SSB 6557 -
By Committee on Environmental Health
NOT CONSIDERED 03/04/2010
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that:
(1) Brake friction material is an essential component of motor
vehicle brakes and is critically important to transportation safety and
public safety in general;
(2) Debris from brake friction material containing copper and its
compounds is generated and released to the environment during normal
operation of motor vehicle brakes;
(3) Thousands of pounds of copper and other substances released
from brake friction material enter Washington state's streams, rivers,
and marine environment every year; and
(4) Copper is toxic to many aquatic organisms, including salmon.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 The definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Accredited laboratory" means a laboratory that is:
(a) Qualified and equipped for testing of products, materials,
equipment, and installations in accordance with national or
international standards; and
(b) Accredited by a third-party organization approved by the
department to accredit laboratories for purposes of this chapter.
(2) "Alternative brake friction material" means brake friction
material that:
(a) Does not contain:
(i) More than 0.5 percent copper or its compounds by weight;
(ii) The constituents identified in section 3 of this act at the
concentrations specified; and
(iii) Other materials determined by the department to be more
harmful to human health or the environment than existing brake friction
material;
(b) Enables motor vehicle brakes to meet applicable federal safety
standards, or if no federal safety standard exists, a widely accepted
industry standard;
(c) Is available at a cost and quantity that does not cause
significant financial hardship across the majority of brake friction
material and vehicle manufacturing industries; and
(d) Is available to enable brake friction material and vehicle
manufacturers to produce viable products meeting consumer expectations
regarding braking noise, shuddering, and durability.
(3) "Brake friction material" means that part of a motor vehicle
brake designed to retard or stop the movement of a motor vehicle
through friction against a rotor made of more durable material.
(4) "Committee" means the brake friction material advisory
committee.
(5) "Department" means the department of ecology.
(6)(a) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
46.04.320 that are subject to licensing requirements under RCW
46.16.010.
(b) "Motor vehicle" does not include:
(i) Motorcycles as defined in RCW 46.04.330;
(ii) Motor vehicles employing internal closed oil immersed motor
vehicle brakes or similar brake systems that are fully contained and
emit no debris or fluid under normal operating conditions;
(iii) Military combat vehicles;
(iv) Race cars, dual-sport vehicles, or track day vehicles, whose
primary use is for off-road purposes and are driven to and from the
race track or race event; or
(v) Collector vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.04.126.
(7)(a) "Motor vehicle brake" means an energy conversion mechanism
used to retard or stop the movement of a motor vehicle.
(b) "Motor vehicle brake" does not include brakes designed
primarily to hold motor vehicles stationary and not for use while motor
vehicles are in motion.
(8) "Original equipment service" means brake friction material
provided as service parts originally designed for and using the same
brake friction material formulation sold with a new motor vehicle.
(9) "Small volume motor vehicle manufacturer" means a manufacturer
of motor vehicles with Washington annual sales of less than one
thousand new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty vehicles,
heavy-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty engines based on the average number
of vehicles sold for the three previous consecutive model years.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 (1) Beginning January 1, 2014, no
manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, or distributor may sell or offer
for sale brake friction material in Washington state containing any of
the following constituents in an amount exceeding the specified
concentrations:
(a) Asbestiform fibers, 0.1 percent by weight.
(b) Cadmium and its compounds, 0.01 percent by weight.
(c) Chromium(VI)-salts, 0.1 percent by weight.
(d) Lead and its compounds, 0.1 percent by weight.
(e) Mercury and its compounds, 0.1 percent by weight.
(2) Beginning January 1, 2021, no manufacturer, wholesaler,
retailer, or distributor may sell or offer for sale brake friction
material in Washington state containing more than five percent copper
and its compounds by weight.
(3) Brake friction material manufactured prior to 2015 is exempt
from subsection (1) of this section for the purposes of clearing
inventory. This exemption expires January 1, 2025.
(4) Brake friction material manufactured prior to 2021 is exempt
from subsection (2) of this section for the purposes of clearing
inventory. This exemption expires January 1, 2031.
(5) Brake friction material manufactured as part of an original
equipment service contract for vehicles manufactured prior to January
1, 2015, is exempt from subsection (1) of this section.
(6) Brake friction material manufactured as part of an original
equipment service contract for vehicles manufactured prior to January
1, 2021, is exempt from subsection (2) of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 (1) By December 1, 2015, the department
shall review risk assessments, scientific studies, and other relevant
analysis regarding alternative brake friction material and determine
whether the material may be available. The department shall consider
any new science with regard to the bioavailability and toxicity of
copper.
