FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Copper Brake Pad Bill Signed Into Law
Marine Spatial Planning, Baby Bottle Bills Also Get Governor's Signature
Governor Christine Gregoire today signs into law legislation reducing and phasing out copper and other hazardous materials in auto brake pads.
The Copper Brake Pad bill (SSB 6557) was sponsored by Senator Kevin Ranker and championed by the Puget Sound Partnership and the Washington State Department of Ecology.
It 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 Bruce Wishart, Policy Director of People For Puget Sound. “Washington is the first state to enact such a bill and it will to lead to changes across the entire auto industry.”
# # #
Contact: Bruce Wishart, (360) 754-9177
Governor Christine Gregoire also signed into law the Safe Baby Bottle Act which would phase out BPA (bisphenol A) in baby bottles, food and beverage cans, and other consumer products. The Safe Baby Bottle Act was a 2010 Environmental Priorities Coalition priority.
Also signed into law was the Marine Spatial Planning bill (SB 6350) establishes a interagency planning process to better coordinate federal, state, and local government management programs designed to protect marine ecosystems and fisheries in Puget Sound and in the open ocean.
###
