By Puyallup Tribal News staff
The Puyallup Tribe, Yurok and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes were granted a petition they submitted from the Environmental Protection Agency requesting that the EPA develop regulations prohibiting the use of the chemical 6PPD in tires due to the deadly effects on salmon, steelhead trout and other wildlife.
Found in almost every vehicle tire, 6PPD releases a chemical that is toxic to marine species when it breaks down on the road. Coho salmon can be killed within hours of exposure to 6PDD, and this can have devastating effects as they return to local streams to spawn.
The Tribe argued in the petition that 6PPD in tires poses unreasonable risks to the environment and called on the EPA to regulate the chemical under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA agreed to initiate risk management rulemaking under the Toxic Substances Control Act to help prevent the environment from being contaminated by 6PPD.
“This is a victory for salmon and all species and people,” said Puyallup Tribal Council. “6PPD is a major and uniquely lethal threat to the health of salmon in urban streams on our reservation. Banning this chemical from tires will be hugely important in protecting fish. We thank the EPA for taking our concerns seriously. We will always act to protect the fish, the water and our lands.”
In September, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians adopted a resolution in support of the Puyallup Tribe’s petition to ban 6PPD. Washington was one of five states that sent a letter to the EPA in strong support of the petition.
