1.2 SUMMARY OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES 



The Navy's decision to implement fleet-wide (approximately 600 ships) use 

 of organotin based arrtifouling paints precipitated regulatory activities 

 in the U.S. Congress and in the legislatures of several states (these will 

 be discussed in greater detail in Chapter II) . On January 8, 1986, the 

 U.S. FjTvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the initiation of a 

 Special Review of all registered pesticide products containing TBT 

 compounds used as additives (biocides) in antifouling paints applied to 

 boat and ship hulls to inhibit the growth of certain aquatic organisms. 

 The decision to initiate the Special Review was triggered when EPA 

 determined that the pesticidal use of these compounds in antifoulant 

 paints resulted in TBT exposure to nontarget aquatic organisms at 

 concentrations resulting in acute and chronic toxicity and, meet or 

 exceeded the risk criteria as described in 40 CFR 162.11. A review of the 

 information used to make this decision was published in the "Tributyltin 

 Support Document: (U.S. EPA, 1985) . In initiating the Special Review for 

 TBT, EPA identified significant gaps in the technical information needed 

 to support the registration of TBT used in antifoulant paints. To obtain 

 the information necessary to assess the risks and benefits of TBT use, EPA 

 has issued a series of Data Call in Notices (DCI's) to the registrants 

 levying extensive data requirements to continue their registration. On 

 October 1, 1987, EPA proposed certain restrictions on the use of TBT 

 antifouling paints (EPA, PD 2/3, 1987). Upon review of comments submitted 

 in response to this regulation proposal, EPA projects that final 

 regulations will be issued in the fall of 1988. 



In an attempt to stimulate self regulatory activities by boat owners, 

 EPA's Office of Policy Analysis (of the Office of Policy, Planning and 

 Evaluation - OPPE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration's National Marine Pollution Program Office (NMPPO) have 

 joined together to produce a self regulation - public information leaflet 

 for distribution with the assistance of the Coastal States Organization 

 and the States to registered boat owners. The leaflet provides guidance 

 on the proper use and disposal of antifoulant paints, plus the potential 

 risks to both humans and the environment from improper use and exposure to 

 TBT and other biocides in antifouling paints. 



1.3 PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT 



This technical report is in response to NQAA's National Marine Pollution 

 Program Office's request for a study entitled: Research Needs Concerning; 

 Organotin Compounds in Coastal Environments . This study is to provide the 

 National Ocean Policy Board with the technical and policy information 

 required to support the mandated role of the Federal Government to 

 evaluate, monitor, and control the adverse effects from the use of 

 organotin compounds used as additives (biocides) in antifoulant boat 

 paints. 



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