Clean Sweep Programs - US Environmental Protection Agency

Section 2 Clean Sweep Program OperationsThe grants support enforcement and complianceefforts on the use of pesticides and field programs.There are three examples of field programs: (1)applicator certification and training; (2) ground waterprograms; and (3) worker protection efforts. If astate meets the standards set by the cooperativeagreement, it has the discretion to request funds foractivities outside the normal scope of the agreement,provided the activity furthers the overall goal ofprotecting public health and the environment frompesticides. Some states have taken this opportunityto request funds to supplement their Clean Sweepprograms.Supporting the Goals of Another EPA Program.As described in section 1.2, the objectives of CleanSweep programs are consistent with the goals ofseveral existing EPAprograms, including removingPBT chemicals from the environment and protectingthe nation’s waters. Occasionally, these other EPAprograms have supported state Clean Sweep effortsbecause EPA determined that such assistance wouldbenefit the environment and support the specificprogram’s goals. For example, Kentucky’s CleanSweep program, which has been continuouslyfunded since 1995 by pesticide registration fees,received almost $17,000 of EPA funding in 1999from the PBT Initiative. This incremental funding,less than ten percent of Kentucky’s total funding,provided an incentive for Kentucky to begin trackingquantities of certain PBT pesticides collected in thestate’s Clean Sweep program. The Great LakesInitiative accomplished specific environmental goalsand seeded new programs through its funding ofClean Sweeps. In 1992, Region 5 providedassistance ranging from $27,000 to up to $174,000to counties in the Great Lakes Basin and areasaffected by the Mississippi River flooding. Inaddition, EPA’s Coastal Environmental Managementfunds under the Clean Water Act provided anadditional $210,000 for assistance to the entireregion.Supporting Special Needs. Occasionally, EPAprovides funding to states in an area that suffered anatural disaster. In the Midwest, EPA goals havebeen achieved by funding Clean Sweeps in areas ofconcern in the Great Lakes Basin and along theMississippi River during flood years.2.4 Who may participate in CleanSweep programs?Since Clean Sweep programs are defined asthe collection of unwanted or waste agriculturalpesticides, they are directed – at least initially – atfarmers. In eight states, the programs are limited tofarmers and ranchers. Five states limit participationto farmers and households. The other states allowbusinesses other than farmers to participate,although some businesses must pay at least part ofthe disposal cost. Kansas allows dealers, manufacturersand distributors to participate on a cash-ondeliverybasis and Maine and Florida requirepayment of the contracted disposal rate ($1.30 to$2 per pound). In Colorado and Oregon, largerbusinesses and retailers may participate and mustpay the same fee as farmers and other pesticideusers.Other participants allowed by various statesinclude golf courses, pest control operators,government agencies (county, state and federal),greenhouse and nursery operators, schools, andparks. Permanently funded programs allow a widerange of participants. As shown in Table 3 andFigure 4, all of the 21 permanently funded programsallow farmers and at least three other kinds ofparticipants in their Clean Sweeps. Seven, or 58percent, of the continuous programs also allow awide range of participants. The majority ofintermittent and one-time programs allow onlyfarmers or farmers and households.16