Enclosed is the Pesticide Use Enforcement Program Planning Guidance and
Evaluation document. This guidance represents a continuation of the core program priorities that the Department
of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) initiated in October 2004 (ENF 2004-023). DPR and the County Agricultural
Commissioners (CACs) have worked diligently over the past four years to evaluate and implement an effective
pesticide use enforcement program at the local, regional, and statewide levels based on that guidance.
The focus continues to be on core pesticide enforcement program elements of restricted materials permitting,
compliance monitoring, and enforcement response priorities. Efforts at program improvement will be directed
toward fully developing and refining these elements. I am asking you and your Enforcement Branch Liaison (EBL)
to determine the planning and performance evaluation frequency that best fits the complexity of your program.
In addition, I am requesting that you include a commitment in your work plans to better coordinate our joint
oversight inspections with your EBLs.
Please note that the work plan time lines have been changed to a calendar year, based on a recommendation
from the CAC/DPR Enforcement Calendar and Data Workgroup. These new time lines were presented at the May 2008
Pesticide Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting. Under the revised timelines, current work plans that expire on
June 30, 2008 will be extended through December 2008. Draft work plans for 2009 should be submitted to your
EBL by November 30, 2008 and finalized by January 15, 2009. Under the new time line, DPR will complete work
plan evaluations by October 1.
Current work plans that expire next year or 2010 will also be extended by six months and convert to a
calendar year timeline as outlined above.
Also enclosed is the County Pesticide Regulatory Program 2007-08 Performance Evaluation Report template,
which the EBLs will use to write their reports. The Regional Office Supervisors will meet individually with
each County Agricultural Commissioner to review their county’s overall performance and discuss any program
deficiencies noted.
I want to reiterate the importance of an effective statewide pesticide use enforcement program in protecting
farmers, farm workers, our communities, and the environment. We have been entrusted with this responsibility
and it is incumbent on all of us to do our part to assure our programs are fair, equitable, and effective.
If you have questions, contact your Enforcement Branch Liaison or Regional Office Supervisor. |
