H-3448.4 _______________________________________________
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4021
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 Regular Session
By Representatives Linville, G. Chandler, Dickerson, Kessler, Cody, Lovick, Lantz, Wood and Anderson
Read first time 01/18/2000. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.
TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, In 1997 and 1998, the legislative and executive branches of the State of Washington examined on behalf of Washington citizens issues regarding the micro and nonnutrient content of commercial fertilizers, including heavy metals; and
WHEREAS, Following this examination, the Legislature led the nation in addressing these issues by enacting legislation that strengthened the state's fertilizer laws and protected human health, the environment, and agricultural production by establishing standards for the micro and nonnutrient content of commercial fertilizers and authorizing additional standards; by regulating the use of waste materials in the production of commercial fertilizers; by providing information to those who use commercial fertilizers regarding the micro and nonnutrient content of commercial fertilizers; and by directing that additional technical studies be conducted regarding such materials; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, the Legislature again addressed these issues by ensuring that the standards, information, and protections afforded by its earlier legislation were safeguarded while facilitating the intrastate, interstate, and international movement of commercial fertilizers that satisfy this state's requirements;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress further the objectives sought by the Legislature of the State of Washington and apply the benefits of those objectives nation-wide by enacting legislation that: Requires packaged commercial fertilizer to be labeled to display the nutritive, micro-nutritive, and nonnutritive content of the fertilizer, including any heavy metals; requires such information regarding the content of the fertilizer to be available to purchasers of bulk fertilizer; and expressly authorizes each state to establish standards for such contents in the commercial fertilizers sold within its boundaries.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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