Manufacturers and retailers in Massachusetts will be banned from selling or importing covered products like bedding, furniture, childrenâs products, window treatments and carpeting that contain 11 flame-retardant chemicals under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Charlie Baker.
The new law, which does not apply to inventory manufactured prior to Dec. 31, 2021, was celebrated by supporters who have pushed for its passage for years by arguing the chemicals can cause cancer and also are ineffective at slowing down fires.
In a tweet, Sen. Cynthia Creem said she filed flame retardants legislation eight years ago and called its passage a âgreat start to 2021â and an important way to protect children and first responders from âharmful chemicals.â When products containing the chemicals burn, Creem has said, they create âtoxic smoke.â
Letter to the editor | Emissions rule will be good for climate, jobs tribdem.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tribdem.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has asked incoming Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to reconsider a recent EPA decision that shifted federal permitting authority to Florida for projects that affect wetlands.
Fried released a letter Wednesday that she sent to Regan, who has been tapped by President-elect Joe Biden to lead the EPA.
Supporters this month praised the Trump administration’s decision to shift the permitting authority to Florida, saying it would help reduce duplicative state and federal permitting and give Florida more control over such decisions.
Florida is only the third state, joining Michigan and New Jersey, that have received the authority, according to the EPA.
Beacon Hill Roll Call: Dec. 21 to Dec. 25, 2020
Modified: 1/1/2021 3:12:17 PM
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Dec. 21 to Dec. 25.
Police changes (S 2963) The House, 107 to 50, and the Senate, 31 to 9, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a new version of a bill making major changes in the state’s policing system. The House and Senate adopted some of Gov. Baker’s amendments including scaling back a moratorium on the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement and limiting the influence of a civilian-led commission over police training. A key provision creates an independent, civilian-led commission with the power to investigate police misconduct and to certify, restrict, revoke or suspend certification for police officers and maintain a publicly available database of decertified officers. Other provisions include banning the use of chokeholds; limiting the use of deadly force; requirin
Crews work to clean up Thursday fuel spill in Pittsfield berkshireeagle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from berkshireeagle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.