Here is an article from todays papaer on the EPA and Salmon protection

EPA needs to do more to protect salmon, judge rules

This is the first time that I've tried to post a link using the bulletin board UBB code -- hope it worked.

Happy Independance Day to All

Sincerely,
Roger

Well apparently my comouter illiteracy is too great to overcome and post a simple link to this webpage so I'll just post the web page...

EPA needs to do more to protect salmon, judge rules

Agency is not fulfilling its legal obligations to keep waterways clean, plaintiffs claim

Thursday, July 4, 2002

By LISA STIFFLER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The Environmental Protection Agency needs to do more to protect threatened and endangered salmon from pesticides, a federal judge in Seattle ruled yesterday.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour decided in favor of Northwest environmental and commercial fishing groups that claimed the EPA was not fulfilling its legal obligation under the Endangered Species Act to protect the fish.

"This is really an important victory for cleanup of waterways so salmon can thrive in the Northwest," said Erika Schreder, a scientist with the Washington Toxics Coalition, one of the plaintiffs.

The EPA is required to consult with the government agency overseeing the recovery of the listed fish when taking an action that could harm them. The agency is responsible for approving pesticides for use and dictating how they are applied.

Coughenour ordered the EPA to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service about the effects of 55 pesticides for agricultural and home use that were shown to have adverse effects on salmon. Consultations for the first three pesticides must be done by July 15, and the entire process is scheduled for completion by December 2004.

"With or without this ruling, the EPA has recognized that more work needs to be done to make sure that fish have the clean and safe waters that they need," said Bill Dunbar, spokesman for the EPA in Seattle.

Under the order, the fisheries service will share data about the effect of pesticides on salmon. Research has shown that pesticides at non-lethal levels can disrupt a salmon's sense of smell, upon which it relies for many basic behaviors, including mating, finding its native stream for spawning, avoiding predators and hunting for food.

"In the past, the EPA has completely failed to look at anything but acute effects," Schreder said, referring to doses of pesticides that are lethal to fish.

Sixteen pesticides were detected at concentrations that can damage aquatic life in major watersheds in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California, according to a recent study by the Toxics Coalition.

The consultations could lead to restrictions on how much pesticide can be used and limits on use near streams or in urban areas. EPA officials did not know whether the agency would challenge the ruling or if they would be able to meet the time line laid out by Coughenour.

Heather Hansen, executive director of Olympia's Washington Friends of Farms and Forests, which represents pesticide applicators and farmers, was concerned that the consultation schedule was rushed.

"Consultation is a long, complicated process," she said. "... If they are pushed too quickly it might compromise their decision-making ability."

The environmental groups wanted the EPA to examine the effects of 898 other pesticides, but the request was denied because of a lack of evidence that they harm fish.

The agency said in court documents that it already is researching the effects of the pesticides, but Schreder said that the groups will seek interim protections while the consultations and studies proceed.

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Rodger - someone can correct this if they wish, but if you hilite the address, hit copy, and post it in the reply box, it should work.
Thanks for the complete post.
And a safe and sane 4th.

Here's a simpler link: EPA needs to do more to protect salmon, judge rules

I only posted that to make finding the actual PI site easier, as I could only find it by searching the PI site.

Thanks for the link, and I think they are right, the EPA needs to do more. But I can only imagine more screaming from people about how all their pesticides are too regulated and the like.

Rob