[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81526-81527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32844]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6922-1]


Pesticide AudioTechnology Initiative Pilot Program Announcement

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA invites interested individuals and organizations to 
participate in a new pesticide educational outreach pilot program 
entitled the Pesticide Audio Technology Initiative (PATI) which will 
develop educational kits for use in schools. The kits will be used to 
teach about the Consumer Labeling Initiative's (CLI) national 
educational campaign to ``READ the Label First!'' and the importance of 
safe and proper use, storage, and disposal of pesticides and household 
cleaners.

DATES: The PATI pilot program will begin January 25, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Drew Burnett (202) 564-0448, 
epamail.epa.gov">Burnett.andrew@epamail.epa.gov; or Amy Breedlove, (703) 308-9069, 
Breedlove.amy@ epamail.epa.gov; Office of Environmental Education (1704 
A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has three primary objectives for the 
PATI pilot program: (1) To develop an effective educational program to 
teach school age children about the importance of first reading the 
label before any member of the household uses a pesticide or household 
cleaner;

[[Page 81527]]

(2) promoting household safety to reduce children's exposure to 
potentially harmful chemicals; and (3) utilizing this pilot program as 
an opportunity to foster partnerships among EPA, State and Local 
Agencies, industry, and other potential stakeholders.
    In March 1996, EPA announced the CLI after finding that label 
information is often difficult for the general public to read and 
understand. CLI is a voluntary, cooperative partnership among federal, 
state, and local government agencies, industry, and other interested 
groups working to improve product labels on indoor insecticides, 
outdoor pesticides, and household cleaners. CLI's educational goals are 
to foster pollution prevention and to improve consumer understanding of 
information on consumer products, particularly pesticides and cleaners. 
To bring these new labels to the attention of the public, the CLI 
developed a national consumer education campaign entitled ``Read the 
Label FIRST!'' ( RtLF!).
    According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 36 
children age 14 and under died from poisoning in 1997. More than 1 
million children were victims of accidental poisoning. Introducing 
school age children to the RtLF! campaign and child safety issues via 
the PATI pilot program will allow them to become better-informed 
consumers and reduce their risks of accidental poisonings. In turn, 
they can carry this knowledge back to their families.
    Currently, participants in the PATI pilot program include New 
Mexico's Family Career and Community Leaders of America and SpaceMark 
Talking Technologies, Inc. EPA is announcing this initiative to promote 
the broadest possible participation by interested individuals and 
organizations in order to develop an effective education program for 
school age children.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection; Environmental education, and outreach.

    Dated: December 14, 2000.
Michael Baker,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Education.
[FR Doc. 00-32844 Filed 12-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U