EPA Interim Guidance on 2024 Application Exclusion Zone Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing interim guidance to help in implementing the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) final rule requirements.
The interim guidance addresses compliance with AEZs that extend off-establishment, determining the size of the AEZ using the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers standards for droplet size, and the immediate family exemption. EPA plans to revise guidance in response to stakeholder needs. Send suggested improvements to opp_occupational_pesticide_safety@epa.gov. IFCA and our national partners raised concerns with AEZ requirements extending beyond property lines controlled by pesticide applicators and possible disruptions to the application process during a busy application season.
This interim guidance supersedes previous EPA AEZ guidance and goes in effect when the final AEZ rule goes into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0133).
The interim guidance addresses compliance with AEZs that extend off-establishment, determining the size of the AEZ using the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers standards for droplet size, and the immediate family exemption. EPA plans to revise guidance in response to stakeholder needs. Send suggested improvements to opp_occupational_pesticide_safety@epa.gov. IFCA and our national partners raised concerns with AEZ requirements extending beyond property lines controlled by pesticide applicators and possible disruptions to the application process during a busy application season.
This interim guidance supersedes previous EPA AEZ guidance and goes in effect when the final AEZ rule goes into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register (Docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0133).