                            Membership Balance Plan
                                       

                        ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

     
1.  FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE NAME
     State the legal name of the FAC

Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee

     
2.  AUTHORITY
     Identify the authority for establishing the FAC

Agency Authority, Deputy Administrator approval document.  

     
3.  MISSION/FUNCTION
     Describe the mission/function of the FAC

EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is entrusted with the important responsibilities of ensuring that Americans are not exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides in food, protecting from unreasonable risk and educating those who apply or are exposed to pesticides occupationally or through use of products, and protecting the environment and special ecosystems from potential risks posed by pesticides.

PPDC is a policy-oriented committee that will provide policy advice, information and recommendations to EPA. PPDC will provide a public forum to discuss a wide variety of pesticide regulatory development and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and policy issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides.  

The major objectives are to provide policy advice, information and recommendations on:

    Developing practical, protective approaches for addressing pesticide regulatory policy, program implementation, environmental, technical, economic; and other policy issues; and
 
    Reviewing proposed modifications to OPP's current policies and procedures, including the technical and economic feasibility of any proposed regulatory changes to the current process of registering and reregistering pesticides.



     
4.  POINTS OF VIEW
     Based on understanding the purpose of the FAC,
     (a)  describe the process that will be used to ensure the committee is balanced, and identify the categories               
     (b)  consider identifying an anticipated relative distribution of candidates across the categories; and 
     (c)  explain how a determination was made to appoint any individuals as Special Government Employees 
           or Representative  members        
                                            
                                       
 
 PPDC will be composed of approximately forty (40) members. Members will serve as Representative members of non-Federal interests, Regular Government Employees (RGE), or Special Government Employees (SGEs). Representative members are selected to represent the points of view held by specific organizations, associations, or classes of individuals. In selecting members, EPA will consider candidates from pesticide user, grower and commodity groups; consumer and environmental/public interest groups; farm worker organizations; pesticide industry and trade associations; State, local and Tribal governments; Federal government; academia; the general public; animal welfare and public health organizations.
 
    
 5.  OTHER BALANCE FACTORS
       List any other factors EPA identifies as important in achieving a balanced FAC


Geographic location may be considered.

     
6.  CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
       Summarize the process intended to be used to identify candidates for the FAC, key resources expected to be                  
      tapped to identify candidates and the key persons (by position, not name) who will evaluate FAC balance.  The 
       summary should:
       (a)  describe the process
       (b)  identify EPA key staff involved (by position, not name)
       (c)  briefly describe how FAC vacancies, if any, will be handled by EPA
      (d)  state the membership term limit of FAC members, if applicable
  

 Approximately 8 months prior to expiration of committee members' terms the DFO meets with EPA's Office of Diversity, Advisory Committee Management, and Outreach (ODACMO) to discuss the outreach plan, establish a timeline, and other issues concerning the membership package.  After approval of the outreach plan the DFO conducts outreach for new members in accordance with the plan. The DFO solicits representative candidate names through a Federal Register notice; through a memo from the OCSPP AA to the Regional Administrators; by contacting the Office of Children's Health Protection; and from trade associations for the pesticide industry, trade associations from EPA's regulated community, pesticide user, grower and commodity groups; consumer and environmental/public interest groups; farm worker organizations; State, local and Tribal governments; Federal government; academia; the general public; and public health organizations.

After a review of the pool of nominees, a determination is made to consider whether additional outreach is needed.  The DFO develops a draft grid of nominees, including at least one additional candidate for each point of view for the function the committee is to perform. 

A balance review of the proposed membership is then conducted by ODACMO and the OGC FACA Attorney. Different levels of EPA managers then review the draft package for questions or comments before the final package is prepared.  

Formal letters of invitation to serve on the PPDC will be extended by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator of EPA.  This cycle will be repeated for any occurring vacancies. PPDC members are usually appointed for a two-year term.  Generally, members may be reappointed for a total of 6 years.  


7.  SUBCOMMITTEE BALANCE
     Subcommittees subject to FACA* should either state that the process for determining FAC member balance      on     
       subcommittees is the same as the process for the parent FAC, or describe how it is different
       *This is relevant to those agencies that require their subcommittees to follow all FACA requirements.
  

EPA plans to use the process that is used to determine advisory committee member balance for the parent (Tier 1) Federal advisory committee for any Tier 2 subcommittee(s) that may be created.


8.  OTHER
      Provide any additional information that supports the balance of the FAC

Not applicable.


9.  DATE PREPARED/UPDATED
           

July 23, 2015


