2070-AK49 201910 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 2070 Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention OCSPP 2000 Environmental Protection Agency EPA Pesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard; Revision of the Application Exclusion Zone Requirements

EPA is proposing changes to the requirements in the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to clarify and simplify the application exclusion zone (AEZ) requirements.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No Deregulatory 40 CFR 170 7 U.S.C. 136 to 136y, Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Yes

EPA identified the need to consider revisions to the AEZ requirements in the WPS at 40 CFR 170, and solicited additional information and public comment to inform its proposed revision of the rule's AEZ requirements. EPA proposes to clarify and simplify the AEZ requirements based in part on input received as part of EPA's outreach efforts with state lead agencies (SLAs) and various stakeholders after the 2015 rule.

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7 U.S.C. 136-136y of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

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EPA considered making no changes to the current regulations or issuing guidance to clarify and simply the requirements for outdoor production. However, making no changes would not substantively address concerns identified by stakeholders and may require more extensive training and outreach without added benefits or protection.

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The primary benefit of revising the AEZ requirements is a reduction in the complexity and enforceability of applying a pesticide. This is a deregulatory action and is expected to reduce the burden for affected entities. Revising the requirements is expected to substantially reduce the complexity of arranging and conducting a pesticide application.

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EPA is unable to quantify any increased or decreased risk of pesticide exposure from revising the AEZ requirements; any increase or decrease may be negligible. Though simplified under the proposal, the AEZ remains as a reminder to employers and handlers that pesticide may drift beyond the intended area and that proper care is required to avoid contact with others. Employers will still be required to keep people out of the AEZ that is within the establishment.

]]> Notice 07/22/2019 84 FR 35054 NPRM 11/01/2019 84 FR 58666 NPRM Comment Period End 01/30/2020 Docket #:EPA-HQ-OPP-2017-0543 No No State Tribal No No https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety www.regulations.gov 111 Crop Production 111421 Nursery and Tree Production 113110 Timber Tract Operations 113210 Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products 11511 Support Activities for Crop Production 115112 Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating 115114 Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) 115115 Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders 115310 Support Activities for Forestry 325320 Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services 541712 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) 813311 Human Rights Organizations 813312 Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations 813319 Other Social Advocacy Organizations 813930 Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations No No Ryne Yarger 2070 Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention OCSPP 202 566-2451 yarger.ryne@epa.gov 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7508M, Washington DC 20460 Jeanne Kasai 2070 Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention OCSPP 703 308-3240 703 308-3259 kasai.jeanne@epa.gov 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code PYS1162, Washington DC 20460