H-1908              _______________________________________________

                                           HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4017

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Haugen, Allen, Jacobsen, Pruitt and Brough

Read first time 2/18/87 and referred to Committee on Environmental Affairs.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, Marine bottom paints containing tributyltin (TBT) are widely used by commercial and recreational fleets as an effective antifoulant; and

          WHEREAS, The United States Navy is currently considering converting to the use of TBT-additive bottom paints for its fleet; and

          WHEREAS, High concentrations of TBT ranging from one hundred to one thousand parts per trillion have been found in marinas along the west coast in the marina waters; and

          WHEREAS, TBT is known to be toxic in concentrations of over five parts per trillion; and

          WHEREAS, TBT has been found to cause deformities in oysters and other shellfish and found to be lethal to juvenile chinook salmon; and

          WHEREAS, TBT-based bottom paints have been banned or restricted in France and Great Britain at the insistence of the fishing industry to protect marine fish and shellfish; and

          WHEREAS, Existing and increased uses of TBT-based bottom paints in the United States poses a potential threat to fish and shellfish resources; and

          WHEREAS, Other forms of antifoulant bottom paints do exist and are available to military, commercial and recreational fleets;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Navy not go forward with its vessel conversion to the use of antifouling paints with TBT, until such time as it is determined to pose no threat to the marine environment.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force memorializes the Congress to enact an immediate ban on the use of TBT-based bottom paints until such time as, and if, methods for use of TBT-based bottom paints or derivatives of organotin paints are developed that pose no threat to the marine environment; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to each member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives from Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, to the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of the Navy and to the Environmental Protection Agency.