The Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP) is an educational program for senior management, senior scientists, managers and supervisors of field enforcement and compliance assurance programs, and those slated for management positions of pesticide regulatory and environmental management programs throughout the U.S. PREP was piloted in 1990 at UC Davis Extension by Jake Mackenzie, Western Director, Field and External Affairs Division, U.S. EPA and Dennis Pendleton, Dean, UC Davis Extension. PREP was next under the leadership of John Ward who retired after 30+ years service with EPA on January 3, 2008. We welcome our new PREP Coordinator, Dea Zimmerman, as it grows into its nineteenth year of success in 2008. UC Davis Extension remains as the flagship host organization for this unique educational opportunity. 

PREP courses are designed to provide practical, up-to-date information on technical, policy and management related issues. PREP curriculum relies upon the expertise of both private and public sector individuals to offer course participants current perspectives on issues relevant to the regulation of pesticides.

Attendance at the PREP courses is determined by a nomination process. Prior to each course, state lead agencies, tribes and EPA regional offices are asked to nominate individuals for attendance.

Courses in the program include classroom and field instruction covering new pesticide regulatory initiatives and other technical and policy issues. The 2008 program follows and builds upon a successful series of courses conducted by UC Davis Extension and several other educational institutions for senior pesticide program officials in FY 1990-2007.

PREP GOALS

The broad goals of the national educational program (PREP) are as follows:

  1. Develop states’/tribes’ capabilities to formulate and implement pesticide regulatory and environmental management programs to deal with current problems.

  2. Enhance states’/tribes' capabilities to undertake new environmental initiatives such as risk management/reduction, pollution prevention, integrated pest management, and risk communication programs.

  3. Establish and strengthen state, tribal and regional capabilities to enforce these new programs in the field.

  4. Continue to improve bases for cooperation and coordination among federal and state/tribal regulatory agencies

Responsibility for developing the final goals, objectives, and work plan for PREP rests with a State/Regional Steering Committee (SRSC). The Steering Committee is responsible for approval of proposed curricula, evaluations, and proposals for future action. The Executive Secretary is the PREP Coordinator, Field and External Affairs Division, OPP. The Committee consists of:

Five (5) State Regulatory Officials;

Two (2) EPA Regional Office Division Directors, Deputy Directors, or Branch and Section Chiefs;

Director, Field and External Affairs Division, OPPTS; and

Director, Agriculture and Ecosystems Division, OC, OECA.

Responsibility for developing the individual course curricula rests with a focused Working Group. The Working Group is responsible for developing specific topic areas, providing contact information for potential speakers, and making recommendations for the course development consistent with the SRSC’s vision. The Working Group is typically comprised of:

State Regulatory Officials;

EPA Regional Officials;

Regulatory Liaisons to Industry and other Related Organizations
(e.g., AAPCO, SFIREG, etc.);

UC Davis Extension (or other educational institutions where appropriate); and

PREP Coordinator, Field and External Affairs Division, OPP

PREP looks forward to its 2008 training challenges in the following locations:

Las Cruces, New Mexico;

Grand Rapids, Michigan; and

Davis, California.