KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed more than doubling the number of states allowed to use a new version of a popular weed killer on genetically modified crops despite its earlier concerns.

Environmentalists are outraged with the proposal to increase from 15 to 34 the number of states that could use Enlist Duo, noting that the EPA sought court authority last year to withdraw approval.

Enlist is approved for use on soybeans and corn.; the proposal would also allow cotton.

— Staff and news services