This Information Collection Request (ICR) estimates the recordkeeping and third-party response burden of paperwork activities associated with a final rule that amends 40 CFR Part 170, entitled âPesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Revisionsâ [RIN 2070-AJ22]. This rule-related ICR is intended to replace an existing ICR, currently approved under OMB Control Number 2070-0148, that covers the information collection requirements contained in the existing Worker Protection Standard (WPS) regulations, also at 40 CFR Part 170.
The existing regulation already has provisions for training and notification of pesticide-related information for workers who enter pesticide-treated areas after pesticide application to perform crop-related tasks, as well as for handlers who mix, load, and apply pesticides. Agricultural employers and commercial pesticide handling establishments (CPHEs) are responsible for providing required training, notifications and information to their employees to ensure worker and handler safety. The changes to the regulation are intended to improve protections and include revisions to many current provisions as well as the addition of new requirements. The revised rule includes expanded and more frequent training for workers and handlers, improved posting of pesticide-treated areas, additional information for workers before they enter a pesticide-treated area while a restricted entry interval (REI) is in effect, access to more general and application-specific information about pesticides used on the establishment, and recordkeeping of training to improve enforceability and compliance.
US Code:
7 USC 136w
Name of Law: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
As a new, replacement ICR for this rulemaking, much of the burden is attributed to program changes. Relative to the 1,827,493 total burden hours estimated for the existing WPS regulation in the ICR currently-approved under OMB Control No. 2070-0148, this ICR reflects an increase of 8,620,667 hours. The increase in burden reflects the many revised regulatory requirements, a re-estimation of the burden associated with existing requirements, as well as revised estimates of the number of respondents/responses based on newer information that is available to EPA. The regulatory changes include modifications to restrictions in field entry activities during restricted entry intervals; increased hazard communications; increased training (for both workers and handlers); increased posting of pesticide application information; provisions for information during emergency assistance; and recordkeeping for training, application-specific information, and respirator requirements. In addition, for the tables in the supporting statement, the number of respondents will often times be smaller than the responses because there are some activities within one Information Collection that will be done once and other activities within the same Information Collection that will be done multiple times.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.