(a) (1) The Department shall, in consultation with the University of Maryland, establish a program to certify professional fertilizer applicators. (2) The certification program shall provide professional fertilizer applicators with training and education in the following subject areas: (i) The proper use and calibration of fertilizer application equipment; (ii) The hazards involved in, and the environmental impact of, applying fertilizer, including nutrient pollution to: 1. Surface water subject to the jurisdiction of the State; 2. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; 3. A pond within the State; 4. A lake within the State; 5. A river within the State; 6. A stream within the State; 7. A public ditch within the State; 8. A tax ditch within the State; and 9. A public drainage system within the State, other than those designed and used to collect, convey, or dispose of sanitary sewage; (iii) All applicable State and federal laws, rules, and regulations; (iv) The correct interpretation of fertilizer labeling information; and (v) The recommendations developed by the University of Maryland for nutrient management on turf, including the appropriate time to: 1. Apply fertilizer when rain is forecast; and 2. Apply fertilizer when soils are wet and the potential for fertilizer movement off-site exists. (b) In establishing the certification program, the Department may: (1) Charge reasonable fees, including an annual recertification fee, to cover costs associated with the certification program; (2) Require continuing education or training for professional fertilizer applicators; (3) Designate one or more entities to train, certify, and recertify professional fertilizer applicators, which may charge fees to cover the reasonable costs associated with the certification training and education; and (4) Recognize the training program of an entity employing professional fertilizer applicators if the program meets the certification and recertification training and education standards established by the Department under this section. (c) The Department shall publish and maintain a list of all certified professional fertilizer applicators and make the list available on the Department's Internet Web site. (d) The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.
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