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The Federal Plan for Certifying Applicators in Navajo Indian Country
Deadline for Certification
Applicators who intend to purchase and/or apply RUPs in Navajo Indian Country must complete EPA Form 8500-17-N and submit it to EPA Region 9, to become certified by EPA by October 11, 2007. Failure to hold the appropriate certification after October 11, 2007, may result in Federal enforcement action in order accordance with 12(a)(2)(F)FIFRA.
Any person who intends to purchase and/or apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) in Navajo Indian Country must hold a valid "U.S. EPA Certified Pesticide Applicator in Navajo Indian Country" card. Under FIFRA Section 11, applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) must be certified, or make application while under the direct supervision of a certified applicator when they apply such pesticides. On February 3, 2006, EPA solicited comments on its intent to implement a federal certification program in Navajo Indian Country and on its proposed Federal Plan for Certification of Restricted Use Pesticide Applicators in Navajo Indian Country. The Federal Plan became effective June 13, 2007.
As part of the implementation of the Federal certification plan, the U.S. EPA Region 9 office entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Navajo Indian County (6 pgs., 1.95 Mb, about PDF), the Arizona Department of Agriculture (6 pgs., 2.23 Mb, about PDF), the Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission (6 pgs., 2.21 Mb, about PDF), and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (6 pgs., 2.15 Mb, about PDF). The MOUs outline how the Region and the state certifying agencies will share information about applicators certified to apply RUPs in Navajo Indian Country.
How to obtain a US EPA Pesticide Applicator Certificate in Navajo Indian Country
STEP 1: Get State Applicator Certification or Get and Complete Self-Study Manual (Self-study option for PRIVATE APPLICATORS ONLY)
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Obtain a state certificate in the appropriate applicator category. U.S. EPA has agreements in place with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission,
and the Utah Department of Food and Agriculture. You may also submit certificates from other states which U.S. EPA may accept on a case-by-case basis. - Although we encourage all applicators to be TRAINED AND CERTIFIED through a state certification program, applicators who apply RUPs to produce an agricultural product on their own property or that of their employers (private applicators) may become certified by completing a self-study manual. The self-study manual is available from U.S. EPA Region 9 by emailing Fabiola Estrada (estrada.fabiola@epa.gov) or calling (415) 972-3493.
STEP 2: Fill out and submit form to US EPA Region 9 Pacific Southwest Office
- Fill out the "Request for Federal Restricted Use Pesticide Applicator Certificate" Instructions for Completing the Form (2 pgs, 15 Kb, about PDF) and the EPA form 8500-17-N (1 page, 173 Kb, about PDF)and mail with a 1 ¼ inch by 1 inch photo (similar to a drivers license or passport photograph)and a copy of your state certificate to:
Pesticide Applicator Certificate
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne St. (CED-5)
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901
STEP 3: Pick up your card from the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Program Office.
- You will receive a letter from the U.S. EPA Region 9 when your card is mailed to the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Program office in Window Rock, Arizona for you to pick up.
Points to Remember
- The U.S. EPA Applicator card expires on the same date as the state certificate on which it is based.
- If the state certificate/license on which the EPA applicator certificate is based is cancelled, suspended or revoked, the U.S. EPA certificate will likewise be cancelled, suspended or revoked.
- Be sure the certification you get from the state is in the appropriate category to apply the types of pesticides you plan to use. Refer to state categories and definitions (link to table of categories/definitions). The U.S. EPA applicator card will be issued in the EXACT same category shown on the state certificate.
- Navajo Nation EPA Pesticide Program has a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA to conduct pesticide inspections using Federal authority. All inspections conducted using federal credentials are forwarded to U.S. EPA for review and action, if violations are found.
- The Navajo Nation EPA Pesticide Program regulates pesticides in Navajo Indian Country, and has the authority to inspect pesticide use at any time without prior notification.