Legislation to Collect Expired Marine Flares Passes Senate, Goes to the Governor
SACRAMENTO – Legislation by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, requiring manufacturers of marine flares to establish and run a program to collect expired and unwanted flares passed the Senate on Thursday and was sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign.
Marine flares are one way boaters meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements for carrying approved, unexpired visual distress signals for use in case of emergency while in coastal waters. Many boaters favor this option due to increased visibility during the day.
Marine flares expire 42 months after manufacture, and each year in California, approximately 174,000 flares expire. However, there are no facilities in California that have the necessary permit to treat or dispose of these flares.
This leaves boaters with few options. As a result, some boaters stockpile their expired flares, creating a fire hazard, or dispose of them in the ocean, polluting the water with toxins.
“We know that boaters want to be safe and good stewards of the environment, but they are often in a bind when it comes to disposing expired flares,” Sen. Blakespear said. “This legislation establishes a program to make disposing flares as easy as purchasing them to protect the environment, boaters and the general public.”
Local governments report finding flares left in front of fire and police stations or improperly disposed of in the trash. This puts public safety workers at great risk, because an expired marine flare can accidentally explode while being handled.
SB 1066 shifts responsibility for disposing of marine flares from local government to those who use them. The legislation requires manufacturers to create a manufacturer responsibility plan for the collection, transportation and safe management of expired flares.
The plan must involve a free and convenient collection program with temporary collection sites in coastal counties, as well as an education and outreach program, including prominently displayed and easily visible signs at point of sale and in marinas.
The bill is co-sponsored by the National Stewardship Action Council and Zero Waste Sonoma, and it is supported by 80 organizations, including Californians Against Waste, the California State Association of Counties, Heal the Bay and the League of California Cities.
Elected in 2022, Sen. Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern San Diego County and part of southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.