Automakers Applaud Copper Brake Pad Agreement

Washington State Legislation to Serve as Nationwide Model

OLYMPIA, Wash., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law SB 6557, a bill that will lead to the eventual banning of copper in vehicle brake pads. The final legislation received support from a wide range of stakeholders including the Department of Ecology, environmental community, automakers and brake pad manufacturers. This first-in-the-nation can now serve as a model for all other states.

"Senator Ranker's legislation will help protect Washington's waterways, while allowing automakers to maintain critical vehicle brake safety standards," said Curt Augustine, policy director of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "The auto industry is pleased to support this important initiative."

Brake pads can be made of several substances including copper and other materials. Motor vehicles are equipped with brake pads, designed to retard or stop the movement of a vehicle through friction against a rotor. When brakes are applied, the brakes generate dust which contains copper and other substances which can run off into waterways.

"This has been a truly unique collaborative process. We want to thank Governor Gregoire, her Administration, and the environmental and business groups who helped craft this sensible bill to protect Washington's waterways and auto passengers," Augustine continued. "We hope to build on this success as we work together on climate change and transportation infrastructure needs of the state."

  Provisions of SB 6557 include:

  --  Starting 2014, brake pads containing more than trace amounts of
      cadmium, chromium, asbestos, lead and mercury will not be permissible
      for sale in the state of Washington.
  --  The bill will establish a science-based process for a two-step
      reduction of copper in brake pad linings. Initially, it will limit the
      use of copper in brakes to a maximum of five percent by model year
      2021. Additionally, it will establish an advisory committee of
      industry, safety, and environmental experts to assess the feasibility
      of lowering the mandate to .5 percent in later years.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.