See other bills
under the
same topic
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 552                       PRINTER'S NO. 1663

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 528 Session of 1999


        INTRODUCED BY STERN, COY, GEORGE, LYNCH, BATTISTO, MELIO,
           LAUGHLIN, READSHAW, HALUSKA, NAILOR, CURRY, NICKOL, HORSEY,
           RUBLEY, MUNDY, HERSHEY, FAIRCHILD, VANCE, BUNT, SURRA, ROSS,
           CLARK, SAYLOR, HESS, McCALL, GEIST, S. MILLER, STEELMAN,
           YOUNGBLOOD, TRUE, MASLAND, E. Z. TAYLOR, M. COHEN, SERAFINI
           AND THOMAS, FEBRUARY 10, 1999

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 3, 1999

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending REENACTING the act of July 5, 1989 (P.L.166, No.31),     <--
     2     entitled "An act prohibiting the sale, manufacture,
     3     distribution or use of certain cleaning agents containing
     4     phosphates; conferring powers and duties on the Environmental
     5     Quality Board and the Department of Environmental Resources;
     6     and providing penalties," repealing MAKING EDITORIAL CHANGES   <--
     7     AND ELIMINATING sunset provisions.

     8     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     9  hereby enacts as follows:
    10     Section 1.  Section 9 of the act of July 5, 1989 (P.L.166,     <--
    11  No.31), known as the Phosphate Detergent Act, is repealed.
    12     SECTION 1.  SECTION 1 OF THE ACT OF JULY 5, 1989 (P.L.166,     <--
    13  NO.31), KNOWN AS THE PHOSPHATE DETERGENT ACT, IS REENACTED TO
    14  READ:
    15  SECTION 1.  SHORT TITLE.
    16     THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE PHOSPHATE
    17  DETERGENT ACT.
    18     SECTION 2.  SECTION 2 OF THE ACT, AMENDED DECEMBER 20, 1995

     1  (P.L.713, NO.78), IS REENACTED TO READ:
     2  SECTION 2.  PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN CLEANING AGENTS.
     3     EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 3, A PERSON MAY NOT USE, SELL,
     4  MANUFACTURE OR DISTRIBUTE FOR USE OR SALE WITHIN THIS
     5  COMMONWEALTH ANY CLEANING AGENT THAT CONTAINS MORE THAN 0.0%
     6  PHOSPHORUS BY WEIGHT, EXPRESSED AS ELEMENTAL PHOSPHORUS, EXCEPT
     7  FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING 0.5% PHOSPHOROUS THAT IS
     8  INCIDENTAL TO MANUFACTURING OR THAT IS ADDED TO STABILIZE THE
     9  CLEANING AGENT OR ITS PACKAGING.
    10     SECTION 3.  SECTIONS 3 AND 4 OF THE ACT ARE REENACTED TO
    11  READ:
    12  SECTION 3.  EXCLUSIONS AND EXCEPTIONS.
    13     (A)  EXCLUSIONS.--THIS ACT SHALL NOT APPLY TO A CLEANING
    14  AGENT THAT IS:
    15         (1)  USED IN DAIRY, BEVERAGE OR FOOD PROCESSING
    16     EQUIPMENT.
    17         (2)  A PRODUCT USED AS AN INDUSTRIAL SANITIZER,
    18     BRIGHTENER, ACID CLEANER OR METAL CONDITIONER, INCLUDING
    19     PHOSPHORIC ACID PRODUCTS OR TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE.
    20         (3)  USED IN HOSPITALS, VETERINARY HOSPITALS OR CLINICS,
    21     OR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.
    22         (4)  USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
    23         (5)  USED IN A COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY THAT PROVIDES LAUNDRY
    24     SERVICES FOR A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR FOR A
    25     VETERINARY HOSPITAL OR CLINIC.
    26         (6)  USED BY INDUSTRY FOR METAL CLEANING OR CONDITIONING.
    27         (7)  MANUFACTURED, STORED OR DISTRIBUTED FOR USE OR SALE
    28     OUTSIDE THIS COMMONWEALTH.
    29         (8)  USED IN ANY LABORATORY, INCLUDING A BIOLOGICAL
    30     LABORATORY, RESEARCH FACILITY, CHEMICAL LABORATORY OR
    19990H0528B1663                  - 2 -

