enacted to ensure that they are safe."
"DPR has been saying for five years that neonicotinoid pesticides may be killing California's honey bees, and yet the agency allows more and more of these pesticides to be used each year," said Greg Loarie, an attorney at Earthjustice. In 2009, DPR began a scientific review of neonics in response to overwhelming evidence that linked the pesticides to bee decline.
The legal challenge, which was filed in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, demands that the court review DPR's June 13 decision to expand the use of two powerful neonics, known as Venom Insecticide and Dinotefuran 20SG, despite the office's still-pending review of their impact to pollinators.
"Unless halted, the use of these pesticides threatens not only the very survival of our pollinators, but the fate of whole ecosystems," said Andrew Kimbrell, executive Director of Center for Food Safety, which along with Beyond Pesticides and the Pesticide Action Network prompted the suit.
"Scientists have consistently documented widespread environmental contamination from neonicotinoids as they build up in our soil and waterways, especially in California," Kimbrell continued. "The DPR has a responsibility to step in and say no."
In August, California lawmakers are expected to take up legislation that demands DPR complete their long-pending evaluation of neonics by July 1, 2015 and issue a final determination by January 2016.
"It's past time for DPR to fix its broken evaluation system and protect our bees and our agricultural economy," Loarie added.
_____________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.