Cooperative Agreement 84083401

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT, THE PIRT PROGRAM, IS TO PROVIDE PESTICIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING TO INSPECTORS AND STAFF OF STATES, TRIBES, AND U.S. TERRITORIES WORKING UNDER FIFRA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, TO DEVELOP OR ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT PESTICIDE REGULATORY PROGRAMS, AND/OR UNDERTAKE NEW INITIATIVES. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR NATIONAL PIRTS ANNUALLY, IN ADDITION TO A TRIBAL PIRT BIANNUALLY, COVERING TOPICS RELEVANT TO CONDUCTING AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE INSPECTIONS. THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE HELD IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WILL IMPROVE STAFF CAPACITY TO ADDRESS NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUES AND SAFETY GAPS, LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WITHIN AND BEYOND THE IN-PERSON TRAININGS, NASDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION HAS OUTLINED PLANS TO MAKE SPACE FOR NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES WHEREVER THEY ARE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND FOSTER COOPERATION AMONG STATES, TRIBES, U.S. TERRITORIES, AND U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD INCREASING EFFICIENCIES AND STRETCHING LIMITED REGULATORY DOLLARS. IN ADDITION, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO DO CONTINUAL EVALUATION. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE PRIMED TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK VIA PAPER OR ELECTRONIC SURVEYS, EVEN MONTHS AFTER THEIR INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE NASDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION. THIS TYPE OF PERSONAL RESPONSE, COMBINED WITH ANALYSIS OF WEBSITE ACCESS STATISTICS, AMONG OTHER MEASURES WILL HELP NASDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION EVALUATE PROGRESS, AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE PIRT PROGRAM.ACTIVITIES:ACTIVITIES THAT NASDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION WILL UNDERTAKE UNDER THIS PROJECT ARE: 1. ASSESS THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THE PIRT CLIENTELE BY SUMMARIZING NEEDS EXPRESSED BY PARTICIPANTS ON COURSE EVALUATION FORMS AND OTHER METHODS. ASSIST IN PREPARING ANY OTHER SUMMARY INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THE PIRT COORDINATOR. 2. UNDERTAKE MANAGEMENT OF THE PIRT STEERING COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP SELECTION PROCESS FROM PIRT COORDINATOR. A. COORDINATE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO CREATE COURSE AGENDAS OR TRAINING APPROACHES. 3. CONDUCT BETWEEN THREE TO FOUR NATIONAL PIRTS A YEAR PLUS ONE TRIBAL PIRT EVERY OTHER YEAR, LASTING THREE TO FOUR DAYS FOR 25-30 PARTICIPANTS PER COURSE. THE LOCATIONS OF THE TRAINING COURSES SHOULD VARY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND TYPES OF PESTICIDE USAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOR TRIBAL PIRTS, THE PREFERENCE IS TO WORK WITH A TRIBE/S WHO HAVE A FIFRA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, IF POSSIBLE. A. RETAIN APPROPRIATE TRAINING CONSULTANTS AND INSTRUCTORS BASED ON COURSE NEEDS, TRAINER AVAILABILITY, AND COURSE BUDGET. THE COURSE CONTENT WILL GENERALLY FOCUS ON PESTICIDE PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES (E.G., BASIC AND NEW INSPECTOR SKILLS, ADVANCED INSPECTOR SKILLS, URBAN FIFRA ISSUES, AGRICULTURAL USE, AND STRUCTURAL TRAINING) AND PESTICIDE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. THE COURSE CONTENT MAY ALSO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TOPICS NEEDED TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE STATE AND TRIBAL PESTICIDE PROGRAMS SUCH AS RISK COMMUNICATION TRAINING, ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELAND SECURITY, LABORATORY ISSUES, NEW REGULATORY PROGRAMS, AND EMERGING ISSUES. B. RESEARCH AND PREPARE FOR ONE FIELD TRIP SITE PER COURSE. FIELD TRIPS SHOULD, IF POSSIBLE, SUPPORT A MAJOR THEME OF THE OVERALL COURSE. C. COLLECT AND COLLATE COURSE MATERIALS FROM INSTRUCTORS AND PRESENTERS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND ARRANGE FOR THEIR DISTRIBUTION PRIOR TO EACH COURSE. D. SECURE CLASSROOM SPACE FOR ALL COURSES. E. SECURE AND PAY FOR LODGING FOR ALL COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF PAYING PARTICIPANTS FOR PER DIEM FOOD EXPENSES. F. MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORKING LUNCHES THAT ALLOW PARTICIPANTS ADDITIONAL TIME FOR FURTHER NETWORKING, RAPPORT BUILDING, INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES, OR NEW IDEAS. G. ARRANGE AND PAY FOR PARTICIPANT T