Update On Pesticide Regulatory Activity

By Don Parker

Cotton.org

EPA Proposes Rule to Protect Farmworkers and Pesticide Handlers from Exposures

Proposed Changes and Flexibilities

With today’s action, the Agency is proposing to reinstate several provisions from the 2015 WPS to strengthen protections for farmworkers and bystanders including:

Applying the AEZ beyond an establishment’s boundaries; and

when individuals are within easements (such as easement for utility workers to access telephone lines).

Establishing AEZ distances for ground-based spray applications of 25 feet for medium or larger sprays when sprayed from a height greater than 12 inches from the soil surface or planting medium; and

100 feet for fine sprays.

Additionally, EPA is proposing to retain two provisions in the 2020 AEZ Rule that the Agency believes are consistent with the intent of the 2015 WPS AEZ requirements and are supported by information available to the Agency to provide more clarity and flexibility for farming families.

EPA proposes to retain:

a clarification that suspended pesticide applications can resume after people leave the AEZ; and, an “immediate family exemption” that allows only farm owners and the farm owners’ immediate family to remain inside enclosed structures or homes while pesticide applications are made, providing family members flexibility to decide whether to stay on-site during pesticide applications, rather than compelling them to leave even when they feel safe remaining in their own homes.

The proposed changes are a critical part of EPA’s efforts to protect the health of farmworkers and support the Agency’s priority to advance equity and justice for all communities. Learn more about EPA’s extensive efforts to train, support and enhance safe working conditions for agricultural workers at local, state, and national levels on EPA’s website.

The entire document: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-02/Pre-Pub-Copy-WPS-AEZ.pdf

To provide comments: Regulations.gov

Comment Deadline 60 days from posting (around April 17th)