Home / Environment / EPA Let Bayer Pick Dicamba Rules, Docs Reveal
EPA Let Bayer Pick Dicamba Rules, Docs Reveal
20 Sep
Summary
- EPA allowed Bayer to choose pesticide rules for dicamba.
- Bayer selected less restrictive options for dicamba regulations.
- Dicamba drift has caused widespread agricultural damage since 2016.
Internal EPA documents reveal that the agency allowed Bayer, a pesticide manufacturer, to choose regulatory options for the weedkiller dicamba. The EPA presented Bayer with a menu of restrictions for dicamba's volatility and runoff, and Bayer selected less protective measures.
One option allowed dicamba application up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit with reduced acreage, while another permitted higher temperatures if not tank-mixed. Bayer also chose its preferred option for mitigating runoff. These selections were subsequently incorporated into a proposed federal rule.
Critics argue this process blurs the line between regulation and self-regulation, comparing it to an à la carte menu. Despite EPA assurances of effective protections, dicamba drift has damaged millions of acres of farmland and crops since its 2016 approval.
The EPA defended its actions, stating the process is the regulatory system working as intended and that registrants are permitted to submit mitigation ideas. However, environmental groups contend the agency is unduly influenced by industry, citing former lobbyists in key EPA positions overseeing pesticide programs.
