CPA - Certified Pesticide Applicator Federal Pesticide Laws Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A commercial applicator applies a federally Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), for how long must records of this application be maintained?
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Federal law, specifically the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 which amended FIFRA, requires certified applicators to maintain records of all federally restricted use pesticide (RUP) applications for a period of 2 years after the application.
Question 2: Under the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS), which of the following must be displayed at a central location on an agricultural establishment whenever a pesticide covered by the standard has been applied within the last 30 days?
- The applicator's personal training and certification records.
- A list of all workers' home phone numbers and emergency contacts.
- Pesticide application information, a WPS safety poster, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). (Correct answer)
- The purchase invoices for all pesticides used on the establishment.
Correct answer: Pesticide application information, a WPS safety poster, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
The WPS requires employers on agricultural establishments to display specific information at a central location. This includes a WPS-approved safety poster, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the pesticides being used, and specific information about recent pesticide applications (product name, EPA reg. number, active ingredient(s), location, date/time, and REI).
Question 3: A state's lead pesticide agency issues a Special Local Need (SLN) registration under FIFRA Section 24(c). This allows for a specific use of a federally registered pesticide that is not on the federal label. Where is this SLN registration legally valid?
- Only within the specific state that issued it. (Correct answer)
- In all 50 states automatically.
- In the issuing state and all adjacent states.
- Nationwide, but only for non-food crops.
Correct answer: Only within the specific state that issued it.
FIFRA Section 24(c) authorizes states to register additional uses of federally registered pesticides to meet special local needs. A key provision of this rule is that the SLN registration permits distribution and use only within the boundaries of the issuing state.
Question 4: What was a primary mandate of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996?
- To require that all pesticide active ingredients be re-registered every five years.
- To establish a single, health-based safety standard for pesticide residues in food, with special consideration for infants and children. (Correct answer)
- To transfer all pesticide regulation from the EPA to the USDA.
- To outlaw the use of all organophosphate and carbamate insecticides.
Correct answer: To establish a single, health-based safety standard for pesticide residues in food, with special consideration for infants and children.
A major change brought by the FQPA was the establishment of a single, consistent, health-based safety standard of "a reasonable certainty of no harm" for all pesticide residues in both raw and processed foods. It specifically required the EPA to consider the heightened susceptibility of infants and children when setting these tolerance levels.
Question 5: An applicator's pesticide label includes a statement in the 'Directions for Use' that refers to the Endangered Species Act and directs the user to obtain a county-specific "Endangered Species Protection Bulletin." What is the applicator's legal responsibility?
- This statement is only a recommendation and not legally binding.
- The applicator is prohibited from using the pesticide anywhere in that county.
- The applicator must contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before the application.
- The applicator must obtain the specified bulletin and follow all use limitations it contains for the application area. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The applicator must obtain the specified bulletin and follow all use limitations it contains for the application area.
When a pesticide label, which is a legal document, directs an applicator to an Endangered Species Protection Bulletin, the instructions and limitations within that bulletin become a legally enforceable part of the label's Directions for Use under FIFRA. The applicator must acquire and adhere to these additional restrictions to protect listed species.
Question 6: Under FIFRA, what is the primary reason the EPA classifies a pesticide as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)?
- The active ingredient is manufactured outside of the United States.
- The cost of the product exceeds a federally mandated price ceiling.
- The pesticide poses a potential for unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment, even when used as directed. (Correct answer)
- The formulation is not stable for more than one year in storage.
Correct answer: The pesticide poses a potential for unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment, even when used as directed.
The EPA classifies a pesticide for Restricted Use if it determines that, even when used according to label directions, it may cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or injury to the applicator or others. To mitigate this risk, its use is restricted to certified applicators or those under their direct supervision.
CPA - Certified Pesticide Applicator Federal Pesticide Laws Questions and Answers 1
A commercial applicator applies a federally Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP).
According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), for how long must records of this application be maintained?