Nebraska, Iowa attorneys general petition EPA over weed killer

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Attorneys general for Nebraska and Iowa announced Wednesday that they’re part of a multi-state coalition asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a national standard over glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killers like Roundup.

Joining them was Underwood, Iowa farmer Kevin Ross.

“Glyphosate is one of the most effective tools that we absolutely have ever had in controlling weed, weed pressure and, as Attorney General Bird had mentioned earlier, allowing us the opportunity to reduce other chemicals that may be a lot harsher,” Ross said.

A study conducted in 2013 and 2014 detected glyphosate in 81 percent of a U.S. sample population’s urine.

However, the EPA has said it’s found no evidence of glyphosate being a cancer risk.

Despite that, California seeks to require a cancer warning label on products containing it. Both California and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified it as “probably carcinogenic to humans” based on studies with animals.

“We’re asking the EPA to set things straight and to make it clear what the labeling should be and, quite frankly, not let other states tell farmers how to farm or have an impact on farming,” said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.

She and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said they want to avoid individual states creating a patchwork of labeling laws across the country.

“Potentially, it could have some of these products over the long haul be pulled out of being sold in various states, including Nebraska,” Hilgers said.

They believe not having a uniform standard nationally could cause compliance and logistics costs that would be passed to farmers and consumers.

They’re not filing a lawsuit—at least not yet.

“It could lead to a court filing, but what we are asking the EPA to follow its own science and follow the statutory authority that’s been given to it by Congress,” Hilgers said. “And that’s what we expect them to do.”

Their petition asks the EPA to begin the rule making within 90 days.

California’s warning label requirement is tied up in the legal system after an appeals court found the requirement to have a glyphosate warning label unconstitutional.

Regardless, Hilgers said California’s move to have its own label requirement shows the EPA needs to have a national labeling rule.

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