HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 349

BYRepresentatives Haugen, Jacobsen, Lux, Cole, Rust, Meyers and Unsoeld

Prohibiting the tributyltin in paints.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Ferguson, Jesernig, May, Pruitt, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Tributyltin (TBT) is used in antifouling paints and is primarily applied to boat and ship hulls to control the growth of fouling organisms such as barnacles, tubeworms, algae, bacteria, and sponges.  These organisms increase hull friction and weight, which in turn increases fuel consumption by reducing vessel speed.  The antifouling paints are also used to control fouling organisms on docks, buoys, and other marine structures.  TBT has been used in antifouling paints for almost 10 years and replaced the copper-based antifouling paints.  The paints with tributyltins last approximately 5-7 years, whereas the copper-based paints last approximately two years.

A growing body of scientific research indicates that TBT may seriously affect non-target organisms and have unknown effects on humans who eat marine organisms containing TBT or are exposed to it in the workplace.

In the United States, many bodies of water have concentrations of TBT that have reached levels which may cause lethal and sublethal effects in non-target organisms.  For example, TBT levels in San Diego Bay have been measured at levels which could cause lethal effects in fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and algae.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The use or sale of solvent based tributyltin in paints is prohibited after January 1, 1988.  If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not adopt standards for polymer bound tributyltin in paints by January 1, 1988, the standards currently imposed in England will be imposed by the Department of Agriculture.  The Department of Agriculture will enforce this provision and will adopt any necessary rules.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill banned the use and sale of all types of TBT paints and assigned regulatory responsibility to the Department of Ecology.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 19, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Rep. Haugen; Rep. Jacobsen; Sierra Club; Audubon; Citizens.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     TBT has been called the most toxic substance ever intentionally introduced into the marine environment.  TBT is lethal in as low of a concentration as one part per trillion and will readily dissolve in water.  TBT use may have serious economic impacts on the shellfish industry in Puget Sound.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.