Montana Legislative Initiative
WVE-LED MERCURY BILL TABLED IN THE HOUSE -- EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE
On April 2, 2007 the House Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications committee voted to table SB 423, the Montana Mercury Safety and Protection Act. While the sentiment of the committee seemed to be one of general agreement with the concepts in the bill, the fiscal note (or the amount of money it would have taken to enact the law) appeared to kill it.
HOW WOULD HAVE THIS BILL HELPED REDUCE MERCURY POLLUTION?
This bill would have phased-out mercury-containing products where there are viable, cost-effective alternatives, and required the proper disposal of mercury products in use.
The bill aimed to reduce pollution from mercury-containing products by:
- phasing out the sale and distribution of mercury-containing thermostats, thermometers, and other measuring devices
- requiring manufacturers to notify the Department of Environmental Quality about mercury-added products they sell in the state
- requiring manufacturers to label mercury-containing products sold in the state
- beginning in 2012, banning disposal of some mercury-containing products from landfills
This WVE-led bill did not go down without a great fight – and you can rest assured related mercury legislation will return again next session!
While SB 423 did not pass, WVE was successful in elevating awareness of the health impacts of mercury on Montana’s women and children. WVE tested the hair of 28 legislators and the Governor for mercury, resulting in a front page Missoulian story and a numerous TV stories that ran across the state (read more about this below).
WVE had a hearing on the bill in the Senate Natural Resources Committee, a debate on the Senate floor, and a hearing in the House Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications committee—all of which served as great educational platforms. Our bill was selected as the top priority in the environmental health category of the Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus, demonstrating the importance of this issue among women in Montana.
WVE will continue to work with the statewide mercury products task force we created to develop programs that educate the public, particularly women, about mercury in products, and create opportunities for recycling mercury products around the state.
To get involved in this effort, contact WVE at 406.543.3747.
WVE collects samples of legislators, governor’s hair to test for mercury
On January, 16th WVE went to the Montana state capitol, armed with two volunteers from the R-tech Cosmetology school in Helena and set up shop in a hearing room. The goal was to collect hair samples from Montana legislators and staff members to have them tested for mercury, in order to raise awareness about the connection between mercury in the environment and human health, and to offer a solution to the problem with SB 423. WVE gathered 34 hair samples including those from Senate Majority leader, Carol Williams; Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, Joan Miles; Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, Richard Opper; and Governor Brian Schweitzer.
NEW! BAD HAIR DAY: Results of Mercury Hair Testing of Montana Legislators (PDF)
Read the Missoulian Article about the Results
Learn more about the Mercury and Reproductive Justice campaign
WVE Hiring Executive Director