2022-01289. Notification of Submission to the Secretary of Agriculture; Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators; Further 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 proposed rulemaking regulatory document concerning “Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators; Further Extension to Expiration Date of Certification Plans (RIN 2070-AL01).” 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 https://www.regulations.gov. That docket contains historical information and this Federal Register document; it does not contain the draft proposed 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 to visitors by appointment only. 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)(A) requires the EPA Administrator to provide the Secretary of USDA with a copy of any draft proposed rule at least 60 days before signing it in proposed form for publication in the Federal Register . The draft proposed 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 proposed rule within 30 days after receiving it, then the EPA Administrator shall include the comments of the Secretary of USDA and the EPA Administrator's response to those comments with the proposed rule that publishes in the Federal Register . If the Secretary of USDA does not comment in writing within 30 days after receiving the draft proposed rule, then the EPA Administrator may sign the proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register any time after the 30-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 Part 171

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

Dated: January 19, 2022.

Michal Freedhoff,

Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.