Monday, the Public comment period for EPA’s proposed changes to its Agricultural Workers Protection Standards closed. These standards have not been updated since 1992. The National Association of State Department’s of Agriculture has problems with the proposal. NASDA CEO Barbara Glenn says the proposed rule is too restrictive while not increasing protections.
EPA’s proposed rule increases worker training requirements for pesticide handling from every five years to every year. Glenn says NASDA thinks requiring training every year is too strict and that the present requirement has been working well and doesn’t need changing.
Glenn says if EPA decides to go ahead with their proposal NASDA will try and work with the agency to make adjustments to the standard.