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"If the public becomes more aware of the environmental dangers of lead wheel weights and is given alternative wheel balancing choices then there will be a decrease in lead entering the environment. It is important that we make sure that the water we drink and the air we breathe is free of lead." TEAM DEAD WEIGHT ![]() ----- Original Message ----- From: Chase, Rep. Maralyn To: 'Jathan Kron' Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:07 Subject: RE: [UBE-01] - Lead Wheel Weight Facts Dear Jathan: Rep. Maralyn Chase from the Washington State House of Representatives thought you and your class might be interested in the HB 1033 which was passed this session. Among other things, Rep. Chase is a member of the Environmental Health Committee. She is very appreciative of your thoughtful leadership and education on this issue. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1033&year=2009 Sincerely, Marylyn Hawkins Legislative Aide Representative Maralyn Chase 32d Legislative District hawkins_ma@leg.wa.gov 206-366-2604 (District Office) 360-786-7880 (Olympia Office) From: Jathan Kron [mailto:Kron.Jathan@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 3:35 AM To: Alexander, Rep. Gary; Anderson, Rep. Glenn; Angel, Rep. Jan; Appleton, Rep. Sherry; Armstrong, Rep. Mike; Bailey, Rep. Barbara; Blake, Rep. Brian; Campbell, Rep. Tom; Carlyle, Rep. Reuven; Chandler, Rep. Bruce; Chase, Rep. Maralyn; Chopp, Speaker Frank; Clibborn, Rep. Judy; Cody, Rep. Eileen; Condotta, Rep. Cary; Conway, Rep. Steve; Cox, Rep. Don; Crouse, Rep. Larry; Dammeier, Rep. Bruce; Darneille, Rep. Jeannie; DeBolt, Rep. Richard; Dickerson, Rep. Mary Lou; Driscoll, Rep. John; Dunshee, Rep. Hans; Eddy, Rep. Deborah; Ericks, Rep. Mark; Ericksen, Rep. Doug; Finn, Rep. Fred; Flannigan, Rep. Dennis; Goodman, Rep. Roger; Grant-Herriot, Rep. Laura; Green, Rep. Tami; Haigh, Rep. Kathy; Haler, Rep. Larry; Hasegawa, Rep. Bob; Herrera, Rep. Jaime; Hinkle, Rep. Bill; Hope, Rep. Mike; Hunt, Rep. Sam; Hunter, Rep. Ross; Hurst, Rep. Christopher; Jacks, Rep. Jim; Johnson, Rep. Norm; Kagi, Rep. Ruth; Kelley, Rep. Troy; Kenney, Rep. Phyllis; Kessler, Rep. Lynn; Kirby, Rep. Steve; Klippert, Rep. Brad; Kretz, Rep. Joel; Kristiansen, Rep. Dan; Liias, Rep. Marko; Linville, Rep. Kelli; Maxwell, Rep. Marcie; McCoy, Rep. John; McCune, Rep. Jim; Miloscia, Rep. Mark; Moeller, Rep. Jim; Morrell, Rep. Dawn; Morris, Rep. Jeff; Nelson, Rep. Sharon; O'Brien, Rep. Al; Orcutt, Rep. Ed; Ormsby, Rep. Timm; Orwall, Rep. Tina; Parker, Rep. Kevin; Pearson, Rep. Kirk; Pedersen, Rep. Jamie; Pettigrew, Rep. Eric; Priest, Rep. Skip; Probst, Rep. Tim; quall.da ve@leg.wa.gov; Roach, Rep. Dan; Roberts, Rep. Mary Helen; Rodne, Rep. Jay; Rolfes, Rep. Christine; Ross, Rep. Charles; Santos, Rep. Sharon Tomiko; Schmick, Rep. Joe; Seaquist, Rep. Larry; Sells, Rep. Mike; Shea, Rep. Matt; Short, Rep. Shelly; Simpson, Rep. Geoff; Smith, Rep. Norma; Springer, Rep. Larry; Sullivan, Rep. Pat; Takko, Rep. Dean; Taylor, Rep. David; Upthegrove, Rep. Dave; Van De Wege, Rep. Kevin; Wallace, Rep. Deb; Walsh, Rep. Maureen; White, Rep. Scott; Williams, Rep. Brendan; Wood, Rep. Alex Cc: Bill Kron; Lieutenant Governor Subject: [UBE-01] - Lead Wheel Weight Facts Hello Washington Legislators, Our West Branch Iowa Middle School 7th grade Science Research Science Team has spent the last 8 months researching and testing the hazards of lead wheel weights. The Lead Wheel Weight testing assistance given to our science team by the University of Iowa Hygienic Lab produced credible, astonishing and eye opening results concerning the major hazards of lead wheel weights. We have presented our results to our local community and the Iowa State Legislature and initiated several Iowa House Bills. Most people who have taken the time to visit our science research team website http://www.leadzero.org and carefully review our results have praised our scientific investigation and testing of lead wheel weights under environmentally simulated conditions. Our science team applauds the Washington State Policy Makers for sponsoring an environmentally friendly Lead Wheel Weight bill. Best regards, Lead Wheel Weights Science Research Team "Dead Weight" Jathan Kron, 7th grade West Branch Schools http://www.leadzero.org Published April 16, 2009 Senate approves ban on lead tire weights BY RICHARD ROESLER Those little lead weights clipped onto your tires soon may go the way of lead type, lead toy soldiers and lead paint. Washington’s state Senate on Tuesday voted to ban the installation of lead tire weights by 2011. Tire dealers will be required to use alternatives like zinc or a steel alloy. The amended bill now goes back to the House, which is expected to approve it. It then goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire to be signed into law. “The Asian and European car makers have used alternative wheel weights for years now,” said Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, the prime sponsor of House Bill 1033. “We are just catching up to them.” Lead is highly toxic, Campbell says, and it only makes sense to use less hazardous alternatives. It has been linked to brain damage and other nervous system damage, particularly in young children. The weights, which have long been used to balance tires and prevent shimmying at high speeds, can come loose and be flung by the roadside. The state Department of Ecology estimates that 5 percent of wheel weights come loose. That would mean that vehicle wheels are dropping 20 tons of lead on roadways and parking lots each year. Worsening matters, Campbell says, the weights can be pulverized by passing cars, making it even easier for the soft metal to leach into rain runoff and soil. Eighteen lawmakers, mostly Republicans, voted no. “This bill seems to be a solution in search of a problem,” said Sen. Jim Honeyford, Republican Sunnyside. “If you stop and look and think, where does lead come from? It comes from the soil. So it gets ground up, it goes back in the soil. I see no problem here.” Honeyford.Jim@leg.wa.gov Some tire dealers already are phasing out lead weights. Les Schwab announced last summer that it was switching to steel weights at all 400-plus shops in eight states, including Washington and Idaho. As part of a legal settlement in a case brought by environmental groups, several major manufacturers have agreed to stop using lead weights in California by the end of this year. Campbell’s bill would apply to weights installed on new tires or changed during routine tire maintenance. Businesses, rather than vehicle owners, will be responsible for replacing the old weights with safer equivalents. There are exceptions for large diameter tires and vehicles with gross weights of more than 14,000 pounds. Tire businesses that illegally install lead weights could be fined up to $500. PLEASE WAIT 30 SECONDS TO DOWNLOAD THIS LARGE VIDEO FILE. |