[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11549-11550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5906]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0087; FRL-7297-2]


Agricultural Worker Protection Program; Notice of Public Workshop

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) will hold a public 
workshop on the Agricultural Worker Protection Program on March 19, 20, 
and 21, 2003. The agenda for this workshop is in development and will 
be posted by March 10, 2003, on EPA's web site. On March 19, the agenda 
will be devoted to the National Program Assessment of the Agricultural 
Worker Protection Program, and will include discussions about training, 
hazard communications, enforcement, and recommendations for the 
National Worker Protection Program. On March 20 and 21, the agenda will 
cover various topics including: Benefits assessment process, risk 
mitigation process, engineering controls and equipment for worker 
protection, field implementation issues, safety training, and 
occupational health research.

DATES:  The workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2003, from 9 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; on Thursday, March 20, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m.; and Friday, March 21, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES:  The workshop will be held at the Marriot Crystal Gateway 
(Salons V and VI), 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA (703) 920-
3230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Margie Fehrenbach, Office of 
Pesticide Programs (7501C), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(703) 308-4775; fax number: (703) 308-4776; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the public in general; however, persons 
may be interested who work in agricultural settings or persons who are 
concerned about implementation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
(FFDCA); and the amendments to both of these major pesticide laws by 
the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) (Public Law 104-170). 
Since other entities may also be interested, the Agency has not 
attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be affected by 
this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of 
this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0087. The 
official public docket consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other 
information related to this action. Although a part of the official 
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials 
that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. The agenda for this workshop 
is in development and will be posted by March 10, 2003, on EPA's web 
site at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to view public comments, 
access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, 
and to access those documents in the public docket that are available 
electronically. Although not all docket materials may be available 
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available 
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate 
docket ID number.

II. Background

    Stakeholders from two of EPA's Federal advisory committees, the 
Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) and the Committee to Advise 
on Reassessment and Transition (CARAT), have expressed interest in 
better understanding the process followed by OPP when developing 
agricultural worker risk assessments and the overall Agricultural 
Worker Protection Program. EPA planned two workshops to address these 
issues. The first was held in October 2002 and focused on the worker 
risk assessment process for agricultural handlers and post applicators. 
The second workshop will focus the first day on the National Program 
Assessment of the Agricultural Worker Protection Program, and will 
include discussions about training, hazard communication, enforcement 
and recommendations for the National Worker Protection Program. The 
agenda for the second and third day will cover various topics 
including: Benefits assessment process, risk mitigation process, 
engineering controls and equipment for worker protection, field 
implementation issues, safety training and occupational health 
research. The public is invited to this workshop. Participation from 
the two Federal advisory committees is also invited, representing the 
following sectors: Pesticide user, grower, and commodity groups; 
industry and trade associations; environmental/public interest and 
farmworker groups; Federal, State, and Tribal governments; public 
health organizations; animal welfare; and academia.

[[Page 11550]]

III. How Can I Participate in this Workshop?

    An opportunity will be provided for questions and comments by the 
public. Any person who wishes to submit a written statement may do so 
at the workshop. All public comments will become part of the public 
record and will be available for public inspection.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Agriculture, Agricultural workers, 
Chemicals, Foods, Pesticides and pests.


    Dated: March 5, 2003.
Marcia E. Mulkey,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 03-5906 Filed 3-10-03; 2:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S