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quires Syngenta to monitor streams and drinking water supplies for contamination. Under this deal, Syngenta will test fewer than 4 percent of the streams identified by the EPA as being at highest risk for atrazine contamination.
DDVP is one of a class of chemicals called organophosphates, which are neurotoxins that were originally developed as chemical weapons during World War II. DDVP causes permanent nervous system damage in young test animals, and may cause related abnormalities in exposed infants and children. Exposure to DDVP also can cause uncontrollable sweating, nausea, dizziness, muscle tremors and even death. Despite the risks, EPA is privately negotiating with DDVP's manufacturer Amvac to allow the company to continue to sell this nerve poison for many home and agricultural uses.
The lawsuit was filed today in federal court in Washington, D.C. NRDC is represented in the case by Colangelo, Olson, and the public interest law firm Meyer & Glitzenstein.
The following documents show some of the negotiations between the EPA and industry lobbyists. These are just a small sample of the hundreds of documents NRDC has obtained that provide evidence of these illegal negotiations.
Report of a joint EPA and Syngenta work group that negotiated the "safe" level of environmental contamination of atrazine.
Report of a second EPA and Syngenta work group that negotiated an atrazine water monitoring plan that ignores more than 96% of the "most potentially vulnerable watersheds."
Example of a private meeting between EPA and Syngenta (July 10, 2003) to negotiate a monitoring plan in lieu of regulation.
Email presenting a proposed deal between EPA and Syngenta on watershed monitoring.
Negotiations between EPA and Syngenta regarding atrazine regulation (unlawfully withheld from the public docket for more than 18 months).
Final negotiated agreement between EPA and Syngenta, Dow, and other chemical manufacturers regarding the regulation of atrazine.
Negotiations between EPA and Amvac to jointly "craft the terms and conditions" of DDVP risk mitigation.
EPA staff email regarding ongoing negotiations with Amvac.
EPA staff email regarding negotiations with Amvac over potentially risky "pest strip" uses of DDVP.
EPA staff email discussing "verbal agreement" with Amvac regarding which uses of DDVP will be allowed.
Small sample of EPA calendar entries noting frequent meetings with Amvac regarding DDVP risk management.
EPA memo noting four additional meetings with Amvac regarding DDVP risk mitigation.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1 million members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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