SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-One of the nation's leading environmental groups on Tuesday threatened to sue the federal government for not regulating hundreds of pesticides.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to adequately evaluate and regulate nearly 400 pesticides harmful to hundreds of endangered species.

The Tucson, Ariz.-based group alleges that the EPA's failure to regulate the pesticides violates the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act because of their alleged harm to protected wildlife.

"It's time for the Environmental Protection Agency to finally reform pesticide use to protect both wildlife and people," said Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. "Many endangered species most affected by toxic pesticides are already struggling to cope with habitat loss and rapid climate changes."

The notice of intent to sue references 887 endangered and threatened species, including the Florida panther, Coho salmon, California condor, Everglade snail kite, northern Aplomado falcon, mountain yellow-legged frog, California tiger salamander, arroyo toad, Indiana bat and the green sturgeon.

"The Environmental Protection Agency needs to analyze the effects of pesticides across the board on hundreds of imperiled species," Miller said.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed its notice of intent to sue in San Francisco.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.