Industry Mulls Legal Challenge To EPA's Revised Farmworker Protections

摘要

Agricultural industry officials are weighing a legal challenge to EPA's revised farmworker protection standards (WPS), with possible arguments including that the agency failed to adequately assess the rule's costs and benefits, though an industry source says groups are also seeking agency advice for implementing the new requirements. EPA Sept. 28 finalized revisions to its WPS, setting a first-time minimum age requirement of 18 for pesticide handlers and boosting training requirements from once every five years to annually, among other changes. Farmworker advocates have hailed the revised WPS as a significant step toward bringing farmworkers similar protections to workers in other industries, though industry officials say EPA has disregarded their cost concerns, and that many changes fail to improve safety.