S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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9202
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 3, 2012
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to limiting the
use of certain substances in brake friction material
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that brake
friction is an essential component of motor vehicle brakes and is crit-
ically important to transportation safety and public safety in general.
Debris from brake friction materials containing copper and its compounds
is generated and released into the environment during normal operation
of motor vehicle brakes. Thousands of pounds of copper and other
substances released from brake friction material enter New York state
streams, rivers and marine environments as a result of the normal opera-
tion of motor vehicle brakes. The legislature finds that brake friction
materials are toxic to many aquatic and marine organisms and must be
regulated to ensure the quality, safety, and health of the state's
waterways.
S 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
382-d to read as follows:
S 382-D. BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL. 1. DEFINITIONS. (A) "ALTERNATIVE
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL" MEANS BRAKE MATERIAL THAT: (I) DOES NOT
CONTAIN: (A) MORE THAN 0.5 PERCENT COPPER OR ITS COMPOUNDS BY WEIGHT;
(B) THE CONSTITUENTS IDENTIFIED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION AT OR
ABOVE THE CONCENTRATIONS SPECIFIED; OR (C) OTHER MATERIALS DETERMINED BY
THE DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT
THAN EXISTING BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL; (II) ENABLES MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKES
TO MEET APPLICABLE FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS, OR IF NO FEDERAL SAFETY
STANDARD EXISTS, A WIDELY ACCEPTED INDUSTRY STANDARD; (III) IS AVAILABLE
AT A COST AND QUANTITY THAT DOES NOT CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HARD-
SHIP ACROSS A MAJORITY OF BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL AND VEHICLE MANUFAC-
TURING INDUSTRIES; AND (IV) IS AVAILABLE TO ENABLE BRAKE FRICTION MATE-
RIAL AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO PRODUCE VIABLE PRODUCTS MEETING
CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS REGARDING BRAKE NOISE, SHUDDERING AND DURABILITY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03023-06-2
A. 9202 2
(B) "BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL" MEANS THAT PART OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKE
DESIGNED TO SLOW OR STOP THE MOVEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE THROUGH FRIC-
TION MADE AGAINST A ROTOR OR MORE DURABLE MATERIAL.
(C) "MOTOR VEHICLE" MEANS A VEHICLE AS DEFINED BY SECTION ONE HUNDRED
TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION SUCH TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE A MOTORCYCLE AS DEFINED BY SECTION
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
(D) "MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKE" MEANS AN ENERGY CONVERSION MECHANISM USED TO
SLOW OR STOP THE MOVEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE BRAKES
DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO HOLD MOTOR VEHICLES STATIONARY AND ARE NOT FOR USE
WHILE MOTOR VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION.
(E) "ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SERVICE" MEANS BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
PROVIDED AS SERVICE PARTS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR AND USING THE SAME
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL FORMULATION SOLD WITH A NEW MOTOR VEHICLE.
(F) "SMALL VOLUME MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER" MEANS A MANUFACTURER OF
MOTOR VEHICLES WITH ANNUAL SALES IN NEW YORK OF LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND
NEW PASSENGER CARS, LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES, HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES, AND HEAV-
Y-DUTY ENGINES BASED ON THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES SOLD FOR THE
THREE PREVIOUS CONSECUTIVE MODEL YEARS.
2. PROHIBITIONS ON BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL. (A) BEGINNING JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN, NO MANUFACTURER, WHOLESALER, RETAILER, OR
DISTRIBUTOR MAY SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL IN NEW
YORK STATE CONTAINING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUENTS IN AN AMOUNT
EXCEEDING THE SPECIFIED CONCENTRATIONS:
(I) ASBESTIFORM FIBERS: 0.1 PERCENT BY WEIGHT;
(II) CADMIUM AND ITS COMPOUNDS: 0.01 PERCENT BY WEIGHT;
(III) CHROMIUM (VI) SALTS: 0.1 PERCENT BY WEIGHT;
(IV) LEAD AND ITS COMPOUNDS: 0.1 PERCENT BY WEIGHT;
(V) MERCURY AND ITS COMPOUNDS: 0.1 PERCENT BY WEIGHT.
(B) BEGINNING ON JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE NO MANUFAC-
TURER, WHOLESALER, RETAILER, OR DISTRIBUTOR MAY SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL IN NEW YORK STATE CONTAINING MORE THAN FIVE
PERCENT COPPER AND ITS COMPOUNDS BY WEIGHT.
