Legislators debate phasing out 6PPD in tires, citing salmon deaths and industry concerns
SB 6119 would ban tires containing the additive 6PPD by 2035, impose a mitigation fee and prioritize monitoring and removal of illegally dumped tires; scientists and conservation groups backed the bill citing acute salmon mortality, while manufacturers and dealers warned about safety, costs, and timing for validated alternatives.
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The committee heard Senate Bill 6119, which would phase out the tire additive 6PPD that researchers say transforms into a compound (6PPD-quinone) that is acutely lethal to salmon at extremely low concentrations. The measure would prohibit sale and distribution of tires containing 6PPD beginning in 2035, establish a mitigation fee on tires ($3 for low-load tires, $6 for higher-load tires, rising 10% annually), and direct the Department of Ecology to develop rules addressing regrettable substitutes and allowable uses for mitigation revenue.
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