Certification & Training Assessment Group

History & Current Activity

North Central Region Pesticide Education & Certification

WorkshopJune 2002

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.

CTAG Members

CTAG members representative of current partners

Began with four workgroups:– Content– Infrastructure & Delivery– Funding– Evaluation

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.

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

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

CTAG Process Review

August 2001

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 ?

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

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

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

CTAG Board of DirectorsRoles and Responsibilities

Working committees– Formed by the Board as needed to

accomplish program goals and tasks

– Members• Board• Others

CTAG Workgroup Activity

#1 C&T Plan/Report Template

- Age, Exam, Grant Issues

#2 Pesticide Safety Program

#3 Tiered Classification

CTAG Workgroup #1

State Plan Template Workgroup

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.

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.

C&T Plan/Report Template

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 171.7– 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

Workgroup GoalTo 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

Under Formation (June 2002)

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

For More CTAG Information

CTAG Web Page:http://pep.wsu.edu/ctag

• Board• Documents• Activities• Meetings• Links