Certification & Training Assessment Group C T A G Canadian PETC Working Group 2002

Background  Old regulation for federal guidance to certified pesticide applicator program  Wide variance in state programs  Broadening scope of concerns for regulators and trainers

Scope of Concern  1,200,000 certified pesticide applicators  Millions apply “under direct supervision” and work as “handlers or technicians”  Sensitivity to pesticide worker safety issues and new security issues

Scope of Concern  Occupational users of pesticides whose competency is not certified  Greater public concern to know the who, what, where, and how of pesticide use  Available working forum to discuss and resolve concerns

Certification & Training Assessment Group  EPA HQ and regions, States, Extension, military  Two Co-Chairs, a vice-chair, and 10 Board members with 2 or 3 year terms  Permanent secretary

CTAG Board Responsibilities  Determine current status of C&T programs.  Define the needs of C&T programs.  Determine the future direction of CTAG.  Create and coordinate CTAG workgroups.  Monitor, facilitate and encourage workgroup activities.  Prepare and present activity updates, annual reports and reports on accomplishments.  Establish and maintain a CTAG network for communications SECURITYSECURITY

CTAG Workgroup Activity #1 C&T Plan/Report Template - Age, Exam, Grant Issues #2 Pesticide Safety Program #3 Tiered Classification

CTAG Workgroup #1 C&T Plan Template Workgroup  Carol Ramsay - Washington State Univ., Co-Chair  Debbie Danford - Texas Dept of Ag., Co-Chair  Donnie Dippel - Texas Dept of Agriculture  Randy Rivera - Texas Dept of Agriculture  Richard Pont - US EPA, OPP  Jeanne Heying - US EPA, OPP  Kevin Keaney - US EPA, OPP  Gina Davis - Michigan Dept of Agriculture  Jack Peterson - Arizona Dept of Agriculture  Colleen Hudak - North Carolina Dept of Agriculture  Monte Johnson - USDA CREES - PSP

Workgroup Goal To develop a standardized electronic template which will be used to maintain and submit State Certification Plan and annual certification data to EPA.

 Combines the requirements of: –40 CFR Part Submission and approval of State plans for certification of commercial and private applicators of restricted use pesticides –EPA Form H - Accomplishments Report for Applicator Certification  Provide a mechanism for capturing certification and training efforts that go beyond federal requirements. C&T Plan/Report Template

 Convenient tool  Streamline the submission and maintenance of C&T plans and annual reports  Will facilitate EPA review and approval  Provide consistent national C&T plans and annual report information for more standard interpretation across states  Provides a mechanism to easily update C&T plans

State Plan Template  Some Information Pre-Loaded  Web Links –40 CFR Part –State laws/regulations –Helpful Hints  Electronic submission of state laws and regulations  Login ID and Passwords

Issue Papers  C&T Template Paper  Impediments in FIFRA and 40 CFR Part 171 –16-year old minimum age requirement for certification –Monitored, Written, Closed-Book Exams –Eliminate the 50/50 Grant Funding Match Requirements for states (tribes)  for Approval of State Certification Plans

CTAG Workgroup #2 Workgroup on Pesticide Safety

CTAG Workgroup #2 Pesticide Safety Workgroup  Carl Martin, AZ Struct.l Pest Control, Co-Chair  Pat O’Connor-Marer, Univ. of CA, Co-Chair  Kevin Keaney, Jeanne Heying, Richard Pont, Don Eckerman, US EPA, OPP  Monte Johnson, USDA CREES  Win Hock, AAPSE  Gina Davis, Michigan Dept of Agriculture  Dave Duncan, CA Dept. of Pesticide Regul.  Ron Gardner, Cornell University  Rick Hansen, Minnesota Dept of Agriculture  Robert McKenna, Army Environmental Center  Randy Rivera, Texas Dept of Agriculture  Gary Fish, Maine Board of Pesticides  Karen Ryan, New Foundland

Workgroup Goal To provide EPA with a plan for a comprehensive pesticide safety program, for all persons who sell, mix, load, apply or recommend the use of pesticides that will... –satisfy competency issues –mitigate risks and –improve pesticide security through appropriate education, training and testing.

Pesticide Safety Workgroup  Identification of certification program problem areas or “gaps” in FIFRA and 40 CFR.  Problem areas: –Pesticide security –WPS Integration (worker vs. handler Aerial, demonstration, consultant) –Certification and competency –Sales/distribution/registration –Remote Testing, Language Standards

Pesticide Safety Workgroup  Identification and Prioritizing of Problems  Rationale for Making Change  Individuals Impacted  Suggested Changes –“Grand Plan” - FIFRA, 40 CFR –“Intermediate Plan” - 40 CFR –“Immediate Plan” - C&T program

CTAG Workgroup #3 Tiered-Classification of Pesticides and Pesticide Users Tim Drake (SC), Carol Ramsay Co-Chairs Under Formation (June 2002) PREP & POST PREP

Tiered-Classification Matrix  Product Classification –Toxicity, security, site sensitivity, type of user, education & safety training required  User Type –Occupational, domestic  Training/Examination Required –Training only –Examination: core, category, product- specific PREP & POST PREP

Thoughts ONLY Security Risk Core, category Product-specific No supervision Custody chain Product- Specific Core, category Product-specific No supervision Occupational -Full Core, category, prior training May supervise Occupational -Limited Core, prior training Supervised by Occupat.-Full Domestic - Mixable Fact sheet training Dom. RTUNone Education, Exam, Permit EEP EE E PREP & POST PREP

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