2021-26948. Notification of Submission to the Secretary of Agriculture; Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators; Extension to Expiration Date of Certification Plans

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notification of submission to the Secretary of Agriculture.

SUMMARY:

This document notifies the public as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that the EPA Administrator has forwarded to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) a draft regulatory document concerning “Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators; Extension to Expiration Date of Certification Plans (RIN 2070-AL00).” The draft regulatory document is not available to the public until after it has been signed and made available by EPA.

DATES:

See Unit I. under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION .

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this action, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0831, is available at http://www.regulations.gov. That docket contains historical information and this Federal Register document; it does not contain the draft final rule.

Please note that due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is open by appointment only. The staff continues to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carolyn Schroeder, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What action is EPA taking?

FIFRA section 25(a)(2)(B) requires the EPA Administrator to provide the Secretary of USDA with a copy of any draft final rule at least 30 days before signing it in final form for publication in the Federal Register . The draft final rule is not available to the public until after it has been signed by EPA. If the Secretary of USDA comments in writing regarding the draft final rule within 15 days after receiving it, the EPA Administrator must include the comments of the Secretary of USDA, if requested by the Secretary of USDA, and the EPA Administrator's response to those comments with the final rule that publishes in the Federal Register . If the Secretary of USDA does not comment in writing within 15 days after receiving the draft final rule, the EPA Administrator may sign the final rule for publication in the Federal Register any time after the 15-day period.

II. Do any statutory and Executive Order reviews apply to this notification?

No. This document is merely a notification of submission to the Secretary of USDA. As such, none of the regulatory assessment requirements apply to this document.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 171

• Environmental protection
• Applicator competency
• Agricultural worker safety
• Certified applicator
• Pesticide safety training
• Pesticide worker safety
• Pesticides and pests
• Restricted use pesticides

Dated: December 8, 2021.

Michal Freedhoff,

Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.