Gov. Hogan Halts Phosphorus Management Tool Regulations

Upon taking office, Governor Hogan halted implementation of the phosphorus management tool. Maryland Farm Bureau’s President, Chuck Fry,
issued this statement, regarding Governor Hogan’s swift actions. “We are pleased that Governor Hogan stopped the PMT
regulations from becoming final as one of his first actions in office. We look
forward to working with the Governor and MDA Secretary Joe Bartenfelder to
evaluate the true impact of this proposal and others on the farm families of
Maryland. We hope the General Assembly will give the new Administration the
time it needs to evaluate Bay Clean up options before mandating the PMT or any
other farm restriction.”

While we are happy with Governor Hogan’s decision,  we anticipate
that legislation regarding this issue will arise in the legislature.

• “PMT regulations “paused” in Maryland“-WMDT
• “PMT Among Regulations Pulled by Hogan”– The
  Star Democrat
• “Hogan wastes no time, pulls plug on PMT”–
  The Delmarva Farmer

History:

NFIB
and our friends at the Maryland Farm Bureau urge local farmers to take action
regarding the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) proposed Phosphorus
Management Tool (PMT) regulations. The MDA has proposed PMT regulations and are accepting public comments
until December 31. The rules may be placed into effect by MDA before
Governor-elect Larry Hogan is sworn into office on January 21. The state
legislative AELR committee will then have 45 days for review and
comment, after which the department can then implement the regulations.

The
most recent analysis by the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program office shows
Maryland is ahead of schedule to meet the 2025 Bay restoration goals. A
look at the agricultural sector shows Maryland farmers are reducing
nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.

1. Submit
   comments to MDA before December 31 deadline regarding their proposed PMT
   regulations Submit comments to:
   MDA Secretary Early (Buddy) Hance
   Email: [email protected]
   Phone: (410) 841-5881
   Mail: 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401
   Fax: (410) 841-5914                                                                                                                  
2. Urge
   the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR)
   to hold the proposed PMT Regulation via email here, or call
   committee toll free (800) 492-7122 ext. 5350

TALKING POINTS:

• As a small business owner and job creator, I
  urge you to please hold the proposed PMT regulation.

• The
  economic analysis completed by Memo Diriker and BEACON at Salisbury
  University shows a cost to Maryland Farmers of $22.5 million but also a
  cost to Maryland taxpayers of $39 million over the six year PMT
  implementation process.
• By
  implementing the PMT, you not only put an unbearable economic burden on
  the family farms in Maryland, but you also use valuable bay cleanup
  funding that might be better used for this new science and actually
  achieve Maryland’s 2025 water quality goals.
• There
  is new and more accurate science along with more valuable processes
  available to address the nutrients in the bay that need to be used.

More information:

• View the proposed PMT regulation
• O’Malley sticks
  it to farmers on his way out the door –
  Baltimore Sun
• MDA Proposed
  Phosphorus Management Tool Regulations –
  MDA
• Hogan says
  ‘we’re going to fight’ phosphorus regs – Daily Times
• MFB’s Summary of
  the Proposed PMT Regulations

If you have questions or would like to share your submitted comments with NFIB,
contact Miranda Bond [email protected].