Oregon Public Broadcasting

Federal environmental regulators intend to force pesticide manufacturers to put salmon-related labels on containers of three chemicals. Rob Manning reports.

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a point of frustration with the makers of malathion, diazinon, and chorpyrifos. 

The feds gave manufactures two weeks at the beginning of May to voluntarily put warning labels on the three products aimed at keeping the chemicals out of salmon-bearing streams. 

The manufacturers sent back a letter rejecting the EPA’s request. They argue that scientific research has concluded the products aren’t jeopardizing threatened salmon.

However federal scientists argue the chemicals interfere with certain natural abilities of threatened salmon, like finding food. 

Now, the EPA officials say they’ll mandate labels – with specific instructions to avoid spraying near salmon habitat.