HB421 - Negative impact on our clean waterways & bays
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:49 am
HB 421 has bad implications for our waterways and bays.
HB 421The bill’s detractors are particularly worried that it would eliminate the effectiveness of many local urban fertilizer ordinances — like one that bans the use of fertilizer during a four-month rainy season.
Theresa Connor, director of environmental utilities in Sarasota Bay, spoke about that particular provision during this morning’s committee meeting, arguing that nitrogen runoff from fertilizers is the largest source of pollution in Sarasota Bay. “Sarasota is on its way to restoring scallops in the bay … for the first time since the 1950s,” she said, adding that passage of Smith’s bill could hinder that.