Department of Pesticide Regulation

transmitting data and reports to the department of pesticide regulation

County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) are an important partner in the implementation of the California Pesticide Regulatory Program. The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has the responsibility of compiling information on the activities of the program for use in statewide decision-making and for distribution to the Legislature, the media, and the public.

The present fiscal situation makes the ongoing task of looking for more efficient ways of doing business even more critical. We have reviewed some of the procedures used to move data from CACs to DPR and found some areas that can be streamlined. Please forward data and reports as outlined below. Enclosed is a summary chart for quick reference.

Priority Investigation Reports
The investigation of episodes, of any kind, that meet the criteria outlined in the three-way cooperative agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), DPR, and the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association is conducted pursuant to the procedures outlined in the agreement. In summary, they require all of the following:

1. Initiation of the investigation within two working days of referral;
2. A 15-day report estimating completion date and indicating contemplated enforcement actions;
3. Submission of the completed report to DPR within 45 days of completion of the investigation. DPR has 30 days to submit the final report to U.S. EPA.

Please continue sending all completed Priority Investigation Reports to the Enforcement Branch Regional office for review and forwarding to U.S. EPA.

Pesticide Illness Reports (other than priority)
CACs investigate reports of pesticide illness or injury to provide information to assist DPR to evaluate the effectiveness of the pesticide regulatory program and take appropriate enforcement action. The Worker Health and Safety Branch is the primary evaluator of those investigations. The Enforcement Branch focuses on identifying violations and taking appropriate enforcement action.

Please send all "routine" illness investigations directly to the Worker Health and Safety Branch, PISP Unit, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, California 95812-4015.

Pesticide Regulatory Activities Monthly Report (PRAMR)
DPR compiles information from the PRAMR to assist the Mill Assessment Branch in the distribution of the mill assessment funds to the counties. Enforcement /compliance actions and most inspection reports should accompany the PRAMR. This supercedes the instructions given in ENF 01-36. These data will be entered into their respective databases.

Please continue sending the PRAMR and supporting documentation directly to the Enforcement Branch, PRAMR Unit, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, California 95812-4015.

Pesticide Use Report (PUR) Data
All CACs receive, review, and process (data entry) production agriculture and monthly summary pesticide use application records. These data are electronically sent to DPR via e-mail or mailed on a floppy disc on a monthly basis.

Please continue sending electronic PUR data via e-mail (the preferred transmittal method) as an electronic file to: purdata@cdpr.ca.gov. Floppy discs should be mailed to the Pest Management and Licensing Branch, PUR Unit, P.O Box 4015, Sacramento, California 95812-4015.

If you have any questions about forwarding data or reports, please contact the Enforcement Branch Liaison assigned to your county.

cc:  Mr. Chuck Andrews, Chief, Worker Health and Safety Branch
      Mr. Daniel J. Merkley, DPR Agricultural Commissioner Liaison (w/Enclosures)