(2) If the department finds that alternative brake friction
material may be available, it shall convene a brake friction material
advisory committee. The committee shall include, but is not limited
to:
(a) A representative of the department, who will chair the
committee;
(b) The chief of the Washington state patrol, or the chief's
designee;
(c) A representative of manufacturers of brake friction material;
(d) A representative of manufacturers of motor vehicles;
(e) A representative of a nongovernmental organization concerned
with motor vehicle safety;
(f) A representative of the national highway traffic safety
administration; and
(g) A representative of a nongovernmental organization concerned
with the environment.
(3) If convened pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the
committee shall separately assess alternative brake friction material
for passenger vehicles, light-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles.
The committee shall make different recommendations to the department as
to whether alternative brake friction material is available or
unavailable for passenger vehicles, light-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty
vehicles. For purposes of this section, "heavy-duty vehicle" means a
vehicle used for commercial purposes with a gross vehicle weight rating
above twenty-six thousand pounds. The committee shall also consider
appropriate exemptions including original equipment service and brake
friction material manufactured prior to the dates specified in section
5 of this act. The department shall consider the committee's
recommendations and make a finding as to whether alternative brake
friction material is available or unavailable.
(4) If, pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the department
finds that alternative brake friction material:
(a) Is available, it shall comply with section 5 of this act;
(b) Is not available, it shall periodically evaluate the finding
and, if it determines that alternative brake friction material may be
available, comply with subsections (2) and (3) of this section. If the
department finds that alternative brake friction material is available,
it shall comply with section 5 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 If, pursuant to section 4 of this act, the
department finds that alternative brake friction material is available:
(1)(a) By December 31st of the year in which the finding is made,
the department shall publish the information required by section 4 of
this act in the Washington State Register and present it in a report to
the appropriate committees of the legislature; and
(b) The report must include recommendations for exemptions on
original equipment service and brake friction material manufactured
prior to dates specified in this section and may include
recommendations for other exemptions.
(2) Beginning eight years after the report in subsection (1) of
this section is published in the Washington State Register, no
manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, or distributor may sell or offer
for sale brake friction material in Washington state containing more
than 0.5 percent copper and its compounds by weight, as specified in
the report.
(3) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 (1) Motor vehicles manufactured by small
volume motor vehicle manufacturers are exempt from this chapter for any
year in which the manufacturer qualifies as a small volume motor
vehicle manufacturer. Small volume motor vehicle manufacturers must
report vehicle sales annually to the department for the purpose of
qualifying for this exemption.
(2) Any motor vehicle manufacturer or brake friction material
manufacturer may apply to the department for an exemption from this
chapter for brake friction material intended for a specific motor
vehicle model or class of motor vehicles based on special needs or
characteristics of the motor vehicles for which the brake friction
material is intended. Exemptions may only be issued for specific motor
vehicle models or special classes of vehicles, such as fire trucks,
police cars, and heavy or wide-load equipment hauling, provided the
manufacturer can demonstrate it is not feasible to comply with the
requirements of this chapter, is necessary to comply with safety
standards, or causes significant financial hardship. Exemptions are
valid for no less than one year and may be renewed automatically as
needed or the exemption may be permanent for as long as the vehicle is
used in the manner described in the application.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7 (1) By January 1, 2013, and at least every
three years thereafter, manufacturers of brake friction material sold
or offered for sale in Washington state shall provide data to the
department adequate to enable the department to determine
concentrations of antimony, copper, nickel, and zinc and their
compounds in brake friction material sold or offered for sale in
Washington state.
(2) Using data provided pursuant to subsection (1) of this section
and other data as needed, and in consultation with the brake friction
material manufacturing industry, the department must:
(a) By July 1, 2013, establish baseline concentration levels for
constituents identified in subsection (1) of this section in brake
friction material; and
(b) Track progress toward reducing the use of copper and its
compounds and ensure that concentration levels of antimony, nickel, or
zinc and their compounds do not increase by more than fifty percent
above baseline concentration levels.
(3) If concentration levels of antimony, nickel, or zinc and their
compounds in brake friction material increase by more than fifty
percent above baseline concentration levels, the department shall
review scientific studies to determine the potential impact of the
constituent on human health and the environment. If scientific studies
demonstrate the need for controlling the use of the constituent in
brake friction material, the department may consider recommending
limits on concentration levels of the constituent in the material.