(C) BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO TWO THOUSAND SEVEN-
TEEN IS EXEMPT FROM THE DEADLINE MANDATED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CLEARING INVENTORY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER
THAT SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY-SEVEN.
(D) BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-THREE IS EXEMPT FROM THE DEADLINE MANDATED BY PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CLEARING INVENTORY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL NOT EXTEND BEYOND JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
THIRTY-THREE.
(E) BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURED AS PART OF AN ORIGINAL EQUIP-
MENT SERVICE CONTRACT FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN, IS EXEMPT FROM THE DEADLINE MANDATED IN PARA-
GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(F) BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURED AS PART OF AN ORIGINAL EQUIP-
MENT SERVICE CONTRACT FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, IS EXEMPT FROM THE DEADLINE MANDATED IN PARA-
GRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
3. DEPARTMENT REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL. (A) ON OR
BEFORE DECEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
REVIEW RISK ASSESSMENTS, SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, AND OTHER RELEVANT ANALYSES
REGARDING BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE MATERIAL MAY
A. 9202 3
BE AVAILABLE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSIDER ANY NEW SCIENCE WITH REGARD
TO THE BIOAVAILABILITY AND TOXICITY OF COPPER.
(B) IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THE ALTERNATIVE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
MAY BE AVAILABLE, IT SHALL:
(I) BY DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST OF THE YEAR THE FINDING IS MADE, PUBLISH
SUCH INFORMATION AND PRESENT IT IN A REPORT TO THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLA-
TIVE COMMITTEES. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
EXEMPTIONS ON ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SERVICE AND BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO DATES SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION AND MAY INCLUDE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER EXEMPTIONS; AND
(II) CONVENE A BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH SHALL
INCLUDE:
(A) THE COMMISSIONER, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, WHO WILL CHAIR THE
COMMITTEE;
(B) A REPRESENTATIVE OF MANUFACTURERS OF BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL;
(C) A REPRESENTATIVE OF MANUFACTURERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES;
(D) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINIS-
TRATION; AND
(E) A REPRESENTATIVE OF A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY
PURPOSE OR ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE IS PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
(C) THE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION
SHALL SEPARATELY ASSESS ALTERNATIVE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL FOR PASSEN-
GER VEHICLES, LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHETHER ALTERNATIVE BRAKE FRIC-
TION MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE OR UNAVAILABLE FOR EACH.
(D) BEGINNING EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN PARAGRAPH
(B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION CONFIRMS THAT ALTERNATIVE BRAKE FRICTION MATERI-
AL IS AVAILABLE SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION IN THE NEW YORK STATE
REGISTER OF THE REPORT REFERENCED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF PARAGRAPH (B)
OF THIS SUBDIVISION NO MANUFACTURER, WHOLESALER, RETAILER, OR DISTRIBU-
TOR MAY SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL IN NEW YORK STATE
CONTAINING MORE THAN 0.5 PERCENT COPPER AND ITS COMPOUNDS BY WEIGHT, AS
SPECIFIED IN THE REPORT.
(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT RULES TO IMPLEMENT THIS SUBDIVISION.
4. APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTIONS. ANY MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR BRAKE
FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURER MAY APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR AN
EXEMPTION FROM THIS SECTION FOR BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL INTENDED FOR A
SPECIFIC MOTOR VEHICLE MODEL OR CLASS OF MOTOR VEHICLES BASED ON SPECIAL
NEEDS OR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES FOR WHICH THE BRAKE FRIC-
TION MATERIAL IS INTENDED. EXEMPTIONS MAY BE ISSUED FOR SMALL VOLUME
MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS, SPECIFIC MOTOR VEHICLE MODELS, OR SPECIAL
CLASSES OF VEHICLES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FIRE TRUCKS, POLICE
CARS, AND HEAVY OR WIDE LOAD EQUIPMENT HAULING; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
THE MANUFACTURER CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS SECTION DOES NOT ALLOW COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY STANDARDS, OR CAUSES
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. EXEMPTIONS ARE VALID FOR NO LESS THAN
ONE YEAR AND MAY BE RENEWED AUTOMATICALLY AS NEEDED. EXEMPTIONS MAY ALSO
BE PERMANENT, PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE DESIGNATED AS SUCH AND PROVIDED
THAT THE VEHICLE IS USED SOLELY IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICA-
TION.
5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (A) BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN,
AND AT LEAST EVERY THREE YEARS THEREAFTER, MANUFACTURERS OF BRAKE FRIC-
TION MATERIAL SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN NEW YORK SHALL PROVIDE DATA TO
THE DEPARTMENT ADEQUATE TO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE CONCEN-
TRATIONS OF ANTIMONY, COPPER, NICKEL AND ZINC AND THEIR COMPOUNDS IN
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN NEW YORK.
