CTAG Certification and Training Assessment Group Update Carol Ramsay Kevin Keaney Washington State UniversityUS EPA OPP WSB CTAG Co-Chairs

Established in 1997 to:  help ensure safe and effective pest management through enhanced knowledge, skills and attitudes of pesticide users  accomplish by collaborative efforts with partners and cooperators:  assessing the current status and future needs of C&T  providing direction for the future of C&T  encouraging the adoption of proposals that strengthen C&T programs

CTAG  EPA  USDA  Pesticide State Lead Agencies  Tribes  Cooperative Extension Service  TPPC, AAPCO, ASPCRO, AAPSE CTAG is a consortium of professionals who promote the safe and effective use of pesticides through education, testing and licensing, and enforcement Board Workgroups Fact Finding Teams

Progress reports, issue papers, presentations -> 04 progress report and Dec. 04 meeting summary Board Members (and addresses) Kevin Keaney, EPA - OPP Carol Ramsay***, WA CES Gina Davis, MI SLAAndrew Thostenson, ND CES Monte Johnson, USDAHenry Ghiotto***, Quechan Tribe Jack Peterson***, AZ SLA Richard Pont, EPA - OPP Kerry Richards, PA CES Jeaneanne Gettle, EPA Reg-4 Dean Herzfeld, MN CESKathy Dictor, VA SLA Tim Drake***, SC SLAMichelle Devaux, EPA – OPP ***Liaisons to AAPSE, AAPCO, ASPCRO, TPPC Provide issues comments and feedback to Board members

Pesticide Safety Programs  State/region/CES C&T web sites  Resource Sharing: What’s New  Training & Exam Resources  Consumer Education Resources  Update PSP website yourself  Change/add state information  Add resources/exam info, etc.  EPAPSP; Heying

Fumigation Plans  Fumigation Training Resources and Management Plans  See PSP web site for referral to North Dakota State University   What’s new in applicator education resources

Consumer Education  Consumer Education Resources  See PSP web site for referral to Penn State University   What’s new in consumer education resources

Issue Paper Positive ID for RUP Purchase  CTAG-approved 12/04; reformatted 5/05  Approved by SFIREG and POM  Face-to-face purchases  Dealer to require ID and credential  Photo identification or alternate two document non-photo ID; one government issued  Most state credentials don’t have photo  Strengthens homeland security  Supports reciprocity  Little hardship anticipated

Positive ID for Examinations  CTAG in initial stages of collecting information regarding photo identification requirements for someone taking initial or recertification examinations  Validity of credential  Homeland security  Low burden for proctored exams  Some fraud occurs  Fact Finding Team: board members + partners (AT, JP)

Ensure Continuing Competency  CTAG in initial stages of collecting information regarding strategies currently used by states and tribes to meet the regulatory requirement for “ensuring continued competency” for certified applicators  Retest option  Recertification option  Fact Finding Team: board members + partners (KR, KK)

Reciprocity BMPs  CTAG in initial stages of collecting information that could be useful to facilitating reciprocity agreements  Considering a BMP manual to reduce burden on states seeking or granting reciprocity  C&T Plan & Report information access  Category standards, examination type identification requirements  National fumigation and aerial exams slated to begin now and in the fall  Fact Finding Team: board members + partners (AT, JP)

Accountability Planning  CTAG in initial stages of a needs assessment for training in accountability planning – feasibility stage (DH, KD, CR, TD)  Are programs or projects planned to meet goals? Are they evaluated related to agency/CES mission and goals?  Tool to answer these questions  LOGIC Model plus financial sustainability  Feed outcome measures into EPA performance measures

Non-Traditional Funding  Effort to develop fact sheets listing possible strategies for SLA and CES to consider to augment base support  SLA and CES presentations in Madison (AT, JP)  Considerations for base concepts to be prepared to target non-traditional funding sources, like foundations (DH)

Exam Administration Guidance Manual  Exam integrity issues  Exam oversight/controls  Exam candidate issues  Positive identification  Draft document complete, awaiting funding for formatting and printing  Document in RTF or PDF for binder  Visit the CTAG display table at Madison Final – sent to publisher

C&T Plan and Report  Cooperative agreement target dates  Enter data in during FY05  Region staff training – ongoing  Mandatory reporting FY05  Public access to information 

Issues CTAG is Monitoring  PSEP Review  Proposed Worker Safety Regulatory Changes  Global Harmonization  Endangered Species  Pesticide Storage and Disposal  EPA Performance Measures

Next CTAG Meeting  Conference call May 17  Conference call July  Conference call, September  December 13, 14, 2004

Certification and Training Assessment Group CTAG welcomes your comments and participation CTAG