Colorado QS/CO Pesticide Test Questions & Answers Graded A

Colorado QS/CO Pesticide Test Questions & Answers Graded A Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) - Laws that provide federal control of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. EPA carries out enforcement. Users must take exams for certification as applicators. EPA must register new pesticides and re-register all existing pesticides. Applies to people who manufacture, market, distribute, use, or dispose of pesticide products. What are the two main pesticide classifications? - General use and restricted use General Use Pesticide - Generally have a lower toxicity and have less potential to harm humans or the environment Can be bought and used by the public without special permits or restrictions Restricted Use Pesticide (RUPs) - Might result in an unreasonable adverse effect on human health and/or the environment Application by trained persons is required to use these products This classification will be stated on the label Pesticide Registration - Since 1988, the EPA has been in charge of this. A pesticide must have a substantially complete database and must not cause unreasonable risks to human health or the environment when used in accordance with its approved label directions and precautions. 4 types of pesticide registration - Section 3 - full federal label Section 18 - emergency exemptions Section 24c - special local needs label Section 25b - minimum risk pesticides Pesticide Registration: Section 3 - Full Federal Label - Outlines pesticide registration requirements that manufacturers must follow. Most pesticides are registered this way Pesticide Registration: Section 18 - Emergency Exemptions - Allows state and federal agencies to permit an additional use during a short term pest management crisis in a specific locality. Manufacturer is not allowed to advertise or promote the use of the product under this, even though the use is legal. This is used when there is a crisis and there are no federally registered pesticides available to control the problem. Pesticide Registration: Section 24c - Special Local Needs Label - Colorado can register additional uses of a federally listed pesticide. These uses are for additional distribution and use in a specific area. These are valid only in the state of issue. Pesticide Registration: Section 25b - Minimum Risk Pesticides - Can register pesticides that have a very limited set of active and inert ingredients specified by the EPA, and are not required to have an EPA registration number. These pesticides are required to be registered with CDA in order to be sold and used in Colorado. Certified Operator - Individual who has been recognized by the state, tribe, territory, or agency responsible for regulating pesticides (in CO this is the CDA) as being competent to use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs). Must know how to read a pesticide label and be bale to follow directions to use them properly and safely 2 categories of certified operators - Private Applicators Commercial Applicators Private certified operator - Individual who uses or supervises the use of RUPs in the production of agricultural commodities on land owned or rented by him/her or his/her employer Commercial certified operator - Individual who engages in the business of applying pesticides or operating a device for hire. Limited commercial operator - Any person who in the course of conducting a business only in or on property owned or leased by the person or the person's employer is engaged in applying RUPs Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) - FIFRA was amended in 1996 to include this. Requires all pesticides meet new health and safety standards - including determining if pesticide is an endocrine disruptor. EPA must conclude with reasonable certainty that no harm will come to infants, children, or other sensitive individuals exposed to pesticides - cumulative effects must be considered. Requires EPA to review every registered pesticide on a 15 year cycle. Public operator - Any agency of the state, county, city, municipality, local government, or political subdivision which applies RUPs Pesticide Residues - Particles that remain in small amounts in or on fruits, vegetables, grains, other foods, and animal feeds. Pesticide Residue Tolerance - Maximum limit, set by the EPA, allowed to remain in or on each treated food commodity. Aggregate Pesticide Exposure - All possible sources of exposure to the same pesticide Cumulative Pesticide Exposure - Combined effect from multiple exposures to the same pesticide Rinsate - A mixture of pesticides diluted by water, solvents, oils, commercial rinsing agents, or any other substances. It is produced from cleaning pesticide application equipment or pesticide containers. Penalties for breaking pesticide laws - Both civil and criminal charges can be assessed for FIFRA violations. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) - Passed before FIFRA to set maximum residue levels for unavoidable poisonous substances in food marketed in the US. Administered by the FDA but the EPA has a role EPAs role: sets tolerances for pesticide residues on food commodities in the US FDAs role: Monitors food crops for pesticide residues and enforces the levels set by the EPA. Worker Protection Standard (WPS) - Federal regulation passed in 1974 to provide protection to workers who perform hand labor tasks in fields after a pesticide application. Recently updated in 2015 to increase protection to workers. It applies when a pesticide that contains this labeling is used in the production of agricultural commodities This labeling can be found in the "Directions for Use" in the "Agricultural Use Requirements" section of the label Types of Agricultural Establishments Covered by WPS - Applies to any