Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)
CSREES partners with four principal agencies/organizations, among several, in conducting the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).
CSREES works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conducting the Pesticide Safety Education Program, providing administrative support and coordinating plans of work and annual reporting activities. EPA, as the regulatory agency, enforces pesticide laws through state lead agencies, often based in the departments of agriculture.
CSREES coordinates the support for state and territory Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinators and has developed a Web-based reporting system where they can submit plans of work and annual reports on activities such as funding, number of private and commercial applicators trained, and number of training materials developed.
The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE), a professional organization of pesticide safety educators and regulators, works with the PSEP and publishes The Journal of Pesticide Safety Education. AAPSE is an association of educators seeking to protect human health and the environment by providing science-based pesticide safety education programs through tribal and government agencies and the land-grant university cooperative extension services. AAPSE is a national voice for those who are interested in pesticide safety and risk mitigation education, training, and certification. It provides a forum to work cooperatively on certification and training needs, strategies, and implementation plans at regional and national levels. It also offers an opportunity for professional development by working, learning, and sharing with other pesticide safety educators across the nation, via workshops, the Internet, and publications.
Another association working in the pesticides arena is the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO), whose primary goal is to encourage uniformity among the states in their pesticide regulatory programs. The AAPCO membership consists essentially of state and federal pesticide regulatory officials. Objectives include:
- Promote uniform and effective legislation, definitions, regulations, and enforcement.
- Encourage and sponsor the adoption of the best techniques for analysis of pesticides.
- Develop sound inspection procedures.
- Promote adequate labeling and safe use of pesticides.
- Provide opportunities for exchange of information and cooperative study of problems facing members of AAPCO, and to cooperate with industry to promote the usefulness and effectiveness of pesticide products.
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