MINNESOTA DEAL IN WORKS TO BAN CERTAIN FIRE RETARDANTS

05/11/2015

Members of the Minnesota House commerce committee struck a deal Monday on a ban of four chemical fire retardants some experts fear are responsible for a dramatic rise of cancer in firefighters, reports blogs.twincities.com.

That's a claim opponents of the bill say has little solid evidence to back it up and more study is needed.

State Rep. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House, pulled six other chemicals out of the legislation to win a consensus. The bill does requires the state health commissioner and fire marshal study the danger of other fire retardants.

The St. Paul and Minneapolis fire departments are also taking part in a nationwide study of the dangers of flame retardants.

"Before we ban something, we need to have that data," Howe said, calling the bill a first step. He expressed confidence he could win support of his colleagues in the Republican-led House as the session enters its final days. "We'll get it done."

The legislation originated in the DFL-controlled Senate where it passed on a 59-2 vote in April. It will phase out the use of some flame retardants in children's products, furniture and mattresses.

State Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said he disappointed the bill was watered down, but pleased they could agree to something.

"Our firefighters deserve better than this, but this is a significant step forward," said Marty, who plans to accept the changes when the bill makes it back to the Senate. "This is one of those cases when it is late in the session and we will take what we can get."

It passed the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on a voice vote Monday, but must make a stop in the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee before heading to a floor vote.

St. Paul Fire Capt. Steve Shapira testified to committee members about his recent diagnosis with non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma, which he believes was caused by the roughly 500 fire scenes he worked on during his career. Shapira is suing the city of St. Paul over the denial of a workers' compensation claim.

"I don't think it goes far enough, but this is a good start," Shapira said of the compromise. "Clearly we could go further and do more."

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