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HF 2542

3rd Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/26/2014 02:07pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/27/2014
1st Engrossment Posted on 03/10/2014
2nd Engrossment Posted on 03/20/2014
3rd Engrossment Posted on 03/26/2014

Current Version - 3rd Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to environment; prohibiting and regulating certain lead and mercury
products; modifying ban on formaldehyde in children's products; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 115A.932, subdivision 1; 116.92, subdivisions
4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, sections
325F.176; 325F.177; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 116.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 115A.932, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:


Subdivision 1.

Prohibitions and recycling requirements.

(a) A person may not
place mercury or a deleted text begin thermostat, thermometer, electric switch, appliance, gauge, medical
or scientific instrument, fluorescent or high-intensity discharge lamp, electric relay, or
other electrical
deleted text end new text begin mercury-containingnew text end devicenew text begin or product, as defined under section 116.92,
subdivision 10,
new text end from which the mercury has not been removed for reuse or recycling:

(1) in solid waste; or

(2) in a wastewater disposal system.

(b) A person may not knowingly place mercury or a deleted text begin thermostat, thermometer,
electric switch, appliance, gauge, medical or scientific instrument, fluorescent or
high-intensity discharge lamp, electric relay, or other electrical
deleted text end new text begin mercury-containingnew text end device
new text begin or product, as defined under section 116.92, subdivision 10,new text end from which the mercury has
not been removed for reuse or recycling:

(1) in a solid waste processing facility; or

(2) in a solid waste disposal facility.

(c) A fluorescent or high-intensity discharge lamp must be recycled by delivery
of the lamp to a lamp recycling facility, as defined in section 116.93, subdivision 1, or
to a facility that collects and stores lamps for the purpose of delivering them to a lamp
recycling facility, including, but not limited to, a household hazardous waste collection
or recycling facility, retailer take-back and utility provider program sites, or other sites
designated by an electric utility under section 216B.241, subdivisions 2 and 4.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116.92, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Removal from service; products containing mercury.

(a) When an item
listed in deleted text begin subdivision 3deleted text end new text begin this sectionnew text end is removed from servicenew text begin ,new text end the mercury in the item must
be reused, recycled, or otherwise managed to ensure compliance with section 115A.932.

(b) A person who is in the business of replacing or repairing an item listed in
deleted text begin subdivision 3deleted text end new text begin this sectionnew text end in households shall ensure, or deliver the item to a facility that
will ensure, that the mercury contained in an item that is replaced or repaired is reused or
recycled or otherwise managed in compliance with section 115A.932.

(c) A person may not crush a motor vehicle unless the person has first made a good
faith effort to remove all of the mercury switches in the motor vehicle.

new text begin (d) An item managed according to the requirements of this section must be
transported in a container designed to prevent the escape of mercury into the environment
by volatilization or any other means.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116.92, subdivision 5, is amended to read:


Subd. 5.

Thermostats.

new text begin (a) A manufacturer of thermostats that contain mercury or
that may replace thermostats that contain mercury is responsible for the costs of collecting
and managing the replaced mercury-containing thermostats to ensure that the thermostats
do not become part of the solid waste stream.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text end A manufacturer of thermostats that contain mercury or that may replace
thermostats that contain mercury shall, in addition to the requirements of subdivision 3,
providenew text begin financial and nonfinancialnew text end incentives for and sufficient information to purchasers
and consumers of the thermostats for the purchasers or consumers to ensure that mercury
in thermostats being removed from service is reused or recycled or otherwise managed
in compliance with section 115A.932. A manufacturer that has complied with this
subdivision is not liable for improper disposal by purchasers or consumers of thermostats.

new text begin (c) A manufacturer subject to this subdivision, or an organization of such
manufacturers and its officers, members, employees, and agents, may participate in
projects or programs to collect and properly manage waste thermostats. Any person
who participates in such a project or program is immune from liability under state law
relating to antitrust, restraint of trade, unfair trade practices, and other regulation of trade
or commerce for activities related to the collection and management of the thermostats
under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (d) A manufacturer or organization of manufacturers that participates in a project or
program under paragraph (c) must report at least annually to the agency. The report must:
new text end

new text begin (1) describe how the program operates;
new text end

new text begin (2) describe who is eligible to participate in the program;
new text end

new text begin (3) identify participants; and
new text end

new text begin (4) state the number of thermostats remitted by each participant.
new text end

new text begin (e) For the purposes of this subdivision, "thermostat" means a temperature control
device that may contain elemental mercury in a sealed component that serves as a switch
or temperature-sensing element and a sealed component that has been removed from
such a temperature control device.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116.92, subdivision 6, is amended to read:


Subd. 6.

Mercury thermometers prohibited.

