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Lead wheel weights

Environmental Protection Agency Accepts Petition: Moves to Ban Sale of Toxic Lead Tire Balancing Weights for Cars

August 25th, Washington, DC - In a decision issued today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed its 2005 decision and accepted a petition from a dozen environmental and public health organizations to immediately begin rulemaking to ban lead wheel balancing weights. Lead in wheel weights represents one of the largest unregulated uses of lead in consumer products today. These wheel weights are used to balance vehicle tires so they don't vibrate as they spin. In a separate action today, EPA reached a settlement of a lawsuit to fix a flawed rulemaking to deal with the largest source of lead poisoning - lead in paint from renovation, repair and painting activities. Read More

Download Letter Granting Petition
Read EPA Press Announcement

EPA Requests Public Comments on TSCA Petition

July 15, 2009 - EPA has published a Federal Register Notice ackowledging receipt of our petition to ban lead wheel weights and has opened a 15 day comments period. Comments are due by July 30, 2009. During this comment period anyone can submit comments in support of the the lead wheel weight ban. In addition, EPA has requested additional information on several specific subjects(see below).

To file electronic comments go to: http://www.regulations.gov
Then enter EPA Docket Number: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0467 in the search box.
Follow directions for submitting comments or documents into the official docket.

Comments by mail:
Document Control Office (7407M)
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT)
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
Washington, DC 20460-0001

Download complete Federal Register Notice

In particular, EPA seeks information on the following:

Quantitative information, data and/ or case examples (e.g., recent scientific and technical studies, including analytical data results, analyses of environmental impacts, and statistical analyses) associated with the potential environmental releases to the air, surface water, ground water, and soil (particularly regarding potential releases within 1 mile of roadways, and potential releases to particularly sensitive environments or human and ecological populations) from lead wheel balancing weights and the following alternatives to lead tire weights: Steel tire weights; zinc alloy wheel balancing weights; plastic metal composite wheel balancing weights; and tin wheel balancing weights.
Quantitative information and data (scientific and technical studies, including analytical data results, analysis of environmental impacts, statistical analyses, etc.) associated with releases of lead to the air, surface water, ground water, and soil within 1 mile of roadways from wheel balancing weights and all other sources.
Information on whether the following list of potential exposure routes associated with releases from lead (and other alternative material) wheel balancing weights is complete or accurate, and whether other possible exposure routes associated with such releases should be considered: Dust in and near roadways; dust from roadways migrating to residential front yards, being tracked into houses and inhaled and/or ingested by children; wheel balancing weights and/or particles swept up by municipal street cleaners being incinerated, leading to increased levels of lead in air; wheel balancing weights and/or particles swept up by municipal street cleaners and landfilled, leading to increased levels of lead in ground water; vapors from home smelting of used wheel balancing weights obtained from gas stations and small tire retailers; wheel balancing weights left on cars that may be collected and burned in electric arc furnaces, releasing lead vapor and particulate matter to the air; releases associated with auto shredder activities (e.g., residues released to air or water); and releases from roadways to streams resulting in potential exposures to aquatic and terrestrial species.
Quantitative or anecdotal information on the current availability and suitability of lead-free wheel balancing weights as alternatives, in both original equipment and aftermarket settings, particularly any comparisons between lead-free and lead wheel balancing weights in terms of price, ease of installation, durability, and other attributes of performance and suitability.

Environmentalist, Health Groups Petition EPA to Ban Lead Weights

May 28, 2009 - The Ecology Center, Sierra Club and broad coalition of groups have filed a formal petition asking EPA to ban the use of lead wheel weights in the U.S. starting in January 1, 2011. If the petition is accepted, EPA will open up a comment period during which comments in support of the petition may be filed with EPA. Read Press Release

2009 TSCA Peition Documents:

Download Toxic Substance Control Act Petition, May 28, 2009

On May 17, 2005 the Ecology Center filed a previous citizens petition under the federal Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) asking EPA to develop rules which would ban the sale of lead wheel weights in the U.S. The petition, which received support from the Governor of Maine; state officials in Minnesota and Wisconsin; and the Steel Manufacturers Association, could have led to the establishment of a national lead wheel weight phase-out timeline. However, on August 8, 2005 EPA rejected the petition citing inadequate information on exposure and risk associated with lead wheel weights. The previous petition and supporting documents are listed below.

