The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted 4-2 to pass
legislation to phase out the use of dangerous toxic chemicals in plastic
packaging and establish programs to recycle derelict fishing gear.
The two bills, SB 898 and SB 899 (Simitian), were drawn from
the resolution passed by the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) on
February 8, 2007.
“Our oceans are in trouble and we need to take steps to
reduce the amount of pollution,” said Dan Jacobson, Environment California legislative
director.
Our oceans are critical to the survival of the planet. They are home to more than 97 percent of all
life on Earth. They also help control
our climate, provide more oxygen than rain forests and food for all of us.
The number of marine mammals that die each year due to
ingestion of and entanglement in plastic approaches 100,000 in the North
Pacific Ocean alone.
The plastic that finds its way into the ocean is not just a
problem for the millions of sea creatures that are killed; it is also a problem
for humans. Recent studies have shown that there are now six times more plastic
in some parts of the ocean than there is zooplankton -- the base of life in the
aquatic food chain.
SB 898 would require the state to recommend guidelines and
programs for removal and disposal of derelict fishing gear, and create programs
for marina and vessel operators to improve waste management in marinas and
harbors.
SB 899 would codify a provision of an OPC February 2007
resolution, requiring the use of plastic packaging that contains the toxic
materials styrene, bisphenol-A, perfluorooctanoic acid, vinyl chloride,
nonylphenols, and alkylphenols be phased out by 2015.
These two bills now move on to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
“Once again the governor and the California Legislature are
leaders when it comes to protecting the environment,” said Jacobson. “The time
to protect our oceans is right now.”
