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Legislative Call to Action
Hello Members,
The email I sent out last night contained an error on the number of the Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill. The actual bill # is SB 6228.
Even with so many members in Orlando for the GCSAA Conference, we’ve decided to initiate legislative effort on the Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill – SB 6228. We are going to need a major effort to stop the fertilizer ban bill. We need you email or call senators in the Water and Environment Committee ASAP. This email includes info to bring you up to speed and make contacting your representatives a simple process:
- An evaluation and response to the bill prepared by Tom Cook at Oregon State University)
- Members of the Water, Energy & Telecom Committee that will decide on the Fertilizer Bill (below)
- Description of how to contact your senator
- Concerns & Talking Points related to the Bill (when you contact your representative, please put comments in your own words)
To read the bill click: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/ 2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6228.pdf
Below are the members of the committee that will decide the fertilizer bill. The most important ones to target are: Rockefeller, Murray, Fraser, Oemig, Pridemore and Regala. You can click on their names for more info and a map of their district. I have also described each district below.
Water, Energy & Telecom. Committee Members
Phil Rockefeller http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/rockefeller -Chair (D) Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Kingston
Ed Murray http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/murray - Vice Chair (D) Capitol Hill, UW, Broadmoor area
Jim Honeyford http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/honeyford - Ranking Minority Member (R)
Jerome Delvin http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/delvin (R)
Karen Fraser http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/fraser (D) Thurston County
Brian Hatfield http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/hatfield (D)
Janéa Holmquist http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/holmquist (R)
Bob Morton http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/morton (R)
Eric Oemig http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/oemig (D) Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Carnation, Duvall
Craig Pridemore http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/pridemore (D) City of Vancouver to Hazel Dell
Debbie Regala http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/regala (D) NW Peirce County from Pt. Defiance to Fife
A list of their e-mail addresses is: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/ memberemail/Default.aspx?Chamber=S
Example Talking Points
Please oppose SB 6228 “Protecting lake water quality by reducing phosphorus from lawn fertilizers.” While the bill has good intentions, it misses the mark. Research shows that most of the phosphorous in storm water runoff does not come from fertilizer but from natural sources including Canadian geese and pet waste, decaying leaves, and compost. Another major source of phosphorous contamination is failing septic systems. This bill is modeled after a Minnesota law that has not been effective at reducing phosphorous in runoff. To quote the Minnesota Department of Agriculture report on phosphorus lawn fertilizer restrictions three years after their inception, “Changes in water quality resulting from the law have not been documented at this time. Available phosphorus runoff data from Twin Cities streams are too variable in the years following phosphorus lawn fertilizer restrictions to indicate short-term trends in water
quality.”
Because the bill does not restrict sales of phosphorous fertilizer, homeowners will still be able to purchase and use it. Only commercial applicators who are trained in proper use will be targeted. This is poor public policy.
A more effective approach would be to focus on public education about proper lawn care. Washington State University is well positioned to accomplish this.
Thank you,
More details will be provided next week after the GCSAA Conference.
Paul Backman
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