Certification

1
Certification Training Assessment Group

• History Current Activity
• North Central Region
• Pesticide Education Certification Workshop
• June 2002

2
CTAG Review

• Certification Training Advisory Group (CTAG)
  established in 1997 to
• Review previous program evaluations
• Explore proposals
• Determine changing needs of CT programs
• Provide direction for future of the pesticide
  applicator CT program.

3
CTAG Members

• CTAG members representative of current partners
• Began with four workgroups
• Content
• Infrastructure Delivery
• Funding
• Evaluation

4
Five Goals

• 1. Reduce risks to the public from pesticide
  use.
• 2. Provide high quality pesticide education and
  safety training programs.
• 3. Improve the certification and recertification
  programs and processes.
• 4. Ensure adequacy and equity of funding.
• 5. Improve the efficiency of program organization
  and operations.

5
Proposed Changes

• Changes proposed to
• FIFRA
• Regulations (40 CFR 171)
• EPA and USDA activities
• Activities in conjunction with states, tribes,
  and territories
• Preliminary Report and Executive Summary issued
  in January 1999
• Changes proposed in five goal areas
• Comments received from stakeholders
• Discussed in meetings workshops

6
Early CTAG Activities

• Software assessment for certification exams
• Workshops on exam development
• Core exam project
• Pesticide Safety Education Center
• Web site on resources
• Workshops for OPP

7
CTAG Process Review

• August 2001

8
CTAG Process Review

• How do we formalize the CTAG process?
• Membership
• Operation and Activities
• Meetings
• How do we
• enhance our organization/leadership?
• improve communication/public relations?
• increase support ?

9
CTAG Board of Directors

• 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

10
CTAG Board of DirectorsRoles and Responsibilities

• Determine the current status of CT programs
• Define the needs of CT programs
• Determine the future direction of CTAG
• Create and coordinate workgroups
• Monitor, facilitate and encourage workgroup
  activities
• Maintain a communication network

11
CTAG Board of DirectorsRoles Responsibilities

• Communications
• The CTAG Board recognizes the importance of
  maintaining open communication with CTAG members,
  volunteers and stakeholders.
• Updates of CTAG activities
• CTAG accomplishments
• Annual report

12
CTAG Board of DirectorsRoles and Responsibilities

• Working committees
• Formed by the Board as needed to accomplish
  program goals and tasks
• Members
• Board
• Others

13
CTAG Workgroup Activity

• 1 CT Plan/Report Template
• - Age, Exam, Grant Issues
• 2 Pesticide Safety Program
• 3 Tiered Classification

14
CTAG Workgroup 1

• State Plan Template Workgroup

15
Workgroup 1 Goal

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

16
CT Plan/Report Template

• Combines the requirements of
• 40 CFR Part 171.7 - Submission and approval of
  State plans for certification of commercial and
  private applicators of restricted use pesticides
  
• EPA Form 5700-33H - Accomplishments Report for
  Applicator Certification
• Provide a mechanism for capturing certification
  and training efforts that go beyond federal
  requirements.

17
CT Plan/Report Template

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

18
State Plan Template

• Some Information Pre-Loaded
• Web Links
• 40 CFR Part 171.7
• State laws/regulations
• Helpful Hints
• Electronic submission of state laws and
  regulations
• Login ID and Passwords

19
Issue Papers

• CT 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

20
CTAG Workgroup 2

• Workgroup on Pesticide Safety

21
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.

22
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

23
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 - CT program

24
CTAG Workgroup 3

• Tiered-Classification of Pesticides and
  Pesticide Users
• Under Formation (June 2002)

25
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

26
For More CTAG Information

• CTAG Web Page
• http//pep.wsu.edu/ctag
• Board
• Documents
• Activities
• Meetings
• Links