US environment agency let Bayer pick regulations for destructive weedkiller, documents show

Soybean plants on the left show signs of being affected by Dicamba (stunted growth, curled up leaves, low bean yield.) Soybean plants on the right were planted later in the season and stand taller, on 9 August 2017. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

The EPA allowed pesticide giant Bayer to pick from a menu of regulation options for the controversial and destructive weedkiller dicamba, newly released internal agency documents show.

The documents provide an unusually clear look into the process of developing pesticide regulations, which is typically done out of public view. It shows in detail how the EPA asked Bayer which regulations it wanted, received a response from Bayer, then put Bayer’s choices into a proposed federal rule.