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Spring 2004 - V.19 N.1 Table of Content	Chemical Industry Seeks Approval of Pesticides at Expense of Wildlife from Earthjustice Lawsuit, Jan. 2004
News Around the Lagoon Costly New Septic Tanks Keep Nitrogen out of Water Water Management District Uses Grove Land to Store Excess Water Environmentalists Urge Action on Ship Ballast Water Supreme Court Rules EPA can Overrule State in Clean Air Case Halting Toxic Cleanups Water the Oil of the 21st Century New Gates Reduce Silt from Canals in Indian River County Key West Asks Cruise Ships to Stop Dumping Endangered Species Act may be in Danger Manatee Deaths Drop Here, but Rise on West Coast Conservation Groups Sue for EPA to Regulate Water Pollution in Florida New Tag Aims to Help Protect Coral Reefs Politics Trump Science Chemical Industry Seeks Approval of Pesticides at Expense of Wildlife	A lawsuit filed by Earthjustice asserts that the White house is allowing a special task force from the chemical industry to lobby secretly inside the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The task force aims to circumvent current protections for endangered species. If successful, it will be easier for the industry to gain approval for the use of certain pesticides. The lawsuit alleges that the industry group, representing 14 agrochemical companies, is meeting regularly behind closed doors with EPA officials in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Federal "sunshine" laws require that such meetings be open to members of the public. The industry strategy, according to internal documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, is to eliminate the role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries, whose biologists currently serve as oversight experts as to whether a pesticide poses a risk to wildlife. It appears the industry is succeeding. Last year the EPA, which has no measures in place to protect most endangered animals and plants, began a process whereby the agency could assume full control over these decisions with little or no oversight from federal biologists. Next Article: U.S. Fish and Wildlife considers 3 New Manatees Zones in Florida from TCPalm

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