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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 5
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides for disposal of automotive mercury switches
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3408
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the disposal and removal of mercury switches from automobiles
Purpose
To establish a motor vehicle mercury switch recovery program for auto manufacturers to remove and safely dispose of mercury switching components within the vehicle.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: §27-2101 is added to create three definitions of "mercury switch", "end of life vehicle" and "automobile recycler".
Section 2: The bill adds a new §27-2119 to Article 27 of the environmental conservation law to establish a program of removal, collection and recovery of motor vehicle mercury switches. Motor vehicle manufacturers who have sold vehicles containing mercury switches must submit a recycling plan to the department of motor vehicles for end of life vehicles. The plan must include information identifying the vehicles from which the switches were removed, and the acceptable methods of switch removal, storage and collection. Upon approval by the department, the plan must be implemented by the manufacturer within 30 days.
The bill also requires automotive recyclers to remove and properly store all motor vehicle mercury switches and certify that they have been properly removed prior to destroying a vehicle. Automotive recyclers would be reimbursed for their labor and storage costs by a four dollar per switch fee to be charged to the manufacturer.
Section 3: Effective date.
Justification
The dangers of mercury contamination have been well documented as threats to our environment. Mercury has a documented history of bio-accumulation and poses a danger to fish and women of child bearing age as well as other individuals. It has been estimated that there may be more than 200 tons of mercury containing vehicles currently operating in this continent alone. This program places the cost for removal upon the manufacturer who originally placed the vehicle in the stream of commerce and should bear the ultimate responsibility for ensuring this contaminant is not re-released into the environment.
Legislative history
2009-10: A.10262/Encon
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on January 1st following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.