Membership Balance Plan

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

1. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE NAME

 State the legal name of the FAC

Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee

 

2. AUTHORITY

 Identify the authority for establishing the FAC

Agency Authority, Deputy Administrator approval document. 

 

3. MISSION/FUNCTION

 Describe the mission/function of the FAC

EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is entrusted with the important responsibilities of ensuring that 

Americans are not exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides in food, protecting from unreasonable risk and 

educating those who apply or are exposed to pesticides occupationally or through use of products, and 

protecting the environment and special ecosystems from potential risks posed by pesticides.

PPDC is a policy-oriented committee that will provide policy advice, information and recommendations to 

EPA. PPDC will provide a public forum to discuss a wide variety of pesticide regulatory development and 

reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and policy issues associated 

with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides. 

The major objectives are to provide policy advice, information and recommendations on:

a. Developing practical, protective approaches for addressing pesticide regulatory policy, program 

implementation, environmental, technical, economic; and other policy issues; and

b. Reviewing proposed modifications to OPP’s current policies and procedures, including the 

technical and economic feasibility of any proposed regulatory changes to the current process of 

registering and reregistering pesticides.
 

4. POINTS OF VIEW

 Based on understanding the purpose of the FAC,

 (a) describe the process that will be used to ensure the committee is balanced, and identify the categories 

 (b) consider identifying an anticipated relative distribution of candidates across the categories; and 

 (c) explain how a determination was made to appoint any individuals as Special Government Employees 

 or Representative members 

 

PPDC will be composed of approximately forty (40) members. Members will serve as Representative 

members of non-Federal interests, Regular Government Employees (RGE), or Special Government 

Employees (SGEs). Representative members are selected to represent the points of view held by specific 

organizations, associations, or classes of individuals. In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates 

from pesticide user, grower and commodity groups; consumer and environmental/public interest groups; 

farm worker organizations; pesticide industry and trade associations; State, local and Tribal governments; 

Federal government; academia; the general public; animal welfare and public health organizations.

 

5. OTHER BALANCE FACTORS

 List any other factors EPA identifies as important in achieving a balanced FAC

Geographic location may be considered.

 

6. CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

 Summarize the process intended to be used to identify candidates for the FAC, key resources expected to be 

 tapped to identify candidates and the key persons (by position, not name) who will evaluate FAC balance. The 

 summary should:

 (a) describe the process

 (b) identify EPA key staff involved (by position, not name)

 (c) briefly describe how FAC vacancies, if any, will be handled by EPA

 (d) state the membership term limit of FAC members, if applicable

 

Approximately 8 months prior to expiration of committee members’ terms the DFO meets with EPA’s 

Office of Diversity, Advisory Committee Management, and Outreach (ODACMO) to discuss the outreach 

plan, establish a timeline, and other issues concerning the membership package. After approval of the 

outreach plan the DFO conducts outreach for new members in accordance with the plan. The DFO 

solicits representative candidate names through a Federal Register notice; through a memo from the 

OCSPP AA to the Regional Administrators; by contacting the Office of Children’s Health Protection; and 

from trade associations for the pesticide industry, trade associations from EPA’s regulated community, 

pesticide user, grower and commodity groups; consumer and environmental/public interest groups; farm 

worker organizations; State, local and Tribal governments; Federal government; academia; the general 

public; and public health organizations.

After a review of the pool of nominees, a determination is made to consider whether additional outreach is 

needed. The DFO develops a draft grid of nominees, including at least one additional candidate for each 

point of view for the function the committee is to perform. 

A balance review of the proposed membership is then conducted by ODACMO and the OGC FACA 

Attorney. Different levels of EPA managers then review the draft package for questions or comments 

before the final package is prepared. 
Formal letters of invitation to serve on the PPDC will be extended by the Administrator or Deputy 

Administrator of EPA. This cycle will be repeated for any occurring vacancies. PPDC members are 

usually appointed for a two-year term. Generally, members may be reappointed for a total of 6 years. 

7. SUBCOMMITTEE BALANCE

 Subcommittees subject to FACA* should either state that the process for determining FAC member balance 

on 

 subcommittees is the same as the process for the parent FAC, or describe how it is different

 *This is relevant to those agencies that require their subcommittees to follow all FACA requirements.

EPA plans to use the process that is used to determine advisory committee member balance for the 

parent (Tier 1) Federal advisory committee for any Tier 2 subcommittee(s) that may be created.

8. OTHER

 Provide any additional information that supports the balance of the FAC

Not applicable.

9. DATE PREPARED/UPDATED

 

July 23, 2015