“Some people are working very hard to get rid of atrazine (another herbicide) and are now focusing on acetochlor,” he said. “Whatever’s out there, certain groups or elements will take potshots at it and try to eliminate it, the extremists or environmentalists or whatever.”

Environmentalists and trout fishermen say growing more corn and using more chemicals near streams are not worth the cost of contamination.

“This is like bells and sirens,” said Janette Brimmer, legal director for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. “It’s about time MPCA took action, and this is just barely scratching the surface.”

This article contains information from The Associated Press.