Director’s Corner

At the last minute, I substituted this very important letter from Larry Nichols of VDACS for my column. The issue he discusses — auditing fertilizer applications and applicators — is critical. My column will reappear in the next issue.

An Important Message from VDACS

By Larry M. Nichols • Director, Division of Consumer Protection Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) will be conducting audits of companies that apply lawn fertilizers. The audits will verify the acreage of lawn fertilizer applications made in accordance with Virginia’s Regulations for the Application of Fertilizer to Nonagricultural Lands, which then allows Virginia to receive credit from EPA for those acres of managed lawns that meet requirements of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan is intended to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. The audits will document that Virginia’s lawn care companies are not applying excess nutrients, thereby ensuring that Virginia is meeting goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.

Virginia’s Regulations for the Application of Fertilizer to Nonagricultural Lands include requirements for lawn care companies related to the application rates established in the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Nutrient Management Plan Standards and Criteria, certification of applicators, and recordkeeping. VDACS will randomly select lawn care companies across the Commonwealth for the audit. VDACS inspectors will be auditing application and training records to verify that: (i) the lawn care company’s employees are Certified Fertilizer Applicators or trained fertilizer applicators; (ii) lawn fertilizer applications are made in accordance with the Virginia Nutrient Management Standards and Criteria; (iii) lawn fertilizer application acreage, when required, has been reported to VDACS by the lawn care company; (iv) lawn fertilizer application records contain all information required by the Regulations for the Application of Fertilizer to Nonagricultural Lands; and (v) the company has a fertilizer contractor-applicator license as required by the Virginia Fertilizer Law. For more information please go to:

• Regulations for the Application of Fertilizer to Nonagricultural Lands

• Virginia Fertilizer Law (See Section 3.2-3602.1(B) and Section 3.2-3608)

• Virginia Nutrient Management Plan Standards and Criteria (See pages 96-107)

• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan

• DEQ Chesapeake Bay