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Last week, a large coalition of agriculture groups wrote to the EPA asking the agency postpone revocation of chlorpyrifos until it can consider their formal objections to the rule. Allison Crittenden, American Farm Bureau Federation Congressional Relations Director, said the August 30th rule goes against EPA science.

"We object to how EPA has come to this decision to revoke tolerances for chlorpyrifos. We make the case in the letter that EPA’s own scientific record on chlorpyrifos shows that there are actually many safe and high benefit uses of this chemistry that do not pose a dietary or environmental risk. So, in this letter we're asking EPA to acknowledge that and to stay its decision to revoke the tolerances.”

Crittenden said the EPA rule takes another tool out of the toolbox for farmers, and now, the coalition will wait for a response from the EPA.

“Obviously, a very strong showing, having over 80 agricultural groups signing on to this one coalition objection. I think now we see how EPA responds to this. And hopefully by explaining our concerns with the process in which this revocation was issued, we can prevent further activity in a similar vein for other pesticide products.”

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