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 “Pesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection
Standard Revisions” [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.