Center for Biological Diversity Sued EPA Over Dicamba
The lawsuit demands the release of federal records concerning recent approvals of the herbicide for cotton and soy.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency to compel the release of records related to the approval of dicamba. The group claims that federal officials failed to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the chemical's use on soybeans and cotton.
Why it matters
This legal action seeks transparency into the regulatory process governing herbicide applications that impact agriculture across the United States. Access to these records could clarify the safety evaluations behind the EPA's recent decision to permit dicamba use during the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons.
The lawsuit follows multiple Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. It remains unknown what specific documentation the agency withheld regarding the approvals granted for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons.
The players
Center for Biological Diversity
A non-profit organization focused on environmental protection and legal challenges to regulatory agency decisions.
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency tasked with regulating chemicals and pesticide safety standards in the United States.
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
A division of the EPA responsible for managing chemical risks and pesticide registrations.
The details
Dicamba is a systemic herbicide designed for over-the-top application on genetically modified crops. The EPA first authorized this method of use in 2016, but federal courts subsequently vacated the agency's approvals in 2024. The current lawsuit seeks to uncover the internal communications and scientific assessments the agency relied upon when it chose to re-permit the herbicide in February 2026.
Timeline
The EPA initially approved over-the-top dicamba application in 2016.
Federal courts vacated existing EPA approvals for dicamba in 2024.
The EPA granted new permission for dicamba use in February 2026.
Current approvals cover the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons.
The federal lawsuit was filed on September 24, 2026.
Health Landscape
This litigation follows the Freedom of Information Act to challenge the transparency of federal regulatory approvals. It highlights ongoing tensions between agricultural pesticide authorization and the public's right to access data under the Freedom of Information Act.
For readers concerned about pesticide exposure, this legal challenge underscores the importance of staying informed about environmental regulations that impact the national food supply. Any questions regarding the safety profile of products grown with specific herbicides are best discussed with a physician or local agricultural expert.
The takeaway
Transparency remains a central pillar in the debate over the safety of chemical inputs in large-scale agriculture. Consumers can track the outcome of this litigation to better understand the federal vetting process for herbicides used on common food crops.
Further reading
For more on the implications of herbicide use in farming, visit the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowa's News & Talk Station - News/talk 1540 Kxel - Waterloo/cedar Falls,.
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