[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8721-8722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4623]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-00469; FRL-5588-8]


Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training; Renewal of 
Pesticide Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) is coming up for renewal. This ICR, 
Certification of Pesticide Applicators (40 CFR part 171), ICR No. 
0155.05, OMB No. 2070-0029, will expire on June 30, 1997. Before 
submitting the renewal packages to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection 
as described below.
Dates: Comments must be submitted on or before April 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control 
number OPP-00469 and ICR number 0155.05 by mail to: Public Response 
Section, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide 
Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. In person, bring comments directly to the OPP docket which is 
located in Room 1132 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, VA.
    Comments and data 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 and data will also be 
accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. 
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the 
docket control number OPP-00469 and ICR number 0155.05. 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 III. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Kramer, Policy and Special 
Projects Staff, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code (7506C), 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: (703) 305-6475, e-mail: [email protected]. Copies 
of the complete ICR and accompanying appendices may be obtained from 
the OPP docket at the above address or by contacting Ellen Kramer at 
the telephone number or address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this document and the ICR 
are available from the EPA home page at the Environmental Sub-Set entry 
for this document under ``Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/
).
I. Information Collection Requests
    EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection 
Request (ICR).
    Title: Certification of Pesticide Applicators (40 CFR Part 171). 
ICR No.

[[Page 8722]]

0155.05. OMB No. 2070-0029. Renewal. Current expiration date: June 30, 
1997.
    Affected entities: Parties affected by this information collection 
are pesticide applicators who require certification to apply restricted 
use pesticides, and States, Indian tribes, and Federal Agencies with 
EPA-approved certification plans.
    Abstract: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
allows a pesticide to be classified as ``restricted use'' if the 
pesticide meets certain toxicity criteria. Restricted use pesticides, 
because of their potential to harm people or the environment, may be 
applied only by a certified applicator or someone under the direct 
supervision of a certified applicator. In order to become a certified 
applicator, a person must meet certain standards of competency. The 
primary mechanism for certifying pesticide applicators is State 
certification plans approved by EPA. 40 CFR part 171 establishes the 
criteria for State and EPA-administered certification plans. In 
addition, these regulations establish criteria for certification plans 
from Federal agencies or Indian tribes who wish to develop their own 
programs in lieu of using State certification programs.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements in these regulations 
allow the Agency to ensure that restricted use pesticides are used only 
by or under the direct supervision of properly trained and certified 
applicators, and to monitor the application of restricted use 
pesticides.
    Burden Statement: Small entities are affected by this information 
collection activity as the regulations apply to individuals who are 
certified applicators. However, the records required of pesticide 
applicators and their employees are minimal and would generally be kept 
for the applicator's own use even in the absence of this regulation. 
The information is to be retained for 2 years and is only made 
available upon request by State or EPA authorized officials. States 
supply information through annual reports on the status of certified 
applicators, enforcement of restricted use pesticides, and any 
significant changes in the plan.
    The annual respondent burden for this program is estimated to 
average 5 hours for pesticide dealer recordkeeping, 3.5 hours for 
certified applicator recordkeeping, 10 minutes for completing 
applicator certification forms, and 150 hours for State annual reports, 
including time for: reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining 
the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection.
    Any Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations are contained in 40 CFR part 9.

II. Request for Comments

    EPA solicits comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information 
described above are necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility.
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens 
of the proposed collections of information.
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected.
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of these 
information collections, including suggestions for reducing the 
burdens, to the docket under ADDRESSES listed above.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Information collection requests.

    Dated: February 14, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-4623 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
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