Magazine for the professional tire industry
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MTD June 2014 By the MTD staf F rom start to fnish, it took only a few months to get the ban on lead wheel weights approved in Minnesota. State Senate Bill SB 2192 was introduced in early March. Afer it passed through both the Senate and House of Representatives, it landed on Governor Mark Dayton's desk. On May 16, he signed the bill into law. Te bill, which expressly prohibits the installation, sale and distribution of lead and mercury-based wheel weights in Minnesota, set a compliance date of Jan. 1, 2016. "Now that the Minnesota lead wheel weight law has been fnalized and signed by the governor, the market can begin to implement the change," says Gregory Parker, marketing manager for Perfect Equipment wheel weights, a brand of Wegmann automotive USA Inc. "Te key to a successful transition is to test the available options and not rush into a specifc direction. Te state's 19-month transition period should allow local businesses plenty of time to conduct their own product trials, compare products and suppliers and then decide which direction is right for their company." Minnesota is the seventh state to enact a ban on lead wheel balance weights, joining California, Illinois, Maine, New York, Vermont and Washington. With Minnesota included, the lead regulated states will combine to make up roughly 26% of all registered vehicles in the United States, says Parker. Minnesota already has a state mandate in efect for state-owned feet vehicles to utilize only non-lead wheel balance weights. "It is important for the Minnesota market to understand that there are non-lead options like zinc and steel available to them now," Parker says. "Sometimes new regulations can cause panic and confusion in the market as businesses scramble to make the change." Te compliance date of Jan. 1, 2016, will allow businesses the chance to deplete their current lead inventories, test the alternatives and train staf on how to use the new non-lead products. Unlike some of the previous laws in efect, the new Minnesota law will also require that all lead and mercury wheel weights that are removed from vehicles be properly recycled and not allowed to enter the environment, Parker notes. Focus on industry Update on wheel weights Minnesota bans use of lead and mercury balance weights Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 17133 60