This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After amending a bill that would have gutted local health departments' efforts to regulate scrap-metal yards, lawmakers sent the measure to the Senate floor Wednesday.
When the measure stalled in the Senate Business and Labor Committee Tuesday, sponsoring Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, stripped out a controversial section that blocked health departments from regulating "a crusher, dismantler, or scrap-metal processor."
At the same time, Jenkins left in a provision that allows metal recyclers to leave dirty oil filters in place on junked cars. He called it a "Kumbaya" moment.
While the bill passed unanimously out of the committee, the changes set up a potential conflict with county and state regulators.
The Salt Lake County Health Department has been negotiating new rules with the businesses for months. And the Utah Department of Environmental Quality requires that filters be removed and drained. Otherwise they are considered hazardous waste.
SB171 is set for a vote on the Senate's consent calendar, which does not require debate. Then the measure will head to the House for consideration.