     1     ENGINEERING LABORATORY.
     2         (9)  USED FOR CLEANING HARD SURFACES, INCLUDING HOUSEHOLD
     3     CLEANSERS FOR WINDOWS, SINKS, COUNTERS, STOVES, TUBS OR OTHER
     4     FOOD PREPARATION SURFACES AND PLUMBING FIXTURES.
     5         (10)  USED AS A WATER SOFTENING CHEMICAL, ANTISCALE
     6     CHEMICAL OR CORROSION INHIBITOR INTENDED FOR USE IN CLOSED
     7     SYSTEMS, SUCH AS BOILERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, COOLING TOWERS OR
     8     HOT WATER SYSTEMS.
     9     (B)  EXCEPTIONS.--A PERSON MAY USE, SELL, MANUFACTURE OR
    10  DISTRIBUTE FOR USE OR SALE A CLEANING AGENT THAT CONTAINS
    11  GREATER THAN 0.0% PHOSPHORUS BY WEIGHT, BUT DOES NOT EXCEED 8.7%
    12  PHOSPHORUS BY WEIGHT, IF IT IS:
    13         (1)  A DETERGENT USED IN A DISHWASHING MACHINE, WHETHER
    14     COMMERCIAL OR HOUSEHOLD.
    15         (2)  A SUBSTANCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD, BY
    16     REGULATION, EXCLUDES FROM THE 0.0% PHOSPHORUS LIMITATION
    17     CONTAINED IN SECTION 2 BASED ON A FINDING THAT COMPLIANCE
    18     WITH THIS ACT WOULD:
    19             (I)  CREATE A SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP ON THE USER; OR
    20             (II)  BE UNREASONABLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF AN
    21         ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE CLEANING AGENT.
    22  SECTION 4.  REGULATORY AUTHORITY.
    23     THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO
    24  IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
    25     SECTION 4.  SECTION 5 OF THE ACT IS REENACTED AND AMENDED TO
    26  READ:
    27  SECTION 5.  ADMINISTRATION.
    28     (A)  ENFORCEMENT.--IT SHALL BE THE POWER AND DUTY OF THE
    29  DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL [RESOURCES] PROTECTION TO ADMINISTER
    30  AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
    19990H0528B1663                  - 3 -

     1  HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE SUCH ORDERS AS ARE NECESSARY TO
     2  EFFECTUATE THE SAME.
     3     (B)  APPEAL.--ANY PERSON WHO IS AGGRIEVED BY AN ORDER OF THE
     4  DEPARTMENT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT, WITHIN 30 DAYS
     5  OF RECEIPT OF NOTICE THEREOF, TO APPEAL THE ACTION TO THE
     6  ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT OF JULY
     7  13, 1988 (P.L.530, NO.94), KNOWN AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING
     8  BOARD ACT.
     9     SECTION 5.  SECTIONS 6, 7, 8 AND 10 OF THE ACT ARE REENACTED
    10  TO READ:
    11  SECTION 6.  PENALTIES.
    12     (A)  USE.--ANY PERSON WHO USES A CLEANING AGENT IN VIOLATION
    13  OF THIS ACT COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE AND SHALL, UPON
    14  CONVICTION, BE SENTENCED TO PAY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $100.
    15     (B)  SELLS, DISTRIBUTES OR MAKES.--ANY PERSON WHO SELLS,
    16  DISTRIBUTES OR MANUFACTURES A CLEANING AGENT IN VIOLATION OF
    17  THIS ACT COMMITS A MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE
    18  SENTENCED TO PAY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $1,000.
    19  SECTION 7.  SEVERABILITY.
    20     THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT ARE SEVERABLE. IF ANY PROVISION OF
    21  THIS ACT OR ITS APPLICATION TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCE IS
    22  HELD INVALID, THE INVALIDITY SHALL NOT AFFECT OTHER PROVISIONS
    23  OR APPLICATIONS OF THIS ACT WHICH CAN BE GIVEN EFFECT WITHOUT
    24  THE INVALID PROVISION OR APPLICATION.
    25  SECTION 8.  REPEALS.
    26     ALL ACTS AND PARTS OF ACTS ARE REPEALED INSOFAR AS THEY ARE
    27  INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT.
    28  SECTION 10.  EFFECTIVE DATE.
    29     THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS:
    30         (1)  ON MARCH 1, 1990, IN ALL COUNTIES SITUATED PARTIALLY
    19990H0528B1663                  - 4 -

     1     OR WHOLLY WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WATERSHED OR IN THE
     2     LAKE ERIE WATERSHED.
     3         (2)  ON MARCH 1, 1991, IN ALL OTHER COUNTIES.
     4     Section 2 6.  This act shall take effect immediately.          <--


















    A28L27JS/19990H0528B1663         - 5 -