To State Senators: Oppose Florida Fertilizer Regulatory Review Council
We, the undersigned, representing 44 Florida businesses, organizations and associations, urge you to oppose the "Florida Fertilizer Regulatory Review Council" amendment language in HB 999 — companion to SB 1684.
For the past six years the fertilizer industry tried to eliminate Florida's more than 50 local ordinances that put water quality protection controls on lawn fertilizer pollution.
Their efforts failed because legislators on both sides of the aisle understand that urban fertilizer regulation is the only cheap and immediately effective way to staunch the flow of nitrogen and phosphorous into our state's most at-risk water bodies. Taxpayers and local governments have been adamant that when it comes to protecting their waterfront economic engines from toxic tides and green slime, it is crazy for the legislature to tie their hands.
Once again this year urban fertilizer preemption is threatening our local governments' ability to protect taxpayers and local businesses: the floor amendment titled "Florida Fertilizer Regulatory Review Council" now a part of HB 999 (companion to SB 1684).
We urge you to remember that there is a very good reason that strong urban fertilizer ordinances are a non-partisan issue and have been adopted all over the state – these ordinances are close to cost-free for local governments and are the only current alternative to expensive taxpayer-funded clean-up projects.
The "Florida Fertilizer Regulatory Review Council" amendment creates a "Council" heavy with fertilizer industry-friendly members intent on implementing a one-size-fits-all model for the entire state; preempts duly elected local governments; and prevents the consideration of the costs (to taxpayers) of inappropriate use of lawn fertilizer.
A one-size-fits-all model for the state is absolutely contrary to the watershed-by-watershed approach that is promoted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and would represent the "floor" with regard to the protection of water quality rather than the "ceiling." Local governments would be left only the weakest pollution controls with no way to make them stronger.
We urge you to vote "NO" on any amendment or bill that would stop or hinder the local regulation of urban fertilizers.
This year has already been a horrible one for Florida in the national press. The manatee and other shore life death tolls have been reported in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the New Yorker. Florida newspapers and television have reported the impacts of toxic algae from Southwest Florida, to the Indian River Lagoon, to the once but no longer renowned springs in Central and North Florida – all during our high tourist season. Prevention is the only cheap way to turn our water quality problems around; please oppose the "Florida Fertilizer Regulatory Review Council" amendment.
Sincerely,
Grant Campbell, Director of Wildlife Policy