def _validate_params_epaipm(etl_params):
    """Validate the etl parameters for EPA IPM.

    Args:
        etl_params (iterable): dictionary of inputs

    Returns:
        iterable: validated dictionary of inputs
    """
    epaipm_dict = {}
    # pull out the etl_params from the dictionary passed into this function
    try:
        epaipm_dict['epaipm_tables'] = etl_params['epaipm_tables']
    except KeyError:
        epaipm_dict['epaipm_tables'] = []
    if not epaipm_dict['epaipm_tables']:
        return {}
    return(epaipm_dict)