Atrazine Activist Timeline

Shortly after EPA’s 2003 Interim Re-registration Eligibility Decision reconfirming the safety of atrazine, the trial attorney firm of Korein Tillery files the Holiday Shores class action lawsuits in Madison County Illinois seeking damages against the makers of atrazine.

EPA issues atrazine re-registration decision saying “levels of atrazine that Americans are exposed to in their food and drinking water are below the level that would potentially cause health effects.”

EPA concludes atrazine does not affect amphibian development; says “no additional testing is warranted…”

Tyrone Hayes submits “Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs” to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) for publication

New York Times article “Debating how much weedkiller is safe in your water glass” is published

Peoria Journal Star (Ill.) publishes “Lawsuit questions safety of herbicide”

Huffington Post Investigative Fund website publishes “EPA Fails to Inform Public About Atrazine”  with an accompanying video

After national media outlets provide articles touting the report, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) releases its report “Poisoning the Well”

Holiday Shores Sanitary District adds additional plaintiffs to Madison County, Illinois, lawsuit

EPA announces “comprehensive new evaluation of atrazine”; Daily Environment Report reports “EPA said the evaluation was sparked by information contained in a Natural Resources Defense Council report and news reports on atrazine contamination of drinking water”

EPA holds meeting to “present SAP its plan for the new atrazine evaluation”

Pesticide Action Network (PANNA) and Land Stewardship Project (of Minn.) release “The Syngenta Corporation and Atrazine: The Cost to the Land, People and Democracy”; groups submit letter from organic farmers to EPA

State of Minnesota announces “atrazine regulations protect human health and the environment.”

More than 50 agricultural groups send letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in support of atrazine

EPA convenes Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) on reviewing epidemiology in regulatory risk assessments

University of Washington epidemiology study released on environmental connection between atrazine and birth defects

Hayes invited to speak to committee of Illinois state legislature

Wisconsin bill to ban atrazine introduced/withdrawn

Hayes study published in PNAS

Huffington Post Investigative Fund publishes “Cities Sue Manufacturer of Weed-Killer Found in Tap Water”

Federal class action lawsuit filed in Southern District of Illinois

Hayes invited to speak at Illinois State University

Federal suit adds additional plaintiffs

New York State Sen. Alesi (R-Perinton, Monroe County) introduces bill to ban atrazine

33 members of Congress sign and submit letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in support of atrazine

Rep. Ellison (D-MN) introduces federal bill to ban atrazine

EPA announces new SAP on possible cancer effects of atrazine

EPA convenes SAP on animal studies and water monitoring

“Save the Frogs Day” introduces petition to ban atrazine; threatens “International Day of Pesticide Action” and march on Washington this year on October 24

NRDC releases “Still Poisoning the Well”

University of Illinois releases study saying “without alternatives, atrazine elimination would severely compromise sweet corn production”

Report from Agricultural Health Study says “no correlation between atrazine and cancer”

President’s Cancer Panel releases report including section on atrazine, including quotes from Hayes