![]() ![]() ![]() “I don’t know why we would want to take away one of our most cost-effective solutions to the water-quality issues faced here in Florida,” Driskell said. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic leader from Tampa, criticized the decision and said it likely violates the governor’s 2019 executive order aimed at expediting Everglades restoration efforts. To justify using the budget to pass such a major shift in policy, legislators also included $6.2 million for the IFAS to study the impact of preempting local fertilizer regulations for the next year. If the proposed language becomes law, local governments will no longer be allowed to impose seasonal fertilizer bans or stricter limits and be limited to only the model ordinance. No more seasonal adjustments at the local level IFAS is also “heavily sponsored by fertilizer industries, and a lot of their recommendations are based on green research that they’ve done for fertilizer companies,” Harper said. He said that IFAS has a stated objective “to produce the ‘greenest, healthiest lawn turf’ that you can get.” It’s unconscionable.” Rainy season move to limit tainted runoffįor years during the wet seasons, counties including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Sarasota and Manatee, as well as dozens of cities throughout Florida, have banned the use of fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus on residential or commercial landscapes during the rainy season in an effort to reduce the nutrients that cause harmful algal blooms and red tide. “If this stands, it just opens the door to even more nutrients in our waterways and more problems. “Fertilizer control is a key tool for local governments grappling with water quality problems,” said Gil Smart, executive director of VoteWater, an advocacy group. “That doesn’t benefit anyone except big fertilizer companies.” “Supporting this change would allow more fertilizer runoff into Florida’s waters, period,” said Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades. Lawmakers took no testimony from local government officials or environmental advocates who are now warning that the measure could dramatically impede efforts to curb toxic algae outbreaks that feed on nitrogen and phosphorus-rich runoff. It is the latest proposal to emerge in a legislative session that has fast-tracked industry-friendly bills aimed at removing local control and public input over emotionally-charged environmental and development issues. Legislative leaders tentatively agreed to a $116 billion budget on Monday and, with no public debate or discussion, included the fertilizer language that emerged late Sunday.
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