Senate Passes Bill To Control Overuse Of Fertilizer On Turf

On May 11, the full Senate passed Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) by a vote of 47 to 1; Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) was the lone vote against the bill. The bill now goes to the House for action.

The legislation sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program.

The goal of the legislation is to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient pollution going into Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.  

The legislation was included as a recommendation in Pennsylvania’s latest Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.

Similar legislation introduced by Sen. Yaw last session-- Senate Bill 915-- passed the Senate, but died in the House.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Commission, this is the 11th year fertilizer legislation has been introduced in Pennsylvania for consideration.  Read more here.

PA Chesapeake Bay Plan

For more information on Pennsylvania’s plan, visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Office webpage.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

Related Article - Fertilizer:

-- Op-Ed: Fertilizer Bill A Good Start, But Science-Based Changes Are Needed For It To Be Effective

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-- Conservation Districts: Need Technical Assistance With Watershed Monitoring?  Check Out C-SAW

-- U.S. Treasury Releases Interim Final Rule For How States, Local Governments Can Use American Rescue Plan Aid

[Posted: May 12, 2021]  PA Environment Digest