establishment involved in growing, maintaining, or producing agricultural plants for commercial and/or research or experimental purposes (Nurseries, dairy farms, golf courses, prisons, public parks, university extension programs, etc.) Endangered Species Act - Passed in 1973 to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction Administered by the USFWS It is a violation to use a pesticide in any manner than may kill or otherwise harm an an endangered species or adversely modify their habitat Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act - Provides authority for federal cleanup of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and response to spills or accidental releases of hazardous substances EPA has a list of all chemicals that could cause serious, irreversible health effects through accidental releases and any facility with such chemicals needs to notify both state and federal agencies. The Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act - Regulates transportation of pesticides. Shipment of pesticides and other dangerous substances across state lines is regulated by the US DOT DOT requires placards on vehicles that transport certain types and quantities of hazardous materials Transportation Security Plan - Required by US DOT for all operations that ship or transport materials in quantities that require a placard. General Rule of State Pesticide Laws - Programs that are derived from a delegation of federal regulatory authority can be more, but cannot be less, stringent than the federal law Colorado Pesticide Applicators Act, Title 35, Article 10 - Administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture Pesticide Program. Includes licensing and regulation of any individual or business who applies pesticides or uses certain pest control devices, on property other than their own, and for hire, or any form of compensation in CO Who needs to be license to apply pesticide in CO? - Commercial applicator Limited commercial applicator Public operator Certified operator (CO) - An individual who mixes, loads, or applies any pesticide, including RUPs, under the supervision of a qualified supervisor Qualified Supervisor (QS) - Any individual who is licensed to apply pesticides without supervision, evaluates pest problems, or recommends pest controls using pesticides or devices; or mixes, loads, or applies any pesticides; or sells application services; or operates devices; or supervises other in any of these functions Pesticide Application Record Requirments - Name and address for whom the application was made Location, if different from above Target pest Site, crop, commodity, or structure treated Specific pesticide with EPA registration # Dilution rate (amount formulation to amount of carrier) Application rate, total amount of pesticide applied/unit of area Time and date of application Carrier (if other than water) Name of person who made application How long must pesticide records be kept? - 3 years As an applicator working for a business in Colorado, what must you always have in your possession at a site that you are applying pesticide? - The original product container with labeling or a copy of the pesticide label and any attached labeling for each product Service Vehicle Equipment Identification for Applying Pesticide in Colorado - Each vehicle and/or trailer used for applying or carrying pesticide must be identified on both sides with the company name in 2 inch high letters and with the city and state, where company records are kept Pesticide Positing Requirements for Colorado - All turf, ornamental, and aquatic applications must be posted with at least one sign notifying the public of the application Need to be posted in an easy-to-see area Pesticide Notification Requirements for Turf and Ornamental Applications in Colorado - All commercial, limited commercial, and public applicators shall give prior notice to all persons listed on the Registry of Pesticide-Sensitive Persons for all applications made to properties which directly abut their property, property they reside on, and in multi-unit dwellings Need to include the date and time of any application and be given at least 24 hours before the application(s). Pesticide Notification Requirements for Structural Applications in Colorado - All commercial, limited commercial, and public applicators shall give prior notice to all persons listed on the Registry of Pesticide-Sensitive Persons for designated structural pest control categories when making applications to multi-unit dwellings. Need to include date and time and give notice at least 24 hours in advance. Pesticide Notification Requirements for Agricultural Applications in CO - After applications, commercial applicators are required to give written notice to their customer, which includes the name of the pesticide, the amount of each pesticide, the date applied, the site of application, any applicable re-entry intervals, any applicable grazing intervals, any applicable crop rotation intervals, and the precautionary information from the label Verifiable Technician Training for Pesticide Application in CO - Each commercial, limited commercial, or public applicator licensed or registered in any category must maintain a form established by the commissioner for each technician trained by the commercial applicator. Colorado Pesticide Act - Regulates the registration, labeling, transportation, distribution, storage, use, and disposal of any pesticide and of certain pesticide devices in the state. Administered by CDA. What do all the state of Colorado RUPs have in common (3)? - They are all residual soil herbicides that have caused serious plant injury through misuse. Can only be applied by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision. There is no label statement indicating that they are state RUPs