[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10557-10558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5682]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00472; FRL-5591-8]


Pesticides Worker Protection Standards; Request for Comments on 
Renewal of Agency Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) is coming up for renewal. This ICR, entitled 
``Pesticides Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification,'' 
EPA ICR No. 1759.02, OMB No. 2070-0148, will expire on May 31, 1997. 
Before submitting the renewal packages to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
collection as described below.

Dates: Comments must be submitted on or before May 6, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control 
number OPP-00472 and the appropriate ICR number by mail to: Public 
Response Section, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments directly to the OPP 
docket which is located in Rm. 1132 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Copies of the complete ICR and 
accompanying appendices may be obtained from the OPP docket at the 
above address or by contacting the person whose name appears under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f29d8282df969d91999786b29782939f939b9edc978293dc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="650a151548010a060e00112500150408040c094b0015044b020a13">[email protected]</span></a>. Electronic 
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form or encryption. Comments and data will also be 
accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. 
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
docket control number ``OPP-00472'' and the appropriate ICR number. No 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-
mail. Electronic comments on this document may be filed online at many 
Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic 
submissions can be found in Unit III. of this document.
    Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as 
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice. All written comments will be available for 
public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the Virginia address given above from 
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Kramer, Policy and Special 
Projects Staff, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code (7501C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: (703) 305-6475, e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f59e8794989087db909999909bb590859498949c99db908594db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5bea7b4b8b0a7fbb0b9b9b0bb95b0a5b4b8b4bcb9fbb0a5b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this document and the ICR 
are available from the EPA home page at the Environmental Sub-Set entry 
for this document under ``Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).

I. Information Collection Requests

    EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection 
Request (ICR).
    Title: Pesticides Worker Protection Standard Training and 
Notification (40 CFR Parts 156 and 170).
    ICR Numbers: EPA No. 1759.02 and OMB No. 2070-0148.
    Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on May 31, 1997.
    Affected Entities: Parties affected by this information collection 
are agricultural employers, including employers in farms as well as 
nursery, forestry, and greenhouse establishments.
    Abstract: EPA is responsible for the regulation of pesticides under 
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The 
Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides, 40 CFR 
part 170 and 40 CFR part 156, subpart K, includes requirements for 
protection of agricultural workers and pesticide handlers from hazards 
of pesticides used on farms, on forests, in nurseries, and in 
greenhouses. 40 CFR part 170 contains the standard and workplace 
practices and 40 CFR part 156 prescribes the statements that must be 
placed on the pesticide label and in pesticide labeling. The WPS 
workplace practices are designed to reduce or eliminate exposure to 
pesticides and establish procedures for responding to exposure-related 
emergencies. The practices include prohibitions against applying 
pesticides in a way that would cause exposure to workers and others; a 
waiting period before workers can return to areas treated with 
pesticides (restricted entry period); basic safety

[[Page 10558]]

training and distribution and posting of information about pesticide 
hazards, as well as pesticide application information; arrangements for 
the supply of soap, water, and towels in case of pesticide exposure; 
and provisions for emergency assistance.
    Prior to September 1995, the WPS information collection activities 
were covered under OMB ICR No. 2070-0060. In September 1995, however, 
OMB approved an ICR that consolidated all the WPS information 
collection activities under a new ICR (EPA No. 1759; OMB No. 2070-
0148). The information collection activity associated with the 
pesticides WPS includes a voluntary program to verify that training has 
been provided; the WPS provisions for display of basic pesticide safety 
information and pesticide-specific treatment (application) information 
at a central location on the agricultural establishment; the provisions 
requiring that employers provide employees with pesticide-specific 
treatment (application) information in the form of oral or written 
(posted) notification; the provisions that require the actual training 
for which the verification program was established or that basic 
pesticide safety information be provided to employees who have not 
completed the full WPS pesticide safety training and before they enter 
a treated area; the provisions requiring that pesticide handler 
employers provide pesticide-specific information to agricultural 
employers prior to treatment, that pesticide handler employers provide 
notification to handler employees regarding the safe operation and 
repair of equipment to be used in handling activities, and that 
pesticide handler employers provide emergency information on pesticide 
treatments to employees believed to be poisoned or those treating them; 
and the provisions requiring that employers provide employees with 
notification when exceptions/exemptions to the early entry restrictions 
are being implemented. (The major WPS labeling program was a one-time 
collection and is completed. Registrants of EPA-registered products may 
request that the Agency amend their previously approved label. Future 
requests from registrants for label amendments are covered as part of 
routine label amendments under a separate ICR approved by OMB under 
2070-0060 (EPA ICR No. 277)).
    The WPS requires that agricultural employers assure that 
agricultural workers and pesticide handlers are trained in basic 
pesticide safety practices to reduce the risk of pesticide poisoning 
and other injuries. The EPA Training Verification Program is intended 
to achieve this by requiring the issuance of safety information to 
workers and handlers. Upon the completion of the training, the WPS 
provides for the issuance of ``EPA-Approved Worker Protection Standard 
Training Certificates'' to workers and handlers to allow employers to 
verify that workers and handlers have received WPS safety training. The 
initial burden for this collection activity (24,990 burden hours) is 
predicted to taper off to a much lower annual burden.
    Burden Statement: The annual respondent burden for providing the 
notifications associated with this activity is estimated to total 
3,443,705 hours, including all third party WPS training and 
notification requirements, such as provisions requiring employers to 
provide employees pesticide-specific treatment (application) 
information in the form of oral or written notification, provisions 
requiring that employers assure that employees receive basic pesticide 
safety information or training, a voluntary program to verify training 
and relieve duplication of training, provisions requiring handler 
notification to employers regarding pesticide treatments (applications) 
and provision for emergency information on pesticide treatments, and 
provisions requiring employers to notify employees when an exception/
exemption to the WPS is being implemented.

II. Request for Comments

    The Agency would appreciate any comments or information that could 
be used to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information 
described above are necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility.
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens 
of the proposed collections of information.
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected.
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    The Agency is particularly interested in comments and information 
about the burden estimates, including examples that could be used to 
reflect the burdens imposed. Send comments regarding these matters, or 
any other aspect of these information collections, including 
suggestions for reducing the burdens, to the docket under ADDRESSES 
listed above.

III. Public Record

    A record has been established for this action under docket control 
number ``OPP-00472'' (including comments and data submitted 
electronically as described below). A public version of this record, 
including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does 
not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The public record is located in Rm. 1132 of the Public 
Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division 
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
    <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#355a454518515a565e50417550455458545c591b5045541b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="38574848155c575b535d4c785d485955595154165d4859165f574e">[email protected]</span></a>
    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    The official record for this action, as well as the public version, 
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will 
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form 
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official 
record which will also include all comments submitted directly in 
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the 
address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Information collection requests, 
Pesticides, and Worker protection standards.

    Dated: February 28, 1997.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-5682 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F


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