HOUSE BILL No. 5034

July 18, 2007, Introduced by Rep. Sheltrown and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending section 8501 (MCL 324.8501), as amended by 2006 PA 503.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 8501. As used in this part:

 

     (a) "Adulterated product" means a product which that contains

 

any deleterious or harmful substance in sufficient amount to render

 

it injurious to beneficial plant life, animals, humans, aquatic

 

life, soil or water when applied in accordance with directions for

 

use on the label, or if adequate warning statements or directions

 

for use which that may be necessary to protect plant life, animals,

 

humans, aquatic life, soil or water are not shown on the label.

 

     (b) "Agricultural use" means that term as defined in section


 

36101.

 

     (c) (b) "Aquifer" means a geologic formation, group of

 

formations, or part of a formation capable of yielding a

 

significant amount of groundwater to wells or springs.

 

     (d) (c) "Aquifer sensitivity" means a hydrogeologic function

 

representing the inherent abilities of materials surrounding the

 

aquifer to attenuate the movement of nitrogen fertilizers into that

 

aquifer.

 

     (e) (d) "Aquifer sensitivity region" means an area in which

 

aquifer sensitivity estimations are sufficiently uniform to warrant

 

their classification as a unit.

 

     (f) (e) "Brand or product name" means a term, design, or

 

trademark used in connection with 1 or more grades of fertilizer.

 

     (g) (f) "Bulk fertilizer" means fertilizer distributed in a

 

nonpackaged form.

 

     (h) (g) "Custom blend" means a fertilizer blended according to

 

specifications provided to a blender in a soil test nutrient

 

recommendation or blended as specifically requested by the consumer

 

prior to blending.

 

     (i) (h) "Department" means the department of agriculture.

 

     (j) (i) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

agriculture or his or her designee.

 

     (k) (j) "Distribute" means to import, consign, sell, barter,

 

offer for sale, solicit orders for sale, or otherwise supply

 

fertilizer for sale or use in this state.

 

     (l) (k) "Distributor" means any person who distributes

 

fertilizer for sale or use in this state.


 

     (m) (l) "Fertilizer" means a substance containing 1 or more

 

recognized plant nutrients, which substance is used for its plant

 

nutrient content and which is designed for use, or claimed to have

 

value, in promoting plant growth. Fertilizer does not include

 

unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures, marl, lime, limestone,

 

wood ashes, and other materials exempted by rules promulgated under

 

this part.

 

     (n) (m) "Fertilizer material" means a fertilizer that is any

 

of the following:

 

     (i) Contains not more than 1 of the following as primary

 

nutrients:

 

     (A) Total nitrogen (N).

 

     (B) Available phosphate (P2O5).

 

     (C) Soluble potash (K2O).

 

     (ii) Has 85% or more of its plant nutrient content present in

 

the form of a single chemical compound.

 

     (iii) Is derived from a plant or animal residue or by-product or

 

natural material deposit which that has been processed in such a

 

way that its content of plant nutrients has not been materially

 

changed except by purification and concentration.

 

     (o) (n) "Fund" means the fertilizer control fund created under

 

section 8514.

 

     (p) (o) "Grade" means the percentage guarantee of total

 

nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2O5), and soluble potash (K2O),

 

of a fertilizer and shall be stated in the same order given in this

 

subdivision. Indication of grade does not apply to peat or peat

 

moss or soil conditioners.


 

     (q) (p) "Groundwater" means underground water within the zone

 

of saturation.

 

     (r) (q) "Groundwater stewardship practices" means any of a set

 

of voluntary practices adopted by the commission of agriculture

 

pursuant to part 87, designed to protect groundwater from

 

contamination by fertilizers.

 

     (s) (r) "Guaranteed analysis" means the minimum percentage of

 

each plant nutrient guaranteed or claimed to be present.

 

     (t) (s) "Label" means any written, printed, or graphic matter

 

on or attached to packaged fertilizer or used to identify

 

fertilizer distributed in bulk or held in bulk storage.

 

     (u) (t) "Labeling" means all labels and other written,

 

printed, electronic, or graphic matter upon or accompanying any

 

fertilizer at any time, and includes advertising, sales literature,

 

brochures, posters, and internet, television, and radio

 

announcements used in promoting the sale of that fertilizer.

 

     (v) (u) "Licensee" means the person who receives a license to

 

manufacture or distribute fertilizers under this part.

 

     (w) (v) "Lot" means an identifiable quantity of fertilizer

 

that can be sampled officially according to methods adopted under

 

section 8510, that amount contained in a single vehicle, or that

 

amount delivered under a single invoice.

 

     (x) (w) "Manufacture" means to process, granulate, compound,

 

produce, mix, blend, or alter the composition of fertilizer or

 

fertilizer materials.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5035(request no.


 

03418'07) of the 94th Legislature is enacted into law.