Item 3: Action on Non-Unanimous IGR Positions

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ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Lauren Sommers ATTNY 4/21/2009 Yes IV. D7 Monitor Comments: Recommend monitor because of the bill's broad relating clause. The bill is in theory good for the City because it allows the City to skip the step of attempting to agree with the owner on the amount of just compensation and simply make an offer, if just compensation for the property is less than $500. However, it is my understanding that in practice the City rarely, if ever, condemns property worth less than $500, so the bill will not have a practical effect on the City. SB 0596A Relating Clause: Relating to decabrominated diphenyl ether Title: Modifies definition of 'hazardous substance' to include decabrominated diphenyl ether. Prohibits introduction or delivery for introduction into commerce any product containing more than one-tenth of one percent by mass of decabrominated diphenyl ether. { + Provides exemptions. Becomes operative January 1, 2011. + } Sponsored by: Senator HASS; Senators ATKINSON, BATES, DEVLIN, MONNES ANDERSON, Representatives BAILEY, BRUUN, GARRETT, GREENLICK, HOLVEY, READ, TOMEI URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0500.dir/sb0596.a.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Ethan Nelson PDD-BPS 3/25/2009 Pri 3 Yes YesVII. A. 4c Support Comments: The proposed amendments in this bill provide an exclusion for transportation related equipment to the ban of dde. This seems to be a compromise, continuing the use of a known toxic substance in transportation related equipment, but not in consumer electronics. I suppose that this is a start in the right direction, and should have a large impact towards cleaning up our indoor air quality. Recommendation to support. ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Peter Ruffier Ruffier PWW 4/21/2009 Pri 3 VII. B1 Support Comments: This bill would restrict the use of a flame retardent chemical that has been found commonly in the environment and which has questionable human and ecological health imnpacts. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are used as additive flame retardants in a wide variety of commercial products ranging from electrical and electronic equipment to textiles. PBDEs in general are environmentally persistent. Since PBDEs are additive flame retardants, they are not chemically bound to the substances they are added to commercially. PBDEs readily escape these substances before, during, and after their useful lives (eg from a television casing while it is being manufactured, used, or disposed of). As a result, the level of PBDEs in our environment has been rising for at least a decade. Since they show an affinity for binding to particles, PBDEs have been found in their highest concentrations in sewage sludge, dust, air, and water sediments. In addition, PBDEs are lipophilic. This quality, in addition to their persistence, has resulted in the bioaccumulation of PBDEs in the fatty tissues of marine animals such as arctic char and ringed seals, as well as terrestrial animals such as osprey and moose. It has been suggested by study that the upward trend in biotic concentrations of PBDEs may have a doubling time of as little as 4-6 years. Studies have also detected PBDEs in human breast milk in both Europe and the United States. Since the 1990s scientists have questioned the safety of PBDEs. People are exposed to low-levels of PBDEs through ingestion of food and by inhalation. PBDEs bioaccumulate in blood, breast milk, and fat tissues. Personnel associated with the manufacture of PBDE-containing products are exposed to highest levels of PBDEs. Bioaccumulation is of particular concern in such instances, especially for personnel in recycling and repair plants of PBDE-containing products. People are also exposed to these chemicals in domestic environment because 21