Free CFA Regulations and Recordkeeping Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An applicator applies a fertilizer/pesticide tank mix to a field. According to the EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS), for how long must the application records be maintained and be accessible to agricultural workers?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
The EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requires employers to keep records of pesticide applications, including co-applied fertilizers, for two years after the restricted-entry interval (REI) for the pesticide expires. These records must be made available to workers and handlers upon request.
Question 2: Which federal agency is primarily responsible for establishing the placarding requirements, such as displaying the UN number 1005, for a nurse tank carrying anhydrous ammonia on a public road?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of Transportation (DOT) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Department of Transportation (DOT)
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the safe transportation of hazardous materials. This includes setting the specific requirements for vehicle markings and placards, like the UN 1005 non-flammable gas placard for anhydrous ammonia, to alert the public and emergency responders to the material being transported.
Question 3: An accidental release of anhydrous ammonia from a storage tank totals 125 pounds in a 24-hour period. According to federal CERCLA regulations, what is the applicator's immediate reporting responsibility?
- Document the spill in the facility logbook for the annual safety review.
- Immediately report the spill to the National Response Center (NRC). (Correct answer)
- No reporting is required as the amount is below the 500-pound threshold.
- Report the spill to the local fire department only.
Correct answer: Immediately report the spill to the National Response Center (NRC).
The Reportable Quantity (RQ) for anhydrous ammonia under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is 100 pounds. Any release that equals or exceeds this amount within a 24-hour period must be immediately reported to the National Response Center (NRC).
Question 4: Which of the following is a key regulatory requirement for a secondary containment structure at a bulk liquid fertilizer storage facility?
- It must be covered by a permanent roof to prevent rainwater from entering.
- It must have a capacity sufficient to hold the volume of the largest tank plus displacement and potential precipitation. (Correct answer)
- It must be connected directly to a municipal storm drain via a locked valve.
- It must be inspected by a state official every 30 days.
Correct answer: It must have a capacity sufficient to hold the volume of the largest tank plus displacement and potential precipitation.
Secondary containment dikes are designed to prevent a catastrophic release. EPA and state regulations generally require that the containment area for an unprotected tank must be able to hold 100-110% of the volume of the largest tank within the dike, plus the displacement of any other tanks and equipment, and additional freeboard capacity to contain precipitation from a significant storm event.
Question 5: When completing a fertilizer application record for a specific field, which of the following data points is most critical for verifying adherence to a nutrient management plan and for future efficacy analysis?
- The time of day the applicator began and ended the application.
- The name of the company that manufactured the fertilizer.
- The application rate (e.g., lbs/acre) and the total amount applied. (Correct answer)
- The color and model of the application equipment.
Correct answer: The application rate (e.g., lbs/acre) and the total amount applied.
The application rate and total amount of product applied are essential data points. They are used to calculate the actual amount of nutrients delivered to the field, verify that the application followed the nutrient management plan's recommendations, assess economic cost, and evaluate the crop's response.
Question 6: Beyond satisfying state and federal regulations, what is a primary agronomic and economic reason for maintaining detailed and accurate fertilizer application records?
- To evaluate the performance of nutrient strategies and optimize future return on investment. (Correct answer)
- To qualify for lower premiums on general farm liability insurance.
- To provide marketing material for promoting the farming operation to landowners.
- To track applicator work hours for payroll and overtime calculations.
Correct answer: To evaluate the performance of nutrient strategies and optimize future return on investment.
Accurate records allow a grower or agronomist to correlate specific nutrient inputs with crop yield and quality outcomes. This historical data is invaluable for refining nutrient management strategies, improving efficiency, troubleshooting problems, and maximizing the economic return on fertilizer investments in subsequent seasons.
Free CFA Regulations and Recordkeeping Questions and Answers 1
An applicator applies a fertilizer/pesticide tank mix to a field.
According to the EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS), for how long must the application records be maintained and be accessible to agricultural workers?