HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

235

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

SUPPORTING THE PHASE OUT OF PRODUCTION AND IMPORTATION OF DECABROMODIPHENYL ETHER IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used extensively as fire retardants in many common household products for the past 30 years; and

 

     WHEREAS, decaBDE is a PBDE which has been used as a fire retardant in electronics, wire and cable insulation, textiles, automobiles and airplanes, and other applications; and

 

     WHEREAS, major producers of fire retardants have committed to producing effective life-saving fire retardants that have a minimal impact on the environment; and

 

     WHEREAS, on December 17, 2009, as the result of negotiations with the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the two U.S. producers of the PBDE decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), Albemarle Corporation and Chemtura Corporation, and the largest U.S. importer, ICL Industrial Products, Inc., announced commitments to phase out decaBDE in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, these companies have committed to end production, importation, and sales of decaBDE for most uses in the U.S. by December 31, 2012, and to end all uses by the end of 2013; and

 

     WHEREAS, EPA has also announced its intent to encourage the other minor importers of decaBDE to join this initiative; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports this phase out of production and importation of decaBDE in the U.S.; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages EPA to continue its efforts to encourage the remaining minor importers of decaBDE to end their importation of decaBDE into the U.S.; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Decabromodiphenyl ether; Environmental Protection Agency