S.B. No. 1 - Summary

• Requires persons applying manure from concentrated animal feeding facilities to hold livestock manager certification or director-issued certification for agricultural production purposes.

• Prohibits surface application of fertilizer (nitrogen or phosphorous) in the western basin on snow-covered/frozen soil, saturated soil, or when precipitation forecast exceeds 50% chance of over 1 inch in 12 hours; exceptions include injection, incorporation within 24 hours, or application to growing crops.

• Establishes civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for fertilizer application violations, with each day of violation counting separately; allows director of agriculture to assess penalties after adjudication hearing.

• Prohibits surface manure application in western basin under similar conditions as fertilizer with exceptions; allows exemptions for small and medium agricultural operations for up to two years and one year respectively after the effective date.

• Requires publicly owned treatment works with 1+ million gallons per day design flow to conduct monthly phosphorus monitoring beginning December 1, 2016, and directs dredged material from harbor maintenance activities to designated locations in Lake Erie effective July 1, 2020.