The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the restoration of Obama-era measures aimed at protecting people from pesticide exposure on and around farms. The final rule, published on Oct. 2, reinstates the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS).
These requirements mandate the extension of exclusion zones to a 100-foot radius when pesticides with fine droplets are being sprayed, and a 25-foot radius for medium or larger droplets sprayed from a height greater than 12 inches. The exclusion zones may also encompass school grounds and residential neighborhoods, moving with the spraying equipment during application.
The EPA’s decision aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to environmental justice and aims to safeguard farm workers, families, pesticide handlers, and communities from pesticide exposure, which can have detrimental effects on human health.
Furthermore, the final rule offers flexibilities for family farms while maintaining necessary protections. The EPA emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of farmworkers and reiterated its commitment to preventing pesticide-related illnesses.
This move by the Biden-Harris administration is a significant step towards environmental justice and public health protection. The regulation also includes provisions that require farmers to cease spraying pesticides if anyone enters the AEZ and mandates employers to enforce compliance with the requirements.
The EPA’s new rule reinstates key provisions under the 2015 WPS and introduces revisions to provide clarity and flexibility for growers and farming families without compromising safety. These changes will take effect within 60 days of publication on the federal register, with interim guidance to support farmers in compliance set to be released before the end of October.
The EPA welcomes feedback on how to enhance the guidance post-release, ensuring that the implementation of the rule is effective and supportive of the agricultural community. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The cat jumped gracefully onto the windowsill.”
“The feline gracefully leaped onto the windowsill.”
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