PRINTER'S NO. 292
No. 269 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, CALTAGIRONE, CAWLEY, CURRY, DALEY, FABRIZIO, GOODMAN, HARHAI, LEACH, LEDERER, MELIO, ROONEY, SATHER, STABACK, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 2 Statutes, providing for restricted use commercial fertilizers 3 and agricultural minerals, for duties of the Department of 4 Agriculture and for violations. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Section 6702 of Title 3 of the Pennsylvania 8 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read: 9 § 6702. Definitions. 10 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter 11 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 12 context clearly indicates otherwise: 13 * * * 14 "Restricted use commercial fertilizer or agricultural 15 mineral." A commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral 16 classified for restricted use pursuant to section 6704.1 17 (relating to restricted use commercial fertilizer or 18 agricultural mineral).
1 * * * 2 Section 2. Title 3 is amended by adding a section to read: 3 § 6704.1. Restricted use commercial fertilizer or agricultural 4 mineral. 5 (a) General rule.--The department shall adopt regulations 6 governing the application and distribution of any commercial 7 fertilizer or agricultural mineral which it finds must 8 necessarily be applied as a commercial fertilizer or 9 agricultural mineral but which, unless carefully used, is likely 10 to be any of the following: 11 (1) Injurious to persons, pollinating insects, bees, 12 animals, crops or land. 13 (2) Detrimental to any of the following: 14 (i) Vegetation, except weeds. 15 (ii) Wildlife. 16 (iii) Public health and safety. 17 (b) Determination.--The department, in classifying 18 commercial fertilizers and agricultural minerals as restricted 19 use commercial fertilizers or agricultural minerals, shall 20 determine whether: 21 (1) The commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral is 22 highly toxic to humans or other animals, including wildlife. 23 (2) The regulations governing the application and 24 distribution of the commercial fertilizer or agricultural 25 mineral are reasonably calculated to avoid injury and are 26 necessary for the proper use of the commercial fertilizer or 27 agricultural mineral. 28 (3) The benefit from the use of the commercial 29 fertilizer or agricultural mineral is of greater value to the 30 public than the detriment to the environment or the public 20050H0269B0292 - 2 -
1 health and safety from the use of the commercial fertilizer 2 or agricultural mineral. 3 (4) The commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral 4 can be used for harmful purposes other than its registered 5 purposes. 6 (c) Regulations.--The department may adopt other regulations 7 as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, 8 including, but not limited to, regulations governing: 9 (1) The collection and examination of commercial 10 fertilizers and agricultural minerals. 11 (2) The types of containers and packages required to be 12 used for specific commercial fertilizers or agricultural 13 minerals, including, but not limited to, requirements 14 concerning the construction, strength and size of the 15 containers and packages to avoid the danger of spillage, 16 breakage or misuse. 17 (3) The safe handling, transportation, storage, display, 18 distribution and disposal of commercial fertilizers and 19 agricultural minerals and their containers. 20 (4) The information required to be recorded and 21 maintained concerning the sale, use and distribution of 22 restricted use commercial fertilizers and agricultural 23 minerals. 24 (d) Violation.--It is a violation of this section for any 25 person to sell or offer to sell at retail, or to distribute or 26 deliver for transportation for delivery to the consumer or user, 27 a restricted use commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral 28 unless the person is registered with the department. 29 (e) Registration.--Each person applying for registration 30 under this section must provide the department with a 20050H0269B0292 - 3 -
1 registration statement that includes: 2 (1) The name and address of the person registering. 3 (2) The name and address of any person who, on behalf of 4 the person registering, sells, offers to sell, distributes or 5 delivers for transportation a restricted use commercial 6 fertilizer or agricultural mineral. 7 (f) Renewal of registration.--A registration under this 8 section expires on December 31 of each year and is renewable 9 annually. 10 (g) Fee.--Each person registering with the department under 11 this section must pay: 12 (1) An annual registration fee established by regulation 13 of the department. 14 (2) A penalty fee established by regulation of the 15 department if the person failed to renew his previous 16 registration on or before February 1 next following its 17 expiration, unless the registration is accompanied by a 18 signed statement that no person named on the registration 19 statement has sold or distributed any restricted use 20 commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral during the 21 period the registration was not in effect. 22 (h) Records.--Each person registered pursuant to this 23 section shall maintain for at least two years a record of all 24 sales of restricted use commercial fertilizers or agricultural 25 minerals showing: 26 (1) The date of sale or delivery of the restricted use 27 commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral. 28 (2) The name and address of the person to whom the 29 restricted use commercial fertilizer or agricultural mineral 30 was sold or delivered. 20050H0269B0292 - 4 -
1 (3) The brand name of the restricted use commercial 2 fertilizer or agricultural mineral sold or delivered. 3 (4) The amount of the restricted use commercial 4 fertilizer or agricultural mineral sold or delivered. 5 (5) Other information as may be required by the 6 department. 7 (i) Report.--Each person registered pursuant to this section 8 shall, on or before the date specified for each reporting period 9 established pursuant to subsection (j), file a report with the 10 department specifying the restricted use commercial fertilizers 11 or agricultural minerals that the person sold during the 12 reporting period. The department shall provide the form for the 13 report. The report must be filed regardless of whether the 14 person sold any commercial fertilizers or agricultural minerals 15 during the reporting period. 16 (j) Reporting periods and dates for filing.--The department 17 shall adopt regulations establishing reporting periods and dates 18 for filing reports pursuant to subsection (i). 19 (k) Refusal to grant or renew registration.--The department 20 may refuse to grant or renew a registration pursuant to this 21 section or may suspend or revoke the registration if, after 22 notice and a hearing, the department finds that: 23 (1) The person registered has, without reasonable cause, 24 failed to record information as required by this section or a 25 regulation adopted by the department. 26 (2) The person registered has made a false entry in a 27 required record. 28 (3) The applicant for registration has made a sale or 29 delivery of a restricted use commercial fertilizer or 30 agricultural mineral without registering with the department. 20050H0269B0292 - 5 -
1 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A7L03RLE/20050H0269B0292 - 6 -