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Correction: The costs of providing a "bounty" on the small mercury switches in salvage vehicles will be paid for by automobile makers. A story Tuesday incorrectly reported who would be footing that bill.
Devices the size of a cell phone may be adding toxic mercury pollution to Utah's air, soil and water.
The first substitute for HB138 advanced Monday by House lawmakers is intended to cut those mercury releases by putting a "bounty" on the devices, small trunk and hood light switches that are found in some cars made through 2002.
"This bill is focused on a positive incentive," said sponsoring Rep. Rhonda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland.
The House Business and Labor Committee approved the measure unanimously after hearing testimony from supporters, including an automakers' group, an auto recycler and representatives from the Nucor Corp. steel plant in Plymouth, about 90 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Nucor executives said finding mercury switches is impractical by the time shredded vehicles arrive at their plant for recycling.
Steve J. Rowlan, Nucor's general manager for environmental affairs, estimated that about half of the 250,000 scrap cars and trucks recycled probably still contain mercury switches, and it would be very costly for the company to add special filters to its furnace to remove the toxic metal.
Meanwhile, with new rules for mercury switches on the way from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the auto industry has stepped up with a $20 million program to have salvage shops remove the devices voluntarily. The program would cover education, training, shipping, storage and disposing of the small bullets of mercury used in the switches, according to Casimer J. Andary of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
If the bill passes, the state would pay $5 for each switch, or $625,000 if the bounty was paid for one switch on each of the 125,000 vehicles Rowlan mentioned.
Utah's Department of Environmental Quality backs the measure, which is now headed to the House floor. The state has issued advisories on eating two species of ducks and three types of fish because of high levels of mercury found during testing.