Beekeepers have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its choice to expand the usage of a pesticide that harms bees and other pollinating insects, CNN reports.
Earthjustice is representing the Pollinator Stewardship Council, the American Beekeeper Federation and beekeeper Jeff Anderson in their case, which was brought to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, against the EPA over their easing of restrictions on sulfoxaflor, a pesticide that was more heavily regulated by the Obama administration due to concerns over the effect it has on bees, which have a rapidly declining population.
Although the EPA noted in a report earlier this summer the pesticide can be "very highly toxic" to bees, the administration claims the chemical is better than the alternatives, but critics contend the EPA is relying on studies that were funded by groups in the industry.
"Honeybees and other pollinators are dying in droves because of insecticides like sulfoxaflor, yet the Trump administration removes restrictions just to please the chemical industry," Earthjustice attorney Greg Loarie said in a statement. "This is illegal and an affront to our food system, economy, and environment."
The Pollinator Stewardship Council's Michele Colopy labeled the EPA's use of industry-funded studies "inappropriate."
She added, "Die-offs of tens of thousands of bee colonies continue to occur and sulfoxaflor plays a huge role in this problem. EPA is harming not just the beekeepers, their livelihood, and bees, but the nation's food system."
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