New Jersey:
S.B. 169 would establish a New Jersey Clean Water, Drought Mitigation and Water Resource Security Trust Fund and impose user fees on water consumption. A water diversion user fee would be imposed on every person required by law to obtain a diversion permit or a water use registration equal to three cents per 1,000 gallons of water diverted for a consumptive use. Individuals would be eligible for water conservation credits against the fee if they could demonstrate a net reduction in annual water use over any 10-year period commencing Jan. 1, 2002. Money in the fund would be used for: 1) state water resources and water quality projects; and 2) to provide grants and low-interest loans to assist local governments and water purveyors in funding water resources and water quality projects.
Ohio:
The Senate has concurred on House amendments to S.B. 217, a bill that would make comprehensive changes to the state's pesticide law. If signed by the governor, S.B. 217 would: 1) simplify the pesticide licensing process by creating two license categories (private and commercial) instead of multiple categories; 2) establish a new definition of IPM and make the Department of Agriculture the lead agency to deal with IPM issues; and 3) allow the Department of Agriculture to use third parties to conduct/contract for training for recertification. The Ohio Professional Applicators for Responsible Regulation (OPARR), a coalition of various elements of the pesticide user industry has been instrumental and successful in working with lawmakers on passage of an industry-friendly bill.
Oregon:
The state's minimum wage will increase to $6.90 beginning Jan. 1, 2003, as a result of the passage of Ballot Measure 25, approved by Oregon voters on Nov. 5, 2002. Ballot Measure 25 also provides annual adjustments to the state's minimum wage based on the urban Consumer Price Index.
Pennsylvania:
On Dec. 16, Gov. Schweiker signed a comprehensive water-resource planning bill (H.B. 2302), which will update the state's 25-year-old water plan in order to gauge water resources, use and planning needs. Specifically, H.B. 2302 will:
- Require a statewide water plan within five years;
- Create a statewide committee and several regional committees to determine how much water is in the state, where it is and how it is to be used;
- Allow the state to collect data by registering big water users who withdraw more than 10,000 gallons a day in a 30-day period;
- Identify critical water planning areas where the demand exceeds, or is projected to exceed, supply;
- Establish a voluntary water conservation program for all water users.
Texas:
H.B. 223 would give counties the power to enact noise regulations for unincorporated areas with a population of at least 3.3 million in order to "protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of that county". Specifically, H.B. 223 would prohibit sounds higher than 68 decibels on nonresidential property. An exemption to the regulation would include the operation of a mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, router, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower or any other similar device after 7 a.m. and before 8 p.m. that does not exceed 85 decibels. A violation of the noise regulation would constitute a Class C misdemeanor; each hour of violation would count as a separate offense.
Virginia:
The Department of Environmental Quality adopted a rule to add EPA Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater requirements to the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation related to discharges of stormwater from construction activities. The EPA Phase II NPDES stormwater program requires individuals to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity disturbing between one and five acres of land. The new rule went into effect on Dec. 4, 2002. Click here to read the VPDES general permit for storm water discharges from construction activities.
Information in this newsletter is provided by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.