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(B) USING THIS DATA AND OTHER DATA AS NEEDED, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL:
(I) BY JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, ESTABLISH BASELINE CONCEN-
TRATION LEVELS FOR CONSTITUENTS IDENTIFIED IN BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL;
(II) TRACK PROGRESS TOWARD REDUCING THE USE OF COPPER AND ITS
COMPOUNDS AND ENSURE THAT CONCENTRATION LEVELS OF ANTIMONY, COPPER,
NICKEL OR ZINC AND THEIR COMPOUNDS DO NOT INCREASE BY MORE THAN FIFTY
PERCENT ABOVE BASELINE CONCENTRATION LEVELS; AND
(III) IF CONCENTRATION LEVELS OF ANTIMONY, COPPER, NICKEL OR ZINC AND
THEIR COMPOUNDS IN BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL INCREASE ABOVE BASELINE
CONCENTRATION LEVELS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVIEW SCIENTIFIC STUDIES TO
DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE CONSTITUENT ON HUMAN HEALTH AND
THE ENVIRONMENT. IF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR CONTROL-
LING THE USE OF THE CONSTITUENT IN BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL, THE DEPART-
MENT MAY RECOMMEND LIMITS ON CONCENTRATION LEVELS OF SUCH CONSTITUENT
MATERIAL.
6. COMPLIANCE. (A) MANUFACTURERS OF BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL OFFERED
FOR SALE IN NEW YORK MUST CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
SECTION AND MARK PROOF OF CERTIFICATION ON THE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
(B) BY DECEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL,
AFTER CONSULTING WITH INTERESTED PARTIES, DEVELOP COMPLIANCE CRITERIA TO
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. COMPLIANCE CRITERIA SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, (I) SELF-CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE BY
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURERS AND (II) MARKED PROOF OF CERTIF-
ICATION, INCLUDING MANUFACTURE DATE, ON BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL AND
PRODUCT PACKAGING. MARKED PROOF OF CERTIFICATION MUST APPEAR BY JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
(C) BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, MANUFACTURERS
OF NEW MOTOR VEHICLES OFFERED FOR SALE IN NEW YORK MUST ENSURE THAT
MOTOR VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL CERTIFIED TO BE
COMPLIANT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
7. CIVIL PENALTY. (A) A BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFACTURER THAT
KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THIS SECTION SHALL RECALL THE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
AND REIMBURSE THE BRAKE FRICTION DISTRIBUTOR, RETAILER, OR ANY OTHER
PURCHASER FOR THE MATERIAL AND ANY APPLICABLE SHIPPING AND HANDLING
CHARGES FOR RETURNING THE MATERIAL. A BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL MANUFAC-
TURER THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO
EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION.
(B) A MOTOR VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER THAT KNOWINGLY VIOLATES
THIS SECTION IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION. A MOTOR VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER IS
NOT IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION FOR SELLING A VEHICLE THAT WAS PREVI-
OUSLY SOLD AT RETAIL AND THAT CONTAINS BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL FAILING
TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER. HOWEVER, IF THE DEPARTMENT
CONCLUSIVELY PROVES THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER
INSTALLED BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION ON THE
VEHICLE BEING SOLD AND WAS AWARE THAT THE BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL
VIOLATES THIS SECTION, THE MOTOR VEHICLE DISTRIBUTOR OR RETAILER IS
SUBJECT TO CIVIL PENALTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.
(C) A MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION MUST NOTI-
FY THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF KNOWLEDGE OF
THE VIOLATION AND MUST REPLACE AT NO COST TO THE OWNER THE NONCOMPLIANT
BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL WITH BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL THAT COMPLIES WITH
THIS SECTION. A MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER THAT FAILS TO PROVIDE THE
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REQUIRED NOTIFICATION TO REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES
WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE VIOLATION IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL
PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. A MOTOR VEHICLE
MANUFACTURER THAT FAILS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED NOTIFICATION TO REGIS-
TERED OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AFTER TWELVE MONTHS OF KNOWLEDGE
OF THE VIOLATION IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TEN THOU-
SAND DOLLARS PER VEHICLE.
8. EDUCATION. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
THIRTEEN, PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROHIBITIONS TO
MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND RETAILERS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTI-
CABLE.
9. RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO
ENACT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.