New Jersey § 58:10a-64

§ 58:10a-64.

a. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, the State University,

shall, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, establish

a fertilizer application certification program. The certification program shall provide professional fertilizer applicators with

training and education in at least the following subject areas: (1) the proper use and calibration of fertilizer application equipment; (2) the hazards involved in, and the environmental impact of, applying fertilizer,

including nutrient pollution to the State's waterbodies; (3) all applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations; (4) the correct interpretation of fertilizer labeling information; and (5) the best management practices developed by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment

Station for nutrient management in turf. b. In establishing a fertilizer application certification program, the New Jersey

Agricultural Experiment Station may: (1) charge reasonable fees, including, but not limited to, an annual re-certification

fee, to cover costs associated with the certification program; (2) require continuing education or training for certified professional fertilizer

applicators; (3) designate one or more qualified organizations to train, certify, and recertify

professional fertilizer applicators and provide that a designated organization may

charge fees to cover reasonable costs associated with the certification training and

education; and (4) recognize the training program of any person employing professional fertilizer

applicators if it meets the certification and recertification training and education

standards established by the program pursuant to this section. c. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station shall conduct examinations to certify

that an applicant possesses sufficient knowledge of the State and federal laws, rules

and regulations, standards and requirements applicable to the use and application

of fertilizer. No person may take the certification examination until the New Jersey Agricultural

Experiment Station determines that the applicant has obtained the education and training

established by the fertilizer application certification program pursuant to this section. d. An application for certification shall be made in a manner and on such forms as

may be prescribed by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The filing of an application shall be accompanied by an application fee that shall

cover the costs of processing the application and developing and conducting the examination. e. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station shall, in consultation with the

department, establish a training program for those professional fertilizer applicators

who will apply fertilizer only under the direct supervision of a certified professional

fertilizer applicator. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station shall establish minimum standards

and criteria for a training program conducted pursuant to this subsection. In establishing the training program, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

may: (1) charge reasonable fees to cover costs associated with the training program; (2) require continuing education or training for professional fertilizer applicators

who apply fertilizer only under the direct supervision of a certified professional

fertilizer applicator; (3) designate one or more qualified organizations to train professional fertilizer

applicators who will apply fertilizer only under the direct supervision of a professional

fertilizer applicator certified pursuant to this section and provide that a designated

organization may charge fees to cover reasonable costs associated with the training

process; and (4) recognize the training program of any person employing professional fertilizer

applicators if it meets the training requirements established by the New Jersey Agricultural

Experiment Station pursuant to this subsection. f. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station shall publish and maintain a list

of all certified professional fertilizer applicators and make the list available on

its Internet website.