Legislature to consider additional mercury laws

AUGUSTA – Maine could become the first state to require automakers to pay for a program to remove parts containing mercury from vehicles that are being scrapped if a King administration bill is enacted, supporters of the bill said Tuesday.

The bill is one of two before the Legislature this session to continue Maine’s effort to curtail the disposal of mercury, a toxic chemical that is especially harmful to children and pregnant mothers.

Last year, lawmakers passed bills phasing out the sale of mercury fever thermometers and requiring the labeling of products containing mercury.

Environmental, public health and labor groups on Tuesday voiced their support for two bills to advance efforts to prevent mercury pollution.

“Now it’s time to finish the job,” said Michael Belliveau of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

One of the bills before the Natural Resources Committee calls for a phaseout over six years of the sale and distribution of products containing mercury in which it exceeds specified levels. Examples of those products include thermostats and medical devices.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Scott Cowger, D-Gardiner, House chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.

The second bill, sponsored by the same committee’s Senate chairman for the Department of Environmental Protection, seeks to create a system for removing and disposing of parts containing mercury in old cars before they are scrapped.

Sen. John Martin’s bill would make auto manufacturers responsible for a system of collecting and consolidating mercury components, such as switches and headlight lamps, for recycling.

The Eagle Lake Democrat’s bill also would require used auto and auto recycling dealers to remove the mercury components and store them for recycling.

Another section of the bill would bar dealers from selling cars with mercury switches as of 2003.

Belliveau said no state has enacted a law similar to Martin’s, although several are considering bills like it this year.

Supporters of the bill said they expect opposition from the auto industry, but they also anticipate support from scrap dealers.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers believes it already has taken major steps by voluntarily phasing out the use of mercury components in all makes by the end of this model year, said Greg Dana, the group’s vice president for environmental affairs.

Forcing manufacturers to set up a system to collect and consolidate mercury parts would impose a huge financial burden on them, said Dana.

He added that mercury switches easily could be added to the items auto dismantlers already remove from vehicles.

Among the groups supporting the bills Tuesday was the Learning Disabilities Council of Maine, which said mercury exposure can impair the learning ability of children.

Because of risks from mercury that has settled in Maine’s lakes, the state Bureau of Health warns pregnant women, women who may get pregnant and children under age 8 not to eat most kinds of freshwater fish.

Other adults and children 8 and older can safely eat two meals per month of freshwater fish. For those eating brook trout and landlocked salmon, the suggested limit is one meal per week.

The Audubon Society of Maine, which also supports the legislation, said nearly 30 percent of Maine’s loon population is at risk of mercury contamination and, as a result, is less likely to reproduce.