Certification &
Training Assessment Group
CHARTER and GUIDANCE
DOCUMENT
[PDF]
Background
The Certification
& Training Assessment Group (CTAG) was created to assess the current status
and future needs of state certification and training (C&T) programs, as
well as to provide direction for the future of the national pesticide
applicator C&T program. At the state, territorial, and tribal level, the
C&T program is primarily handled by state, territorial, or tribal
governments and land grant universities. CTAG's mission is to help
to ensure safe and effective pest management through enhanced knowledge,
skills, and attitudes of pesticide users. CTAG is committed to work in
collaboration with partners and cooperators in the development and
encouragement of proposals that will strengthen federal, state, territorial,
and tribal pesticide C&T programs.
CTAG Purpose
To facilitate
improvement in the national pesticide applicator certification and training
program.
CTAG Partners and Cooperators
CTAG participants
include representatives from EPA Headquarters and Regional Offices, Pesticide
State Lead Agencies (SLAs), University Cooperative Extension (CES), Tribes
(through the Tribal Pesticide Program Council - TPPC), the Association of
American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO), the Association of Structural
Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO), and the American Association of
Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE), as well as representatives of U. S.
government pesticide programs and governmental pesticide programs in Canada and
Mexico. Participants include individuals serving on the CTAG Board, working
committees, and sub-committees.
CTAG Board (herein referred to as the Board)
CTAG is guided by a
Board that includes representatives from EPA (headquarters and regions), USDA,
AAPCO, AAPSE, ASPCRO, CES, SLAs, and TPPC. All Board members have voting
privileges.
Length of
Term. Board members are
appointed for specific term lengths. All new Board members filling expired
terms will be appointed to serve three-year terms. At the discretion of the
Board, unexpired terms may be filled for either the remaining term or the
remaining term plus three years. All terms will end on March 31 of the
appropriate year. An incumbent may seek nomination for a subsequent term.
Offices and
Terms. Offices on the Board
will include two Co-Chairs (one standing position, one elected position) and,
in alternate years, a Vice-Chair or a Past-Chair. These offices will constitute
the Board Executive Committee.
The standing Co-Chair
will be a representative from EPA's Office of Pesticide Program (OPP),
Certification & Worker Protection Branch. The elected Co-Chair will be
elected by the Board and serve a two-year term. The elected Co-Chair's term
will be immediately followed by one year as Past-Chair. A Vice-Chair will be
elected by the Board to serve a one-year term. The Vice-Chair's term will be
immediately followed by two years as the elected Co-Chair and then one year as
the Past-Chair. In the absence of the elected Co-Chair, the Vice-Chair will
serve as Co-Chair. The initial three-year term of Board members elected to the
offices of Vice-Chair or Co-Chair will be extended as necessary to allow such
Board members to serve the prescribed terms of office.
Nominations
and Elections. Prior to the
scheduled end of any Board member's term, the Board will solicit the nomination
of individuals interested and willing to serve on the Board. The Board will
accept requests to participate on the Board at any time and from any person. In
addition, a formal request for nominations will be sent to CTAG partners and
cooperators, including AAPCO,
Nominations for
Vice-Chair will be made by current Board members. Nominations will be sought
during the vacancy year of the Vice-Chair office. The elected Vice-Chair will
begin the one-year term the next succeeding April 1.
Permanent
Members. The Board has
discretion in designating permanent members to the Board. The following are
permanent Board members: a representative from USDA-CSREES, and a
representative from EPA-OPP, Certification & Worker Protection Branch.
Removal for Cause
The membership of any
member on the Board may be terminated “for cause.” “For cause” includes ceasing
to engage in a qualifying occupation for which the appointment was made; being
absent without acceptable reason from three consecutive meetings or conference
calls of the Board; failure or inability to perform the duties of a member of
the Board; engaging in disruptive or unprofessional behavior in association
with Board members or CTAG functions; or conviction of a felony or of a crime
involving moral turpitude. Termination “for cause” requires a majority vote of
Board members. A vote to terminate “for cause” may be taken following notice
and an opportunity to be heard for any Board member facing termination. In
addition, membership on the Board will cease immediately upon the resignation
or death of any Board member.
Responsibilities and Functions
The Board is charged
with the responsibility to:
• Determine the current status of C&T programs
• Define the
needs of C&T programs
• Determine the
future direction of CTAG
• Create and
coordinate working committees
• Monitor, facilitate,
and encourage working committee activities
• Prepare and
present activity updates, and reports on accomplishments
• Maintain a
CTAG communication network to include all necessary stakeholders in a
formalized and structured process
Meetings
The Board will meet
at least annually at a time and place to be determined by the Board Executive
Committee. Additional meetings will be scheduled as needed to accomplish CTAG
tasks/goals. Whenever possible, meetings will be scheduled in conjunction with
other established meetings to facilitate travel and minimize travel expense.
Other meetings may include AAPCO, full SFIREG, or the National Pesticide
Applicator Certification & Training Workshop.
Working Committees
Working committees will
be formed by the Board as needed to accomplish program goals and tasks. CTAG
working committees will include representation from appropriate stakeholder
groups as determined by the Board.
To facilitate
communication of activities and progress, all working committees will be
Co-Chaired by a current Board member. This arrangement will continue through
completion of the working committee's charge.
In the event the
Board member's term expires prior to completion of the working committee's
tasks, the Board member will remain as Co-Chair of the working committee and
will continue to keep the Board informed of the working committee's activities
and progress.
If a Board member who
serves as a Co-Chair of a working committee leaves the Board and is unable to remain
as a Co-Chair, the Board will by majority vote appoint a current Board member
to serve as the new Co-Chair.
Communications
The Board recognizes
the importance of maintaining open communication with CTAG participants,
partners, and stakeholders. The Board will prepare and distribute periodic
updates of CTAG activities, including the progress of working committees and
other CTAG accomplishments.
The Board will
solicit liaisons for AAPCO, ASPCRO, AAPSE, and TPPC. Liaisons are responsible
to coordinate with their constituencies and provide feedback concerning CTAG
activities.
The Board has a
formal process to solicit input on its activities. Details are available in the
“CTAG Process” document in the document archive on the CTAG web site.
The Board will use
its web site to post information on CTAG, its Board, current activities and
meetings, and to archive documents.
Board approved 1/28/08