Phosphorous Ordinance

Madison's surrounding county recently passed an ordinance which banned lawn fertilizers which contained phosphorous based on the contention that the chemical "fed" the algae bloom and aquatic weed growth in the surrounding lakes. I was aware that sister trade groups to the one of which I am Exec were planning a suit to strike down the ordinance. Here's the bit from today's Madison paper.

A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday that seeks to mow down city and county ordinances banning the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus. The lawsuit, filed by a group of fertilizer retailers, lawn care businesses and trade groups, alleges that the ordinances, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, are pre-empted by federal and state laws and violate the equal protection and free speech clauses of the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions. The group wants U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to declare the ordinances null and void and stop the city and county from implementing and enforcing them. Spokesmen for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk vowed to fight the lawsuit, saying the reduction of phosphorus is important to the restoration of Dane County lakes.

It'll be interesting to watch this one proceed. I have, ahem, personal interests.