Certification & Training Assessment Group

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 C&T programs • Provide direction for future of the pesticide applicator C&T 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 C&T programs • Define the needs of C&T 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 C&T 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. C&T 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. 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

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 • 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

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” - C&T 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