State House narrowly defeats asbestos bill

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The state House of Representatives wants to keep the Department of Labor in charge of getting rid of asbestos.<br/><br/>House Bill 1974 proposed putting the Department of Environmental

Friday, May 7th 2004, 5:35 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The state House of Representatives wants to keep the Department of Labor in charge of getting rid of asbestos.

House Bill 1974 proposed putting the Department of Environmental Quality in charge of asbestos projects. But representatives voted 49-to-43 against the bill today.

The bill's author, Representative Ron Langmacher, is holding onto the bill so it can be reconsidered later.

Langmacher says the Department of Environmental Quality would have created an Asbestos Advisory Council with expertise on the issue. That department has greater authority to fine businesses that don't comply with the law.

But the bill's opponents say the Labor Department already has a nationally recognized asbestos abatement program.