APPENDIX A TESTING CATEGORIES

A.      Commercial Applicator Certification, 40 CFR 171.4(b)(i)- (viii).

1.        Label & labeling comprehension.

a.         The general  format and terminology of pesticide labels and labeling;

b.        The understanding of instructions, warnings, terms, symbols, and other information commonly appear- ing on pesticide labels;

c.         Classification of the product, general or restricted; and

d.        Necessity for use consistent with the label.

2.        Safety. Factors including:

a.         Pesticide toxicity and hazard to man and common exposure routes;

b.        Common types and causes of pesticide accidents;

c.         Precautions necessary to guard against injury to applicators and other individuals in or near treated areas;

d.        Need for and use of protective clothing and equip- ment;

e.         Symptoms of pesticide poisoning;

f.         First aid and other procedures to be followed in case of a pesticide accident; and

g.        Proper identification, storage, transport, handling, mixing procedures and disposal methods for pesti- cides and used pesticide containers, including pre- cautions to be taken to prevent children from having access to pesticides and pesticide containers.

3.        Environment. The potential environmental consequences of the use and misuse of pesticides as may be influenced by such factors as:

a.         Weather and other climatic conditions;

b.        Types of terrain, soil or other substrate;

c.         Presence of fish, wildlife and other non-target organ- isms; and

d.        Drainage patterns.

4.        Pests. Factors such as:

a.         Common features of pest organisms and characteris- tics of damage needed for pest recognition;

b.        Recognition of relevant pests; and

c.         Pest development and biology as it may be relevant to problem identification and control.

5.        Pesticides. Factors such as:

a.         Types of pesticides;

b.        Types of formulations;

c.         Compatibility, synergism, persistence and animal and plant toxicity of the formulations;

d.        Hazards and residues associated with use;

e.         Factors which influence effectiveness or lead to such problems as resistance to pesticides; and

f.         Dilution procedures.

6.        Equipment. Factors including:

a.         Types of equipment and advantages and limitations of each type; and

b.        Uses, maintenance and calibration.

7.        Application techniques. Factors including:

a.         Methods of procedure used to apply various formu- lations of pesticides, solutions, and gases, together with a knowledge of which technique of application to use in a given situation;

b.        Relationship of discharge and placement of pesti- cides to proper use, unnecessary use, and misuse; and

c.         Prevention of drift and pesticide loss into the envi- ronment.

8.        Laws and regulations. Applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.

B.       Commercial  Certification  Categories,  40  CFR  171.4(c)(1) through (6) and (8) through (10).

1.        Agricultural pest control.

a.         Plant. Applicators must demonstrate practical knowledge of crops grown and the specific pests of those crops on which they may be using restricted use pesticides. The importance of such competency is amplified by the extensive areas involved, the quantities of pesticides needed, and the ultimate use of many commodities as food and feed. Practical knowledge is required concerning soil and water problems, pre-harvest intervals, re-entry intervals, phytotoxicity, and potential for environmental con- tamination, non-target injury and community prob- lems resulting from the use of restricted use pesticides in agricultural areas.

b.        Animal. Applicators applying pesticides directly to animals must demonstrate practical knowledge of such animals and their associated pests. A practical knowledge is also required concerning specific pes- ticide toxicity and residue potential, since host ani- mals will frequently be used for food. Further, the applicator must know the relative hazards associated with such factors as formulation, application tech- niques, age of animals, stress and extent of treat- ment.

2.        Forest pest control. Applicators shall demonstrate practi- cal knowledge of types of forests, forest nurseries, and seed production in this state and the pests involved. They shall possess practical knowledge of the cyclic occur- rence of certain pests and specific population dynamics as a basis for programming pesticide applications. A practi-

cal knowledge is required of the relative biotic agents and their vulnerability to the pesticides to be applied. Because forest stands may be large and frequently include natural aquatic habitats and harbor wildlife, the consequences of pesticide use may be difficult to assess. The applicator must therefore demonstrate practical knowledge of con- trol methods which will minimize the possibility of sec- ondary problems such as unintended effects on wildlife. Proper use of specialized equipment must be demon- strated, especially as it may relate to meteorological fac- tors and adjacent land use.