2005 TSCA Petition Documents:

Legislative Roundup

Maine Bans Lead Weights

On May 12 Maine became the second state to enact a comprehensive ban on lead weights. LD 986 bans installation of lead (and mercury) weights January 1, 2010.

Washington State Bans Lead Wheel Weights

On April 28th Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law the first comprehensive ban on the use of lead wheel weights in North America. The legislation, HB 1030, requires the use of lead free wheel weights starting on January 1, 2011. Download the bill. Read about the law in the Spokesman-Review.

Other Pending 2009 Legislation

California - Senate Bill 763 Download
Requirements: Bans installation of lead weights upon passage

Iowa - House File 384 Download
Requirements: Prohibits installation of lead weights July 2010

Maine - LD 986 Download
Requirements: Bans installation of lead (and mercury) weights January 1, 2010

Maryland - House Bill 763 Download
Requirements: Bans installation of lead weights January 2011 State for Fleet Vehicles; January 1, 2012 for Used Vehicles; January 1, 2013 for New Vehicles

Vermont - Act 193 Enacted into Law June 7, 2008 Download
Requirments: Bans installation of lead weights on Vermont state fleet vehicles January 1, 2010; September 1, 2011 for new vehicles

News & Updates

UC Irvine Working to Remove Lead Wheel Weights from Fleet

IRVINE, CA – The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) announced plans to replace lead wheel weights from the tires in its fleet. The university is following in the footsteps of fellow California government fleet, Contra Costa County, recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts to voluntarily remove more than 2,000 lbs. of lead from its fleet by 2012. Read More

Updated List of Lead-Free Weight Distributors Available

Check out the rapidly growing list of distributors and retailers of lead-free weights...

Chrysler, Wheel Weight Makers Agree to Eliminate Lead

Oakland, CA - The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) today announced it has reached a legal agreement with Chrysler and the three largest producers of automobile wheel bearing weights, requiring the companies to end the use of leaded wheel weights in California by the end of 2009. The landmark agreement marks the first-ever legally binding statewide rule phasing out lead in wheel weights in the U.S., and will end the annual release of 500,000 pounds of lead into the environment in California, which occurs when wheel weights break off of automobile wheels. Read more...

Lead isn't dead, but steel is the real deal

From www.tirebusiness.com - The majority of wheel weights are still made of lead. That won’t last forever, however. Environmental concerns are changing the landscape of this once unchanging and seemingly unalterable market because lead is a highly toxic chemical targeted for reduction by the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more...

Industry's still moving to get lead out of wheel weights

From www.moderntiredealer.com - WASHINGTON-The tire distribution business may not be hurrying to get the lead out of wheel balancing weights, but it definitely is moving in that direction. BADA, the wheel weight manufacturing division of La Vergne, Tenn.-based Hennessy Industries Inc., has launched a Web site, www.steelwheelweights.com, that touts the environmental benefits of steel wheel weights in general and BADA's steel weights in particular. Read more...

Legal Action Cites Chrysler, Producers for Continuing Use of Lead-Based Wheel Weights

Oakland, CA - The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) today initiated legal action to stop the sale of lead-based wheel weights in the state of California, due to the threat of lead pollution to the state's waterways from wheel weights that fall from cars and trucks. CEH notified the major producers of wheel weights and Chrysler, a leading auto maker, that the lead-based weights are illegal under state's safe drinking water law. While other auto makers have eliminated or are moving away from the use of lead wheel weights, Chrysler continues to use the lead-polluting product for most of its new U.S. car models. Read more...
Download CEH Report: Polluted Highways, Poisoned Waters: Lead in Wheel Balancing Weights" (pdf)