News Releases from Region 10

EPA awards $574k to Washington State Department of Agriculture supporting statewide pesticide programs

 Seattle – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $574,000 to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to support its pesticide regulatory programs across the state.

“The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been our long-time partner in environmental protection,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “We are pleased to support the pesticide programs in ensuring that pesticides are used properly, agricultural workers are protected, and Washington’s diverse agricultural landscape can thrive and remain a provider of safe, healthy food.”

WSDA has authority over pesticide use in Washington and conducts inspections, enforcement, training and monitoring for pesticide use throughout the state.  Actions carried out by the WSDA Pesticide programs include:

• Investigation and enforcement of possible pesticide misuse incidents;
• Assures the competency of restricted-use pesticides applicators through its certification and licensing program;
• Provide outreach to agricultural workers to protect them from pesticide exposures; Provides outreach and training to ensure that pollinators are protected from pesticide drift;  
• Conducts inspections of pesticide products at retail outlets for proper EPA registration, labeling and establishment information;
• Evaluation of pesticides registered in the state for their potential to contaminate groundwater resources.

EPA’s Region 10 office administers and enforces federal environmental laws in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 247 tribal nations: home to over 13 million.

For more information on pesticides please visit: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides

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