House Committee Holds Oct. 25 Hearing On Bill To Control Overuse Of Fertilizer On Turf

The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing October 25 on Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which 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.

The Committee had scheduled a hearing on the bill for September 29, but it was canceled.

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.

The hearing will be held in Room 523 Irvis Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch it live.

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Majority Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com. Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-783-0686 or by sending email to: epashins@pahouse.net. 

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:

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

[Posted: October 6, 2021]  PA Environment Digest