On July 11,  Gov. Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming, Comitta-D-Chester) as Act 83 setting standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, providing for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program.

The Senate and House had versions of this legislation under consideration for the last 12 years.

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

The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Committee and other members.

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

A copy of the House Fiscal Note & Summary is available.

NewsClips:

-- Bay Journal: PA Takes ‘Historic’ Action To Fund Clean Water Projects And Help The Chesapeake Bay - By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: PA, Longtime Pariah Of Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Gets Rare ‘Attaboy’ For New Environmental Investments

-- Lancaster Farming: New PA Laws Will Head Off Nutrient Runoff

Related Articles:

-- Chesapeake Bay Commission Executive Director Ann Pesiri Swanson To Retire; Commission Members Recognize Her Achievements  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal: Ann Pesiri Swanson, Longtime Director Of Chesapeake Bay Commission, To Retire - By Timothy B. Wheeler

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

[Posted: July 11, 2022]

7/18/2022