Certification of Pesticide Applicators (Renewal)

This Information Collection Request (ICR) amendment covers the proposed revisions to the “Certification of Pesticide Applicators” at 40 CFR Part 171, which regulates the certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides (RUPs), assuming that the proposed amendments become final. This ICR estimates the incremental burden of the proposed changes not already included in the currently approved ICR “Certification of Pesticide Applicators” (OMB No: 2070-0029) covering the current 40 CFR Part 171. The existing regulation has provisions for states, tribes, territories, and federal agencies that wish to certify applicators to use RUPs to submit certification plans to EPA for review and approval, and requirements to report on specific information related to applicator certification activities annually. The regulation has standards of competency for persons who are certified to apply RUPs, as well as requirements related to noncertified applicators who apply RUPs under the direct supervision of certified applicators. In addition, it already requires pesticide dealers to maintain records of RUP sales in areas where EPA administers an applicator certification program. EPA is proposing changes to the rule to improve the competency of certified applicators of RUPs and noncertified applicators who apply RUPs under the direct supervision of certified applicators. Proposed changes to the rule include new and revised standards for certification for commercial and private applicators, provisions for recertification of applicators, and training for noncertified applicators applying RUPs under the supervision of certified applicators. The proposal also includes changes to improve the clarity and organization of the rule and overall program operation. The proposed changes to the regulation are intended to ensure that all persons who use RUPs – i.e., private applicators, commercial applicators, and noncertified applicators using RUPs under the direct supervision of certified applicators – are competent to use RUPs in a manner that will not result in unreasonable adverse effects to themselves, others, or the environment. This amendment ICR estimates the burden and costs of the proposed changes related to information collection and includes: training for noncertified applicators applying RUPs under the direct supervision of certified applicators, recordkeeping of the noncertified applicator training, recordkeeping of RUP sales by pesticide dealerships under certification programs not administered by EPA, and costs to states, territories, tribes, and federal agencies to revise certification plans as needed to comply with the proposed requirements.

The latest form for Certification of Pesticide Applicators (Renewal) expires 2021-08-31 and can be found here.

Rule Familiarization (Authorized Agencies)

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Environmental Management - Pollution Prevention and Control