In 2017, EPA finalized stronger standards for people who use restricted use pesticides (RUPs). The revisions to the Certification of Pesticide Applicators (CPA) rule help ensure RUPs are used safely and reduce the likelihood of misapplication of RUPs.
The 2017 CPA final rule required states, territories, tribes and some federal agencies (certifying authorities) with existing EPA-approved certification plans to submit proposed modifications by March 4, 2020 to comply with the federal standards. Plans in place before March 4, 2020 remain in effect until EPA approves the revised plans, or the CPA rule deadline, whichever is earlier. In August 2022, EPA extended the expiration date for existing plans to November 4, 2023. Read the final rule.
EPA has reviewed and commented on all proposed plan revisions. Of the 68 proposed plan revisions submitted by state, territory, tribal and federal agency certifying authorities, currently 67 have been approved. Copies of the approved plans can be found here.
EPA is tracking the progress of approved revised plans, as shown in the map below.
*Approved plans identified here may not yet be announced in a FR Notice.
EPA-approved Federal agency plans are the Department of Defense - Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Department of Energy - Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management, Department of Agriculture--(1) Forest Service and (2) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators within Indian Country (2023 EPA Plan). EPA-approved Tribal plans are the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, the White Earth Band, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. EPA will update this webpage and publish Federal Register Notices (FRN) as revised plans are approved. EPA intends to batch FRNs following EPA plan approvals. To find out which revised plans have been approved, please visit the following Federal Register Notice(s):
