An official website of the United States government.
The purpose of this project is to provide pesticide safety education to pesticide applicators to enable them to become certified and/or recertified to apply restricted-use pesticides.<P> More specifically, New Jersey PSEP will: Provide initial certification training to commercial applicators of restricted use pesticides, provide initial certification training to private applicators of restricted use materials, provide and/or participate in recertification training to currently certified private and commercial applicators, provide information to private and commercial applicators via websites and listservs, conduct regular planning PSEP meetings with state and federal officials, and provide annual reports to the USDA NIFA PSEP National Program Leader.
Non-Technical Summary: <BR>The purpose of this project is to provide pesticide safety education to pesticide applicators to enable them to become certified and/or recertified to apply restricted-use pesticides. More specifically, New Jersey PSEP will do this by providing initial and recertification certification training to private and commercial applicators of restricted use pesticides, by providing information to private and commercial applicators via websites and listservs, by conducting regular planning PSEP meetings with state and federal officials, and provide annual reports to the USDA NIFA PSEP National Program Leader. <P> Approach: <BR> Provide initial certification training to commercial applicators of restricted use pesticides: RCE PSEP will conduct monthly (September through June) four hour initial classroom instructional sessions for clientele seeking to become certified and licensed as a commercial applicator by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. These sessions will cover basic pesticide safety concepts, federal and state laws and regulations and IPM principles. In addition, RCE PSEP will maintain and distribute training manuals (CORE and 23 category manuals) to clientele seeking to study for state required pesticide applicator examinations. Current manuals will be revised when necessary to meet current standards. Provide initial certification training to private applicators of restricted use materials: RCE PSEP will maintain and distribute New Jersey's Private Applicator Training Manual to clientele seeking to study for state required private pesticide applicator examinations. The current manual will be revised when necessary to meet current standards. Provide and/or participate in recertification training to currently certified private and commercial applicators: RCE PSEP will be involved, with the aid of county agricultural agents, Rutgers faculty and staff, and industry representatives, in the development of recertification programs targeting private applicators, landscapers, pest control operators, and those involved in school IPM activities. When needed, PSEP staff will develop recertification opportunities for other "minor" commercial categories. PSEP staff will deliver CORE related training at these sessions. RCE PSEP will also continue to offer CORE recertification credits via an online website. Provide information to private and commercial applicators via websites and listservs: RCE PSEP currently maintains a PSEP website (pestmanagement.rutgers.edu) that contains over 100 web pages devoted to all aspects of pesticide safety including safety procedures and regulatory changes. This website will continue to be maintained and updated as needed. RCE PSEP also maintains a series of nine user specific listservs (Institutions and Interiors; Invasives; Mosquitoes; Fruit; Turf, Ornamentals, Greenhouse and Nursery; Field and Forage; Vegetables; School IPM; Forests and Xmas Trees). These listservs are used to update registered users regarding changes to regulations, product registrations, etc. This will continue during the period of the grant. Conduct regular planning PSEP meetings with state and federal officials: RCE PSEP will meet twice a year with state lead agency representatives and regional EPA officials to discuss PSEP related issues. These meetings will be used to discuss needed program changes including the development of new or revision of current manuals. The meetings will also be used to set implementation timetables for any agreed upon changes. Provide annual reports to the USDA NIFA PSEP National Program Leader: RCE PSEP will provide, when requested, an annual report to the PSEP National Program Leader that includes data regarding program impacts and success stories.