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Trump Donor Wants Pesticide Study Killed

Found Dow chemicals harmful to about 1,800 species.

A federal study has reportedly found that three widely used pesticides are harmful to nearly 2,000 endangered or critically threatened species, but Dow Chemical is trying to persuade President Trump’s administration to “set aside” the scientists’ findings. Lawyers representing three companies, including Dow, sent letters—newly obtained by the Associated Press—on April 13 claiming that the studies were fundamentally flawed. The three pesticides at hand pose major risks, according to more than 100,000 pages of scientific record, and may have profound environmental consequences. Regulators at federal agencies who are tasked with enforcing the Endangered Species Act are soon expected to release the findings and suggest limitations for how the pesticides—chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion—can be used. Andrew Liveris, CEO and chairman of Dow Chemical, is a close adviser to the president and contributed $1 million to his inauguration.