3.        Seed-treatment. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of types of seeds that require chemical protec- tion against pests and factors such as seed coloration, car- riers, and surface active agents which influence pesticide binding and may affect germination. They must demon- strate practical knowledge of hazards associated with handling, sorting and mixing, and misuse of treated seed such as introduction of treated seed into food and feed channels, as well as proper disposal of unused treated seeds.

4.        Aquatic pest control. Applicators shall demonstrate prac- tical knowledge of the secondary effects which can be caused by improper application rates, incorrect formula- tions, and faulty application of restricted use pesticides used in this category. They shall demonstrate practical knowledge of various water use situations and the poten- tial of downstream effects. Further, they must have practi- cal knowledge concerning potential pesticide effects on plants, fish, birds, beneficial insects and other organisms which may be present in aquatic environments. These applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of the principles of limited area application.

5.        Right-of-way pest control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of a wide variety of environments, since rights-of-way can traverse many different terrains, including waterways. They shall demonstrate practical knowledge of problems on runoff, drift, and excessive foliage destruction and ability to recognize target organ- isms. They shall also demonstrate practical knowledge of the nature of herbicides and the need for containment of these pesticides within the right-of-way area,  and  the impact of their application activities in the adjacent areas and communities.

6.        Public health pest control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of vector-disease transmission as it relates to and influences application programs. A wide variety of pests is involved, and it is essential that they be known and recognized, and appropriate life cycles and habitats be understood as a basis for control strategy. These applicators shall have practical knowledge of a great variety of environments ranging from streams to those conditions found in buildings. They shall also have practical knowledge of the importance and employment of such non-chemical control methods as sanitation, waste disposal, and drainage.

7.        Regulatory pest control. Applicators shall demonstrate practical knowledge of regulated pests, applicable laws relating to quarantine and other regulation of pests, and the potential impact on the environment of restricted use pesticides used in suppression and eradication programs. They shall demonstrate knowledge of factors influencing introduction, spread, and population dynamics of relevant pests. Their knowledge shall extend beyond that required by their immediate duties, since their services are fre- quently  required  in  other  areas  of  the  country   where

emergency measures are invoked to control regulated pests and where individual judgments must be made in new situations.

8.        Demonstration and research pest control. Persons demon- strating the safe and effective use of pesticides to other applicators and the public will be expected to meet com- prehensive standards reflecting a broad spectrum of pesti- cide uses. Many different pest problems situations will be encountered in the course of activities associated with demonstration, and practical knowledge of problems, pests, and population levels occurring in each demonstra- tion situation is required. Further, they shall demonstrate an understanding of a pesticide-organism interaction and the importance of integrating pesticide use with other control methods. In general, it would be expected that applicators doing demonstration pest control work pos- sess a practical knowledge of all of the standards detailed in (G)(1). In addition, they shall meet the specific stan- dards required for subsections (c)(1) through (7) of this subsection as may be applicable to their particular activ- ity.

C.      Private Certification, 40 CFR 171.5(a)(1) through (5).

1.        Recognize common pests to be controlled and damage caused by them.

2.        Read and understand the label and labeling information, including the common name of pesticides the applicator applied; pest(s) to be controlled, timing and methods of application; safety precautions; any pre-harvest or re- entry restrictions; and any specific disposal procedures.

3.        Apply pesticides in accordance with label instructions and warnings, including the ability to prepare the proper concentration of pesticide to be used under particular cir- cumstances taking into account such factors as area to be covered, speed at which application equipment will be driven, and the quantity dispersed in a given period of operation.

4.        Recognize local environmental situations that must be considered during application to avoid contamination.

5.        Recognize poisoning symptoms and procedures to follow in case of a pesticide accident.

Historical Note

New Appendix made by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 276, effective March 6, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). Appendix A subsection (B) CFR citation corrected from 40 CFR.4 to 40 CFR 171.4 at the request of the Department, Office File No. M09-448, filed December 8, 2009 (Supp. 09-4).