(4) Confidential business information otherwise protected under RCW
43.21A.160 or chapter 42.56 RCW is exempt from this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 (1) Manufacturers of brake friction material
offered for sale in Washington state must certify compliance with the
requirements of this chapter and mark proof of certification on the
brake friction material in accordance with criteria developed under
this section.
(2) By December 1, 2012, the department must, after consulting with
interested parties, develop compliance criteria to meet the
requirements of this chapter. Compliance criteria includes, but is not
limited to:
(a) Self-certification of compliance by brake friction material
manufacturers using accredited laboratories; and
(b) Marked proof of certification, including manufacture date, on
brake friction material and product packaging. Marked proof of
certification must appear by January 1, 2015. Brake friction material
manufactured or packaged prior to January 1, 2015, is exempt from this
subsection (2)(b).
(3) Beginning January 1, 2021, manufacturers of new motor vehicles
offered for sale in Washington state must ensure that motor vehicles
are equipped with brake friction material certified to be compliant
with the requirements of this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9 (1) The department shall enforce this
chapter. The department may periodically purchase and test brake
friction material sold or offered for sale in Washington state to
verify that the material complies with this chapter.
(2) Enforcement of this chapter by the department must rely on
notification and information exchange between the department and
manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The department shall issue
one warning letter by certified mail to a manufacturer, distributor, or
retailer that sells or offers to sell brake friction material in
violation of this chapter, and offer information or other appropriate
assistance regarding compliance with this chapter. Once a warning
letter has been issued to a distributor or retailer for violations
under subsections (3) and (5) of this section, the department need not
provide warning letters for subsequent violations by that distributor
or retailer. For the purposes of subsection (6) of this section, a
warning letter serves as notice of the violation. If compliance is not
achieved, the department may assess penalties under this section.
(3) A brake friction material distributor or retailer that violates
this chapter is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand
dollars for each violation. Brake friction material distributors or
retailers that sell brake friction material that is packaged consistent
with section 8(2)(b) of this act are not in violation of this chapter.
However, if the brake friction material distributor or retailer had
actual knowledge that the brake friction material being sold violates
section 3 or 5 of this act, the brake friction material distributor or
retailer is subject to civil penalties according to this section.
(4) A brake friction material manufacturer that knowingly violates
this chapter shall recall the brake friction material and reimburse the
brake friction distributor, retailer, or any other purchaser for the
material and any applicable shipping and handling charges for returning
the material. A brake friction material manufacturer that violates
this chapter is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand
dollars for each violation.
(5) A motor vehicle distributor or retailer that violates this
chapter is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand
dollars for each violation. A motor vehicle distributor or retailer is
not in violation of this chapter for selling a vehicle that was
previously sold at retail and that contains brake friction material
failing to meet the requirements of this chapter. However, if the
motor vehicle distributor or retailer installed brake friction material
that violates section 3, 5, or 8(2)(b) of this act on the vehicle being
sold and had actual knowledge that the brake friction material violates
section 3, 5, or 8(2)(b) of this act, the motor vehicle distributor or
retailer is subject to civil penalties under this section.
(6) A motor vehicle manufacturer that violates this chapter must
notify the registered owner of the vehicle within six months of
knowledge of the violation and must replace at no cost to the owner the
noncompliant brake friction material with brake friction material that
complies with this chapter. A motor vehicle manufacturer that fails to
provide the required notification to registered owners of the affected
vehicles within six months of knowledge of the violation is subject to
a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars. A motor
vehicle manufacturer that fails to provide the required notification to
registered owners of the affected vehicles after twelve months of
knowledge of the violation is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
ten thousand dollars per vehicle. For purposes of this section, "motor
vehicle manufacturer" does not include a vehicle dealer defined under
RCW 46.70.011 and required to be licensed as a vehicle dealer under
chapter 46.70 RCW.
(7) Before the effective date of the prohibitions in section 3 or
5 of this act, the department shall prepare and distribute information
about the prohibitions to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to
the maximum extent practicable.
(8) All penalties collected under this chapter must be deposited in
the state toxics control account created in RCW 70.l05D.070.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10 The department may adopt rules necessary to
implement this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11 Sections 1 through 10 and 12 of this act
constitute a new chapter in Title
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12 If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected."
Correct the title.