2002-05-05 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Governor signs phosphorus bill Jennifer O'Rourke Last Friday, Gov. Ventura signed the phosphorus bill restricting the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers. The new law imposes a ban on almost all residential lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus starting in January 2004. For the seven-county metro area., these lawn fertilizers will have a phosphorus level of 0 percent. For areas outside the metro counties, the phosphorus portion of residential use lawn fertilizer is restricted to 3 percent. These restrictions do not apply to agricul- tural use. An exception exists fOr golf courses, as well as for home owners/ renters with newly sodded or seeded lawns or those whose soil-tested lawns show a need for additional phosphorus. If a city adopts a more restrictive ordinance before Aug. 1, 2002, that city's ordinance is grandfuthered. Any city adopting an ordinance after Aug. 1, 2002, loses its more restrictive positions when the law takes effect in 2004. Currently, more than two dozen of Minnesota's cities impose some type of restriction on phosphorus applications fur lawns and many others are considering such action. For a sample ordinance, contact the LMC Research sta/fat (651) 281-1200. Cltief authors of the legislation were Rep. Peggy Leppik (R-Golden Valley) and Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis).The bill is likely to be one of a very few pieces of environmental legislation to pass this session. t" Quieter fireworks bill awaits governor's signature Anne Finn Minnesota retailers may be just hours away from being able to sell sparklers, glow worms, party-poppers, snappers, and fuuntains. The House and Senate on Monday approved a scaled-back version of a bill that would allow the personal use of novelty fireworks during periods around July 4th and New Year's. Sale of the items would not be regulated. The governor, who has outspokenly supported legaliza- rion of fireworks, is expected to sign the bill. The new law will take effect immediately. The bill changed significantly from the time it was introduced. The original bill (SF 2960) dealt with an entirely separate issue-unpaid leave for volunteer firefighters. A fireworks provision to allow a range of consumer fireworks, such as firecrackers and bottle rockets, was amended onto the bill in the House Ways & Means Comntittee. By the time the bill left conference conunittee, the volunteer firefighter provision had been stripped out and the fireworks langnage had been altered to narrow the scope of the permissible items. Passage of the bill is the result of heavy lobbying by the national fireworks industry and the Minnesota Retailers Association. The new law could generate about $1 million in sales taxes. t" LMC Business Associates For information on becoming an lMC Bu.ines. As.ociate, call Rebecca Erickson at (651) 281-1222. ACS (Affiliated Computer Services) Advanced Drainage Systems Barna Guzy & Steffen ltd. Bolton & Menk, Inc. Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associate., Inc. Briggs and Morgan Cincinnatus, Inc. David Drown Associat"s DPRA Incorporated Ehlers & Associates, Ine. Evensen Dodge Inc. Hallberg Engineering, Ine. HDR Engineering, Ine. Howard R. Green Company Kennedy & Graven, Chartered Krass Monroe, P.A. Liesch Associates, Inc. LOGIS MFRA Paulsen Architects Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. Reliant Energy Minnegasco RlK Kuusisto, Ltd. Springsted Incorporated TSP Architects & Engineers URS Corporation Voyageur Asset Management Widseth Smith Nolting Xcel Energy Yaggy Colby Associates April 24, 2002 PageS