Chapter 3 - Federal Pesticide Laws

Question 1

What is the full name and acronym of the federal agency that regulates pesticides:

a. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
b. Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP)
c. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Agency (FIFRA)
d. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer 1

d. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Question 2

What is the full name and acronym of the law used to manage pesticides?

a. Federal Insecticide Act (FIA)
b. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
c. Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (FEPCA)

Answer 2

b. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Question 3

Which of the things below is not something the EPA must do before a pesticide may be marketed in the U.S.A.?

a. approve each use
b. assign a product registration number
c. consult the Office of Pesticide Programs

Answer 3

c. consult the Office of Pesticide Programs

Question 4

Which two answers are penalties defined by FIFRA for applicators who violate the law?

a. civil penalties when the violation is unintentional
b. criminal penalties when the violation is unintentional
c. criminal penalties when the law is knowingly violated
d. civil penalties when the law is knowingly violated

Answer 4

both a and c (a. civil penalties when the violation is unintentional and c. criminal penalties when the law is knowingly violated)

Question 5

Does FIFRA allow prison terms for criminal (intentional) violators?

a. yes, up to 1 year for private and commercial applicators
b. no, FIFRA sets fines only
c. yes, up to 30 days for private applicators and up to 1 year for commercial applicators
d. not for private applicators but up to 1 year for commercial applicators

Answer 5

c. yes, up to 30 days for private applicators and up to 1 year for commercial applicators

Question 6

What are regulations?

a. interpretations of the law that have the force of law
b. interpretations of the law intended only as a guide
c. exceptions to the law

Answer 6

a. interpretations of the law that have the force of law

Question 7

What is meant by the term “reentry interval”?

a. the time right after pesticide application when protected workers may not enter the treated area
b. the time during pesticide application when unprotected workers may not stay in the treated area
c. the time right after pesticide application when unprotected workers may not enter the treated area

Answer 7

c. the time right after pesticide application when unprotected workers may not enter the treated area

Question 8

Of the following statements about EPA rules on warnings to workers, which is not true?

a. warnings of pesticide application must be timely and appropriate
b. warnings of pesticide application must be in the language understood by the workers
c. warnings of pesticide application must be given in writing
d. warnings of pesticide application may be given verbally or in writing

Answer 8

c. warnings of pesticide application must be given in writing

Question 9

What is the EPA’s pesticide registration decision based on?

a. EPA evaluation of test data provided by the manufacturer
b. the manufacturer’s evaluation of test data
c. EPA evaluation of test data provided by certified applicators

Answer 9

a. EPA evaluation of test data provided by the manufacturer

Question 10

If EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to workers, what can the EPA do?

a. set reentry intervals to restrict workers from entering a treated area
b. set restrictions on formulation or application rates
c. require verbal or written warnings to workers
d. all of the above

Answer 10

d. all of the above (a. set reentry intervals to restrict workers from entering a treated area, b. set restrictions on formulation or application rates, c. require verbal or written warnings to workers)

Question 11

If EPA decides that a pesticide poses a risk to consumers, what can the EPA do?

a. require longer preharvest intervals so pesticide residues will break down
b. set restrictions on the frequency of application and rates
c. cancel or suspend use of the pesticide
d. all of the above

Answer 11

d. all of the above (a. require longer preharvest intervals so pesticide residues will break down, b. set restrictions on the frequency of application and rates, c. cancel or suspend use of the pesticide)

Question 12

which federal agency sets food tolerances for pesticides?

Answer 12

EPA

Question 13

which federal agency enforces food tolerances for pesticides?

Answer 13

FDA

Question 14

What is the purpose of the tolerance program?

a. to ensure the U.S. consumers are not exposed to any pesticide residues in food
b. to ensure the U.S. consumers are not exposed to unsafe pesticide residue levels in food
c. to ensure the U.S. consumers can tolerate pesticide residues in food

Answer 14

b. to ensure the U.S. consumers are not exposed to unsafe pesticide residue levels in food

Question 15

Which act is administered by EPA to manage all solid hazardous waste?

a. Occupational Safety and Health Act
b. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
c. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
d. Transportation Safety Act

Answer 15

c. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

pg36, par1

Question 16

How can triple-rinsed, used pesticide containers be disposed of?

a. in any sanitary landfill
b. in an EPA approved sanitary landfill
c. in a private landfill

Answer 16

b. in an EPA approved sanitary landfill

pg36, par4

Question 17

What kind of pesticide standards does FIFRA allow states to establish?

a. less strict than federal standards
b. stricter than federal standards
c. only the same standards as FIFRA

Answer 17

b. stricter than federal standards

Question 18

Which agency administers the Hazard Communication Standard?

a. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
b. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
c. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Board (FFDCB)
d. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Answer 18

d. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Question 19

Pesticide applicators generate waste during normal work operations. Which of the items below is not “regulated waste” under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?

a. triple-rinsed used containers
b. excess pesticide and pesticide dilutions
c. rinsewater that contains a listed chemical and cannot be used properly

Answer 19

a. triple-rinsed used containers

pg36, par4

Question 20

Regulations interpreting the Transportation Safety Act are contained in 49 CFR. What do these regulations cover?

a. some safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials, such as packing, labeling, marking and placarding of such materials
b. most safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials
c. all safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials

Answer 20

c. all safety aspects of transporting hazardous materials

Question 21

What is the act SARA Title III designed to do?

a. inform communities of hazardous chemicals in the area and provide for community emergency response plans in the event of an accident
b. protect endangered species from pesticides
c. require employers to keep safety data sheets and submit copies to their local fire department

Answer 21

a. inform communities of hazardous chemicals in the area and provide for community emergency response plans in the event of an accident

Question 22

What is an endangered species?

a. a plant or animal that may not be harvested or hunted, except as allowed by law
b. a plant or animal that is in danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range
c. an animal whose habitat has been severely damaged

Answer 22

b. a plant or animal that is in danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range

Question 23

Which federal agency determines what species are endangered?

a. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
b. Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) of the EPA
c. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) of the Department of the Interior

Answer 23

c. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) of the Department of the Interior

Question 24

Who ultimately bears the responsibility of protecting endangered species from pesticides?

a. the federal government
b. the state government
c. conservationists
d. you, the applicator

Answer 24

d. you, the applicator