Bill Text: HI SR107 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: PBDE; decaBDE; Environmental Protection Agency

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-06 - (S) Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). [SR107 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SR107-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2981

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 107

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 107 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PHASE OUT OF PRODUCTION AND IMPORTATION OF DECABROMODIPHENL ETHER (DECABDE) AND ALL OTHER POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS (PBDES) IN THE UNITED STATES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support the phase out of production and importation of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and all other polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). 

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by one state agency.  One organization submitted comments, and one organization has concerns.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     In 2008, the Department of Health prepared a report to the Legislature on the negative environmental and health impacts of decaBDE.  These flame retardants have been used in electronics, wire and cable insulation, textiles, automobiles, trains, airplanes, and other devices where the risk of fire is great.  Use of decaBDE and PBDE in such products has saved millions of lives, however, when these ethers burn, they emit other chemicals into the air that may cause cancer.  Today, there are reasonable alternatives to the use of decaBDE and PBDE.  Your Committee finds that the United States Environmental Protection Agency and industry leaders have taken great strides to reduce our citizens exposure to decaBDE and PBDE and your Committee supports future efforts to eliminate the use of these ethers. 

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Adopting the recommendation of the Citizens for Fire Safety Institute to remove the provisions describing the negative health impacts of these fire retardants and to include a clarification of the producers of fire retardants commitments; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 107, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 107, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

 

		____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair