10.0. PRSR 05-08-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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bill Phosphorus • is i If passed, it would ban use of chemical in lawn fertilizers sold in metro area 2egi By Mark Brunswick ence committee report 115 to CV Legislature , Star Tribune Staff Writer 14 Monday that would restrict the sale and use of phosphorus A bill that would impose a in lawn fertilizers. The Senate amine specifics of the bill. If virtual ban on the use of phos- passed it last week 58 to 1. enacted,the ban would put the phorus in lawn fertilizers in the Ventura spokesman John state at the forefront of an ef- seven-county metro area is Wodele said the governor is"as fort to limit the use of the headed toward the desk of Gov. concerned about the environ- chemical in turf fertilizers. Jesse Ventura, who supports ment as anyone"and generally the effort. supports the measure, al- BAN continues on BS: The House passed a confer- though he would have to ex- —Dozens of cities support bill. "What would stop someone * STAR TRIBUNE•PAGE B5 I from picking something like that and putting it on their 41-16-0'L" lawn?"he asked. BAN from Bl "The cost will stop them," �] take said Rep. Peggy Leppik, R- It would ta/Le Golden Valley,the House spon- n 2004 sor of the bill."It is far more ex- pensive in 2004 pensive to buy a little box d rose bed fertilizer and spread that all over your lawn." The chemical is the second Said Dorman: "Representa- 0 nutrient,between nitrogen and tive Leppik, we must shop at potash,on most labeled fertiliz- different stores. What you are er bags.It promotes root growth really saying is, nothing. Noth- and green foliage. But it also is ing will stop them." blamed for contributing to The bill does not apply to algae blooms in lakes and growing crops or to any agri- streams. cultural use. Golf courses and Once implemented in 2004, professional lawn services also fertilizer bags marked with 0 would be exempted, although percent phosphorus would be licensed professionals would prominently displayed.In most have to test the soil before using places, some fertilizers with phosphorus. Exemptions can phosphorus still would be of- also apply when a soil test indi- fered to accommodate the ex- cates a need for phosphorus or emptions provided in the mea- for newly seeded or sodded turf. sure. Although the restrictions Two cities — Shorewood would take effect in January and Minneapolis—have bans 2004, any city with an ordi- on selling lawn fertilizer with nance already in effect before phosphorus. More than two August of this year would be dozen other municipalities re- grandfathered in. strict its use, and 58 others Some opponents of the mea- signed on to support the bill. 'a. sure suggested the issue should The bill limits phosphorus not be dealt with on a statewide levels in non-metro counties to level. 3 percent of weight by granules, "This is the type of legisla- or about 0.3 pounds of phos tion we should not be involved phorus per 1,000 square feet. i in.It should be up to local gov- The measure applies only to eminent," said Sen.Mady Rei- lawn fertilizers. Rep. Dan Dor- ter, R-Shoreview,when the bill man, R-Albert Lea, asked dur- was debated in the Senate. ing floor debate about any re- Added Rep. Mark Buesgens, • strictions on garden or flower R-Jordan,during the House de fertilizers, which he said can ,bate:"State government has far contain as much as 40 percent too much to do. Far more im- phosphorus. portant things to do.We should not be dabbling in every single thing under the sun." —Mark Brunswick is at mbrunswick @startribune.com.