EPA Approves Use of Herbicide Paraquat With New Restrictions

The EPA said Monday it will—for now—allow continued use of paraquat with revised measures aimed at protecting people and the environment, but continue to examine the effects on endangered species.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s interim decision would allow continued, restricted use of the herbicide used to kill weeds around agricultural crops including soybeans, cotton, and corn, and non-agricultural lands including rights-of-way, pastures, and storage yards.

• Farmers also use paraquat to remove moisture before harvesting cotton.
• A single sip of paraquat can kill people, according to the agency. But new industry data prompted the agency to loosen some—but tighten other—previously proposed ...