Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0960-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Pesticide Worker Protection; Notice of Public Meeting
Posted Date: 2007-09-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54038-54039]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se07-90]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0960; FRL-8150-5]

 
Pesticide Worker Protection; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs will host two public 
meetings regarding pesticide worker protection issues in October. A 
Pesticide Worker Safety and Health Conference will be held on October 
2-4, 2007, in Arlington, VA, at the Hilton Hotel in Crystal City. The 
conference will provide an informational forum for federal and state 
agencies and private sector organizations involved in pesticide worker 
safety and health programs, policies and research initiatives. The 
conference will also highlight the accomplishments of the Agency's 
worker protection initiatives in partnership with our grantees. On the 
afternoon of October 4, 2007, the Office of Pesticide Programs will 
host a Diagnostic Tools Workshop in Arlington, VA, at the Hilton Hotel 
in Crystal City. Because health care providers lack tests to identify 
specific chemicals and/or levels of exposure that may be linked to the 
reported illnesses, the goal of this Workshop is to gather

[[Page 54039]]

information on critical diagnostic needs, the current state of the 
science, and research needs for and feasibility of developing 
diagnostic tools to identify exposure to a specific chemical/level.

DATES:  The Pesticide Worker Safety and Health Conference will be held 
on October 2, 3, and 4, 2007, as follows: on October 2 from 1 p.m. to 6 
p.m.; on October 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and on October 4 from 
8:30 a.m. to noon. The Diagnostic Tools Workshop will be held on 
October 4, 2007, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the 
persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at 
least 10 days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as 
possible to process your request.

ADDRESSES:  The conference and workshop will be held at the Hilton 
Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Questions regarding the Pesticide 
Worker Safety and Health Conference should be referred to: Elizabeth 
Evans, Field and External Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7891; fax 
number: (703) 308-2962; e-mail 
address:worker_safety_health_conference@epa.gov.

    Questions regarding the Diagnostic Tools Workshop should be 
referred to: Elizabeth Mendez, Health Effects Division (7509P), Office 
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number 
(703) 305-5453; fax number (703) 305-5147; e-mail 
address:Mendez.elizabeth@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you represent 
federal or state agencies or organizations which are involved or 
interested in pesticide worker safety and health programs, policies and 
research initiatives. Potentially affected entities may include, but 
are not limited to:
    Federal and state agencies, organizations and other stakeholders 
interested in pesticide worker safety and health programs, policies and 
research initiatives, including, but not limited to: Environmental 
occupational health and safety specialists, health care providers, 
epidemiologists, state departments of health, poison control centers, 
migrant clinicians, federal agencies, state lead agencies, grower 
organizations, and farmworker organizations.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established a docket for this action under 
docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0960. Publicly available docket 
materials are available either in the electronic docket athttp://www.regulations.gov
, or, if only available in hard copy, at the Office 

of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, One 
Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. The 
hours of operation of the Docket Facility are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The Docket Facility 
telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings athttp://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

II. Background & Agendas

A. Pesticide Worker Safety and Health Conference

    This Conference will focus on measuring the impact of current 
worker protection initiatives and developing effective interventions 
where protective gaps exist. The conference will also highlight the 
accomplishments of the Agency's worker protection initiatives in 
partnership with our grantees. Breakout sessions are planned for 
Wednesday, October 3 with expert presentations and panel discussions 
on: Take-home pesticide exposure and families of farmworkers; advances 
in engineering controls; education and training of farmworkers and 
pesticide applicators; administrative and policy solutions to better 
protect the pesticide workforce; risk communication strategies and 
lessons learned; the role of surveillance of occupational pesticide-
related illnesses and injuries; worker exposure assessment, strengths 
and weaknesses in data collection.

B. Diagnostic Tools Workshop

    One of the major challenges faced by health care professionals in 
the diagnosis and treatment of ailments associated with pesticide 
exposure is the lack of tests to identify specific chemicals and/or 
levels of exposure that may be linked to the reported illnesses. As a 
result, there is increasing interest in the development of more 
sophisticated diagnostic tools to help clinicians diagnose and 
prescribe effective courses of treatment. The goal of the Diagnostic 
Tools Workshop is to gather information on critical diagnostic needs, 
the current state of the science, and the research needs for and 
feasibility of developing diagnostic tools to identify exposure to a 
specific chemical/level.
    Planned agendas for both the Pesticide Worker Safety and Health 
Conference and the Diagnostic Tools Workshop are posted on the website 
at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides.

III. How Can I Request to Participate in these Meetings?

    Both of these meetings are open to the public. Persons interested 
in attending the Pesticide Worker Safety and Health Conference should 
go to EPA's website to register (at no cost) at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides.
 The Diagnostic Tools Workshop is open to the public and 

seating is available on a first-come basis.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticide worker safety, Farmworker.

    Dated: September 17, 2007.
William R. Diamond,
Director, Field and External Affairs Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-18706 Filed 9-20-07 8:45 am]

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