Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRIS TULLY
District 38 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits certain uses of paraquat dichloride.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of paraquat dichloride and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number" or "CASRN" means a numeric identifier assigned to a chemical by the Chemical Abstracts Service, a division of the American Chemical Society.
“Paraquat dichloride” means the organic compound commonly used as an herbicide and desiccant, also known as methyl viologen (CASRN 1910-42-5).
b. No later than two years after the effective date of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations to prohibit all consumer and commercial uses of paraquat dichloride and require owners and operators of facilities that utilize paraquat dichloride to appropriate measures to protect the facilities’ workers from exposure to paraquat dichloride.
c. Any uses of paraquat dichloride that are preempted under the federal "Toxic Substances Control Act," (15 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq.), shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit certain uses of paraquat dichloride in the State. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection, within two years of the bill’s effective date, to adopt rules and regulations which would prohibit all consumer and commercial uses of paraquat dichloride and require owners and operators of facilities that utilize paraquat dichloride to appropriate measures to protect the facilities’ workers from exposure to paraquat dichloride.
Paraquat dichloride is a toxic chemical used as a contact herbicide and desiccant. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that ingestion of paraquat dichloride can be fatal and skin or eye contact can cause serious lasting injuries. The EPA also found that there are potential risks from spraying drifts containing paraquat dichloride to bystanders as well as mammals, birds, terrestrial invertebrates, terrestrial plants, and algae.