
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994                   TAG: 9405190149
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

2 LAWSUITS SEEK DISCLOSURE OF PESTICIDE INGREDIENTS

Two private groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, accusing it of breaking the law by refusing to release the names of all ingredients in pesticides.

The EPA allows pesticide manufacturers to keep some inert ingredients off pesticide labels by claiming they are trade secrets, said the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides.

Inert ingredients can be any of more than 2,300 substances, including chemicals that are active and, possibly, toxic, the groups said. A substance qualifies as ``inert'' if it plays no role in killing the pest the product was designed to eliminate, they said.

The suit asks the court to declare the policy illegal and order the agency to give the groups a list of all ingredients in six pesticides.

by CNB