Three environmental organizations have notified the Environmental Protection Agency of their intent to sue, alleging the agency has failed to establish required water quality standards for atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicides in U.S. agriculture. The notice, filed Thursday by the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Environmental Health and Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network, argues EPA is violating the Clean Water Act by not issuing aquatic life criteria for atrazine. The groups contend the law gives EPA discretion regarding the form and timing of revisions to water quality criteria but requires the agency to establish them. They argue federal standards are needed to protect aquatic ecosystems from pesticide contamination. Atrazine is commonly used on corn and sorghum acres and has long been the subject of debate among farm groups, regulators and environmental advocates. EPA has previously conducted ecological risk assessments for the herbicide, while agricultural organizations maintain it remains an important crop protection tool for growers
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