This bill aims to address the environmental hazards posed by 6PPD, a chemical used in tires that has been linked to the mortality of coho salmon due to its toxic byproduct, 6PPD-quinone. To phase out the use of 6PPD, the legislation imposes a temporary fee on distributors of tires containing this chemical and prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of new tires with intentionally added 6PPD or any identified "regrettable 6PPD substitute" starting January 1, 2035. The Department of Ecology is responsible for identifying these substitutes and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. Additionally, a $5 fee on the retail sale of new replacement tires will be introduced, along with a variable 6PPD mitigation fee starting January 1, 2027, to fund mitigation efforts related to 6PPD.

The bill also establishes a certification process for 6PPD-free tires, allowing the Department of Revenue to exempt these certified tires from the 6PPD mitigation fee, provided individuals maintain proper documentation. It mandates the creation of a publicly accessible list of certified 6PPD-free tires and empowers the department to conduct testing and enforce penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, a 6PPD mitigation account will be established to collect fees from the mitigation fee, which will be allocated for environmental monitoring, waste tire removal, and road maintenance. Retailers will retain a portion of the fees for managing waste tires, and penalties will be imposed on sellers who fail to comply with fee collection requirements.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 70A.355.090, 70A.205.425, 70A.205.410, 70A.205.430