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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="8-803.5" title_number="8" title_name="Soil Conservation" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Nutrient Management">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “fertilizer” means commercial fertilizer and specialty fertilizer.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section applies to a person who applies fertilizer to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Property that is not used for agricultural purposes; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>State property that is not used for agricultural purposes.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section does not apply to the application of fertilizer on commercial farms.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person may not:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Apply fertilizer intended for use on turf to an impervious surface; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Apply fertilizer containing phosphorus or nitrogen to turf:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Before March 1 or after November 15 of any calendar year; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>At any time when the ground is frozen.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not apply fertilizer containing phosphorus or nitrogen to turf that is within 15 feet of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Surface water subject to the jurisdiction of the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A pond within the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A lake within the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>A river within the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>A stream within the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>A public ditch within the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>A tax ditch within the State; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>A public drainage system within the State, other than those designed and used to collect, convey, or dispose of sanitary sewage.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>When a drop spreader, rotary spreader with a deflector, or targeted spray liquid is used for fertilizer application, the setback required under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be reduced to 10 feet.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The establishment of setbacks for fertilizer application under this subsection does not preclude the establishment or applicability of, or compliance with, any other environmental standards established under any other State or federal law, rule, or regulation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a person may apply fertilizer to turf containing phosphorus if the person:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Determines that the fertilizer is necessary for the specific soils and target vegetation in accordance with a soil test performed no more than 3 years before the fertilizer application, provided the application complies with the recommendations established by the University of Maryland;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is establishing vegetation for the first time, such as after land disturbance, provided the application complies with the recommendations established by the University of Maryland; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Is reestablishing or repairing a turf area.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and in addition to the requirements set forth in this section, a person, other than a professional fertilizer applicator, may not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Apply fertilizer to turf in an amount that is inconsistent with the annual recommended rate established by the University of Maryland;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Apply nitrogen to turf:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>At an application rate of more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of water–soluble nitrogen; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>At an application rate that is more than 0.9 pounds per 1,000 square feet of total nitrogen, at least 20% of which shall consist of slow–release nitrogen; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Apply fertilizer to a golf course.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, a person may apply an enhanced efficiency fertilizer:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>At an annual application rate of no more than 2.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of nitrogen; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>That has a release rate of no more than 0.7 pounds per 1,000 square feet of nitrogen per month.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The annual total application rate of an enhanced efficiency fertilizer may not exceed 80% of the annual recommendation rate established by the University of Maryland.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Enhanced efficiency fertilizers may not be applied after November 15 or before March 1 of each calendar year.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>A county or municipality may enforce this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
