EPA Seeking Public Comment On Two Issues

DR. RIC BESSIN

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

Scientific Integrity

On January 24, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft updates to its Scientific Integrity policy for public comment. The updates would include adopting a new Federal definition of scientific integrity and improving the culture of scientific integrity at the Agency. EPA developed the updated policy in response to the 2021 Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking.

The draft policy is built on the Office of Science and Technology Policy A Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice, the lessons EPA has learned from over 10 years of implementing its Scientific Integrity Program, and results from past EPA scientific integrity surveys.

EPA will accept public comments on the draft policy in docket EPA-HQ-ORD-2023-0240at Regulations.gov through February 23, 2024.

Pesticide Safety Education Program for Farmworkers

The EPA is seeking public input on the design of a new National Farmworker Training and Education Program (NFTEP) on pesticide safety. The NFTEP is a grant program funded through the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5) and will support activities such as pesticide safety training, materials development, and outreach to farmworkers.

Farmworkers are at high risk of pesticide exposure because they work closely with pesticides. With the funding provided by PRIA 5, EPA is developing a NFTEP to help reduce the risk of pesticide injury and illness to farmworkers. The NFTEP will also support the implementation of the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, offering required annual pesticide safety training for workers.

The Request for Information (RFI) released today lays out potential program design elements and activities to be funded under the NFTEP. The RFI also poses a series of questions to stakeholders about barriers to involvement in safety trainings and education programs and applying for grant funding. Individuals and organizations with experience conducting farmworker education and training are encouraged to comment. Generally, EPA is interested in comments about:

• How to meaningfully involve farmworker communities in the NFTEP grant agreements,
• Farmworker communities’ specific language and training needs that should be incorporated into the safety education program materials,
• Successful outreach and delivery strategies, and
• Topic areas that should be prioritized for grant agreements.

Feedback collected through the RFI will shape the final program and inform the Notice of Funding Opportunity that will be issued so organizations can apply for grant funding. Up to $7.5 million is expected to be awarded in grants over five years.

Responses to the RFI can be submitted via Regulations.gov using Docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0643 and must be received by 11:59 ET on March 25, 2024. ∆

 DR. RIC BESSIN: University of Kentucky