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PCB Product Bill On Wash. Governor’s Desk

A state bill to limit the purchase of PCB-containing products is heading to the Washington governor’s desk. The state Senate on Tuesday approved final changes to the bill, which the sponsor says could lower river pollution levels.

Sen. Andy Billig’s measure will restrict state agencies from purchasing products that are known to have the toxic chemical PCB, if an alternative is available.

Billig says some items the state uses, like yellow road paint, contain trace amounts of PCBs and it drains with storm water into the river. The Spokane senator says phasing out PCB products is one easy way to limit pollution to the Spokane River.

The measure got strong support in both the House and Senate.

“This is a common sense, and fairly simple, step for the state to take a leadership position to say, ‘We’re not going to contribute to the further pollution of our waterways with PCBs,”’ said Billig.

PCBs are a toxic chemical that was widely banned in the 1970s but still used in limited amounts to produce yellow dyes and other products.

Gov. Jay Inslee now has final decision on the bill.