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<h1 style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5D73AA">EPA Extends Respiratory Protection Flexibilities for Agricultural Pesticide Handlers During COVID-19
<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to protecting the health and safety of Americans, especially during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In June 2020, EPA issued <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJlbWFpbCI6Implbm55d2ViZXJAZW1haWwuYXJpem9uYS5lZHUiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoiMTAxIiwic3Vic2NyaWJlcl9pZCI6IjEwMDU2NzgxMTEiLCJsaW5rX2lkIjoiODgzNjYwMTkzIiwidXJpIjoiYnAyOmRpZ2VzdCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmVwYS5nb3YvZW5mb3JjZW1lbnQvc3RhdGVtZW50LXJlZ2FyZGluZy1yZXNwaXJhdG9yeS1wcm90ZWN0aW9uLXNob3J0YWdlcy1hbmQtcmVkdWNlZC1hdmFpbGFiaWxpdHktcmVzcGlyYXRvciIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA1MDcuNDAxMjczNzEifQ.3Vd50BuNxfLW1UqzWvtzJuY-sPWu9hSJiCMj9bkYfwk" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0A528F">temporary
guidance regarding respiratory protection requirements for agricultural pesticide handlers</span></a> that offers flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Due to the continued concerns regarding personal protective equipment shortages in the agricultural sector, EPA is extending the “annual fit test delay” to September 30, 2021 as part of the previously
issued guidance on respiratory protection requirements for agricultural pesticide handlers. This revision is in alignment with Occupational Safety and Health Administration memos on respirators and addresses Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The remainder of the June 2020 guidance remains in effect. EPA will assess the continued need for and scope of the temporary guidance on a regular basis. To read the amended guidance, visit <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJlbWFpbCI6Implbm55d2ViZXJAZW1haWwuYXJpem9uYS5lZHUiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoiMTAyIiwic3Vic2NyaWJlcl9pZCI6IjEwMDU2NzgxMTEiLCJsaW5rX2lkIjoiMTM4OTgyMzQ2MyIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpkaWdlc3QiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5lcGEuZ292L2VuZm9yY2VtZW50L2FtZW5kZWQtc3RhdGVtZW50LXJlZ2FyZGluZy1yZXNwaXJhdG9yeS1wcm90ZWN0aW9uLXNob3J0YWdlcy1hbmQtcmVkdWNlZC1hdmFpbGFiaWxpdHkiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjEwNTA3LjQwMTI3MzcxIn0.pQ1eWxmEf6Ak99ZN3OD2w0hut175n_zhO4hrbCfOCuI" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0A528F">https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/amended-statement-regarding-respiratory-protection-shortages-and-reduced-availability</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Jennifer Weber<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Pesticide Safety Education Program<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Maricopa County Cooperative Extension<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">MARICOPA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">4341 E. Broadway Road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Office: (602) 827-8222<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:jennyweber@arizona.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">jennyweber@arizona.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">extension.arizona.edu/maricopa</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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