[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6520-6521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3381]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-00465; FRL-5581-3]


Department of Defense Plan for Certification of Pesticide 
Applicators

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Approve Certification Plan.

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SUMMARY: On December 8, 1985, EPA announced approval of a revised 
Department of Defense (DOD) plan for the certification of pesticide 
applicators. DOD has submitted another revision to their pesticide 
applicator certification plan reflecting changes in their 
administrative procedures and adoption of several new subcategories of 
certification. Notice is hereby given of the intention of EPA to grant 
approval of the newly revised DOD plan.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before March 14, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: The Agency invites interested persons to submit written 
comments on this Notice. Comments identified by the docket control 
number ``OPP-00465'' should be submitted in triplicate by mail to: 
Public Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division 
(7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person bring comments to: Rm. 
1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic 
mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic comments must 
be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters 
and any form of encryption. Comments will also be accepted on disks in 
WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments in 
electronic form must be identified by the docket number ``OPP-00465.'' 
No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through 
e-mail. Electronic comments on this document may be filed online at 
many Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic 
submissions can be found in Unit II. of this document.
    Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be 
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of that information as 
CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice. All written comments will be available for 
public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the Virginia address given above from 
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
    Copies of the DOD revised plan are available for viewing at the 
following locations during normal business hours:
    1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Rm. 1121, 
Arlington, VA 22202. Contact: Robert V. Bielarski, (703) 305-6708.
    2. U.S. Department of Defense, Armed Forces Pest Management Board, 
Forest Glen Section, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 
20307-5001. Contact: Major Charles E. Cannon, (301) 295-7476/77.
    3. Select U.S. DOD installations. Contact Major Cannon at 
aforementioned location for list of locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert V. Bielarski, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20461. Office 
location, telephone number, and e-mail address: Crystal Mall #2, 1921 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Rm. 1121, Arlington, VA, Telephone: (703) 305-
6708, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this notice and the 
revised DOD pesticide applicator certification plan are available from 
the EPA Public Access gopher (gopher.epa.gov) at the Environmental 
Subset entry under ``Rules and Regulations.''

[[Page 6521]]

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of December 8, 1985, notice was published 
announcing the final approval of a revised DOD pesticide applicator 
certification plan. The DOD has again revised its certification plan to 
reflect updated administrative procedures and the addition of three new 
subcategories. This newly revised plan has been submitted to EPA for 
approval. The revised plan will continue to cover workers from the 
three branches of the Armed Forces. The revised plan will retain the 
aerial applicator category contained in the current plan. The revised 
plan will add the following new subcategories: (1) Subcategory 3a., 
soil fumigation under the existing ornamental and turf category, (2) 
subcategory 6a., grassland and non-crop agricultural land under the 
existing right-of-way category, and (3) subcategory 7a., stored product 
fumigation under the existing industrial, institutional, structural, 
and health-related category. The remaining categories in the revised 
certification plan are similar to the established EPA categories. The 
DOD estimates that the number of applicators to be certified in the 
newly established subcategories will not exceed 50 applicators.
    The certification program will continue to be administered by the 
Armed Forces Pest Management Board within the Office of the Secretary 
of Defense. Certification and recertification will be required by 
taking and passing of a written examination. Recertification will be 
required every 3 years.
    EPA finds that the revised DOD certification plan fully meets the 
requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
and the regulations at 40 CFR part 171. Therefore, EPA announces its 
intention to approve the revised DOD certification plan.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on EPA's 
intention to approve the revised DOD certification plan.

II. Public Docket

     A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPP-00465 '' (including comments submitted electronically as 
described below). A public version of this record, including printed, 
paper versions of electronic comments, which does not include any 
information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public 
record is located in Rm. 1132 of the Public Response and Program 
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:

    [email protected]

    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    The official record for this action, as well as the public version, 
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will 
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form 
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official 
rulemaking record which will also include all comments submitted 
directly in writing. The official rulemaking record is the paper record 
maintained at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the beginning of this 
document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection.
    Dated: February 5, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-3381 Filed 2-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F