[JURIST] Leading Tuesday's environmental law news, the US Environmental Protection Agency [official website] is preparing to release the final draft of a rule [proposed rule text] that will establish standards for pesticide research on human subjects [EPA backgrounder]. In August 2005, President Bush signed an appropriations bill (Pub. L. No. 109-54 [text]) that banned all pesticide research on humans until the EPA could develop the standards that should be followed. Amongst other things, the new regulations will not allow for research that intentionally exposes pregnant women and children to pesticides. AP has more.

In other environmental law news...

• A West Virginia jury found Monday that the state Division of Highways [official website] created an unsafe work environment through diesel exhaust fumes, but that there was not an established link between the exhaust and cancer. A nine year employee of the DoH, Lucinda Cutlip, sued the Division after developing multiple myeloma in 2002. The jury did not award her any damages, and the DoH has already changed the working conditions at its facilities. The Charleston Gazette has more.
  
  
• The Australian New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries [official website] on Tuesday announced [press release] a ban on all commercial fishing in Sydney Harbor because of significant dioxin levels [backgrounder]. The ban, expected to last at least 3 months, follows a ban on shrimping that began last month and an existing ban on shellfish. The Australian has more.