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,
Around
the Bend Nature Tours LLC
Karen Fraley, Manager
Holsinger
Horticultural Services, Inc.
Michael Holsinger
Corkscrew
Swamp Sanctuary
Jason Lauritsen, Sanctuary Director
Hendry
Glades Audubon
Margaret England
Solutions
To Avoid Red Tide (START)
Sandy Gilbert, Chairman
Ding Darling
Wildlife Society
John McCabe, President
South Florida
Audubon Society
Grant Campbell, Director of Wildlife Policy
Grant Campbell, Director of Wildlife Policy
Protect
Our Watersheds, Inc.
Helen Jelks King
Putnam County
Environmental Council
Karen Chadwick, Board Member
Reef Relief
Millard McCleary, Executive Program Director
The Snook &
Gamefish Foundation
Brett Fitzgerald, Managing Director
Withlacoochee Area Residents
(W.A.R.),
Inc
Dan Hilliard, Director
Sierra
Club
Frank Jackalone, Florida Staff
Director
Conservancy
of Southwest Florida
Jennifer Hecker, Director of
Natural Resource Policy
1000
Friends of Florida
Charles Pattison, President
Sanibel Captiva
Conservation Foundation
Erick Lindblad, Executive Director
Florida Wildlife
Federation
Martha Musgrove, Southern Regional Director
Florida Wildlife
Federation
Manley Fuller, President
Loxahatchee
Group Sierra Club
Kay Gates/Drew Martin
Earthjustice
Alisa Coe, Attorney
Space Coast
Progressive Alliance (SCPA)
Spence Guerin, Member Delegate,
Board of Directors
Brevard County Democratic Executive
Committee
Beth McMillen, Chair
Center
for Earth Jurisprudence
Barry
University School of Law
Sister Patricia Siemen, Esq
Florida's
Eden
Annie Pais, Executive Director
Beautiful
Ponds, Wetland & Preserve Management
Russ Hoffman
Santa Fe Lake
Dwellers Association
Jill McGuire
Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Bradford H. Sewell, Senior Attorney
Coastal Wildlife
Club, Inc.
Carol Leonard, Board of Directors
Clean Water
Network of FL
Linda Young
Friends of St.
Sebastian River
Tim Glover, President
Calusa Group
Sierra Club
Rhonda Roff
Marine Resources Council
Leesa Souto, PhD, Executive Director
Friends
of the Hillsborough River
Phil Compton
Florida Consumer
Action Network
Bill Newton, Executive Director
Miami Group -
Sierra Club
Bradley Stark
Florida
Native Plant Society
Joan Bausch
Martin
County Conservation Alliance
Donna Melzer, Chair
SW FL Audubon
Club
Carl Veaux, Chapter President
Coccoloba
Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
John Sibley, President
Clean Water
Action
Kathleen E. Aterno, National
Managing Director and Florida Director
Gulf Restoration
Network
Matt Rota, Director of Science and Water Policy
Reef Relief Key
West
Peter Anderson, President
Peace
River Audubon Society
Larry Behrens, President
Caloosahatchee
River Citizens Association (Riverwatch)
Wayne Daltry
Sierra Club Florida
