The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to analyze the impacts of atrazine and glyphosate — the two most commonly used pesticides in the United States — on 1,500 endangered plants and animals in the United States under the terms of a settlement reached today with the Center for Biological Diversity, the center announced late today in a news release.

“This settlement is the first step to reining in the widespread use of dangerous pesticides that are harming both wildlife and people,” said Brett Hartl, endangered species policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity

“This settlement will finally force the EPA to consider the impacts of glyphosate — widely known as Roundup — which is the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, on endangered species nationwide,” said Hartl.

“With more than 300 million pounds of this stuff being dumped on our landscape each year, it’s hard to even fathom the damage it’s doing.”

Atrazine is the second most commonly used pesticide, with up to 80 million pounds used each year, the center said.

Last year the center entered a nationwide settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requiring the agency to analyze impacts on endangered species across the country from five pesticides — carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and methomyl.

Today’s settlement follows a similar framework and will require the EPA to begin the consultation process on these chemicals, the center said.