On March 23, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee unanimously voted to report out 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.

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 bill is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3076 or sending email to: evogel@pasen.gov.  Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-8925 or sending email to: SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.

[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:

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

[Posted: March 23, 2021]

3/29/2021