A federal judge in Arizona has ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct long-delayed studies of five widely used pesticides that have been found to pose risks to some endangered species.
The order issued Wednesday by Judge John Hinderaker directs the FWS to complete Endangered Species Act consultation with EPA on the pesticides and their potential impacts to federally protected species.
Hinderaker directed the FWS to issue biological opinions on carbaryl by March 31, and for atrazine and simazine by March 31, 2026.
Hinderaker — nominated to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona by President Donald Trump during his first term — gave the service until Sept. 30, 2028, to issue biological opinions on chlorpyrifos and diazinon.
