State House Passes Copper Brake Pad & Marine Zoning Bills

The State House of Representatives yesterday passed two bills of major importance to Puget Sound, legislation reducing and phasing out copper and other hazardous materials in auto brake pads and legislation to develop Marine Spatial Planning, or ‘zoning’ for marine areas.

“Both these bills are of major importance to Puget Sound and put Washington state in the forefront,” said Bruce Wishart, Policy Director of People For Puget Sound.

“Senator Kevin Ranker is to be thanked for his leadership in getting both bills passed,” said Wishart. “The Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership did a great job in moving this ‘executive request’ of the Governor forward.”

The Copper Brake Pad bill (SSB 6557) calls for reductions and the eventual phase out of copper and other hazardous materials in auto brake pads. Copper is a very serious toxic compound for salmon and other aquatic life.  About fifty percent of the copper entering Puget Sound comes from brake pads. 

“This is really landmark legislation,” said Wishart. “Washington is the first to enact such a bill and it will to lead to changes across the entire auto industry.”

The Marine Spatial Planning bill (SSB 6350) calls for the development of a Marine Spatial Plan for Washington marine areas.   According too Wishart, this is “zoning” for marine areas. The plan will be developed by an interagency team and will guide state and local decisions on development, siting, and other projects/activities in marine areas.  Washington will be one the first states in the nation to move in this direction.

Both bills were approved earlier by the Senate but, due to minor changes in the House, now go back for “concurrence” votes in the Senate before being sent to the Governor for signature.

Contact: Bruce Wishart, 360.754.9177