(a) A manufacturer, wholesaler, or
retailer may not sell or distribute at no cost a thermometer containing mercury that was
manufactured after June 1, 2001.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply todeleted text begin :
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1)deleted text end an electronic thermometer with a battery containing mercury if the battery is in
compliance with section 325E.125deleted text begin ;deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2) a mercury thermometer used for food research and development or food
processing, including meat, dairy products, and pet food processing;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) a mercury thermometer that is a component of an animal agriculture climate
control system or industrial measurement system until such time as the system is replaced
or a nonmercury component for the system is available; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) a mercury thermometer used for calibration of other thermometers, apparatus, or
equipment, unless a nonmercury calibration standard is approved for the application by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
deleted text end

new text begin (c) A manufacturer is in compliance with this subdivision if the manufacturer:
new text end

new text begin (1) has received an exclusion or exemption from a state that is a member of the
Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) for replacement
parts when no alternative is available or for an application when no feasible alternative is
available;
new text end

new text begin (2) submits a copy of the approved exclusion or exemption to the commissioner; and
new text end

new text begin (3) meets all of the requirements in the approved exclusion or exemption for the
manufacturer's activities within the state.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 116.92, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:


new text begin Subd. 8k. new text end

new text begin Ban; mercury in balancing and dampening products and
equipment.
new text end

new text begin A person may not sell, offer for sale, distribute, install, or use in the state a
mercury-containing product or mercury-containing equipment that is used for balancing,
dampening, or providing a weight or counterweight function.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [116.931] WHEEL WEIGHTS AND BALANCING PRODUCTS; LEAD
AND MERCURY PROHIBITION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle or a vehicle propelled or drawn
by a self-propelled vehicle that is operated on a highway, on a railroad track, on the
ground, in the water, or in the air.
new text end

new text begin (c) "New motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that has not been previously sold to
a person except a distributor, wholesaler, or motor vehicle dealer for resale.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Tire service. new text end

new text begin When replacing or balancing a tire on a motor vehicle or
aircraft, a person may not use a wheel weight or other product for balancing motor vehicle
or aircraft wheels if the weight or other balancing product contains lead or mercury that
was intentionally added during the manufacture of the product.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Sales ban. new text end

new text begin A person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute weights
or other products for balancing motor vehicle or aircraft wheels if the weight or other
balancing product contains lead or mercury that was intentionally added during the
manufacture of the product.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin New motor vehicles. new text end

new text begin A person may not sell a new motor vehicle or
aircraft that is equipped with a weight or other product for balancing wheels if the weight
or other balancing product contains lead or mercury that was intentionally added during
the manufacture of the product.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Salvage. new text end

new text begin A person may not shred or crush, or market for shredding or
crushing, any motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or railroad or industrial equipment,
or any portion thereof, without:
new text end

new text begin (1) inspecting the vehicle or equipment; and
new text end

new text begin (2) removing all weights or other products for balancing wheels or other equipment
if the weights or balancing products contain lead or mercury that was intentionally added
during the manufacture of the weights or balancing products.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Management of wheel weights and balancing products. new text end

new text begin Mercury in
wheel weights and other balancing products for motor vehicle and aircraft wheels must
be recycled or otherwise managed to comply with sections 115A.932 and 116.92 and to
ensure that it does not become part of the solid waste stream and is not released to the
environment. Lead in wheel weights and other balancing products for motor vehicle and
aircraft wheels must be recycled to ensure that it does not become part of the solid waste
stream and is not released to the environment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Educational materials; outreach. new text end

new text begin Prior to the effective date of this
section, the agency shall produce and distribute educational materials on the prohibitions
required under this section to businesses subject to the prohibitions and shall conduct
additional outreach and education activities to those businesses.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 325F.176, is amended to read:


325F.176 DEFINITIONS.

(a) For the purposes of sections 325F.176 to 325F.178, the following terms have
the meanings given them.

(b) "Child" means a person under eight years of age.

(c) "Children's product" means a product primarily designed or intended by a
manufacturer to be physically applied to or introduced into a child's body, including any
article used as a component of such a product and excluding a food, beverage, dietary
supplement, pharmaceutical product or biologic, children's toys that are covered by the
ASTM International F963 standard for Toy Safety, or a medical device as defined in
the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, United States Code, title 21, section 321(h),
as amended through February 15, 2013.

new text begin (d) "Intentionally added chemical" means a chemical in a product that serves an
intended function in the product.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 325F.177, is amended to read:


325F.177 FORMALDEHYDE IN CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS; BAN.

(a) Beginning August 1, 2014, no manufacturer or wholesaler may sell or offer for
sale in this state a children's product that intentionally contains:

(1) formaldehyde, including formaldehyde contained in a solution; or

(2) new text begin intentionally added chemical new text end ingredients that chemically degrade under normal
conditions of temperature and pressure to release new text begin free new text end formaldehydenew text begin at levels exceeding a
de minimis level of 0.05 percent
new text end .

(b) Beginning August 1, 2015, no retailer may sell or offer for sale in this state a
children's product that intentionally contains:

(1) formaldehyde, including formaldehyde contained in a solution; or

(2) new text begin intentionally added chemical new text end ingredients that chemically degrade under normal
conditions of temperature and pressure to release new text begin free new text end formaldehydenew text begin at levels exceeding a
de minimis level of 0.05 percent
new text end .