The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) announced October 2 , 2024 , the finalization of a dominion to restore and enhance the pesticide software Exclusion Zone ( AEZ ) demand under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard ( WPS ) . This move is part of the Biden - Harris Administration ’s on-going dedication to environmental Department of Justice , calculate at safeguard farmworkers , pesticide handlers , their families , and farming communities from pesticide exposure .
The AEZ is determine as the arena hem in outdoor pesticide diligence equipment , from which multitude are to be excluded while pesticides are being applied . The reinstated dominion extends AEZ protections beyond the limit of agricultural establishments and into neighboring residential area , improves the limpidity of the necessary , and introduces flexibilities for fellowship farm without compromising safety .
Michal Freedhoff , Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention , emphasise the importance of protect farmworkers from pesticide - related malady , stating , " No one should be at risk from pesticide related illness because of their job or where they live . Today ’s formula is another substantial footstep by the Biden - Harris Administration to protect public health and deliver on environmental judge . "
The 2020 AEZ Rule , which had confine AEZ protections and reduced the size of the AEZ for certain program , was never implement due to legal challenge and a subsequent review by the EPA . The review concluded that the 2020 provisions weakened protection against pesticide pic for farmworkers and nearby communities . The final dominion announced today reestablish several commissariat from the 2015 rule , admit the AEZ pause requirement both within and beyond the boundaries of agricultural establishments , and for easing on the establishment .
Additionally , the final rule clarifies the AEZ length for ground - base applications and introduces an " immediate kinsfolk exemption " for farm proprietor and their immediate families , give up them to stay inside enclosed social organization or rest home during pesticide program . It also specifies that suspend pesticide diligence can resume only after people leave the AEZ .
Interim guidance will be released by the end of October to help the regulated community in complying with the new rule , and feedback will be solicit to improve the guidance post - button . The rule will become effective 60 24-hour interval after its issue in the federal register , and details will be useable in docket EPA - HQ - OPP-2022 - 0133 at theRegulations.gov pageboy .
Source : EPA
