and invites pesticide registrants, Federal and state agencies, user and 

 environmental groups, and any other interested persons to participate in 

 the Agency's review process. If EPA determines that the risks appear to 

 outweigh the benefits, then it can initiate action under FIFRA to cancel, 

 suspend and/or modify the terms and conditions of a given pesticides 

 registration. The EPA has selected to regulate the use of organotin 

 compounds in antifouling paints under the legislative mandates of FIFRA. 



2.2.2 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 



The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) , P.L 94-469, establishes respon- 

 sibilities for definition of problems caused by the presence of toxic 

 substances in the environment, and for setting acceptable levels or 

 standards to insure maintenance of acceptable water quality. Monitoring 

 environmental levels, drafting of regulations concerning use of the toxic 

 substance and the enforcement of these regulations is also provided by 

 TSCA. Under TSCA, EPA has the authority to regulate the use of organotin 

 compounds in the environment. At present, however, EPA finds FIFRA the 

 preferred authority for the regulation of organotins. 



2.2.3 Clean Water Act (CWA) and Amendments 



The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 as amended by The Clean 

 Water Act of 1977 (P.L. 92-500 and P.L. 95-217) are known as the Clean 

 Water Act (CWA) . The objective of this act is to restore and maintain the 

 chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation's waters. 

 Regarding control of marine pollution, the Act provides for a water qual- 

 ity surveillance system for monitoring the quality of navigable waters 

 including the contiguous zone (Section 104 [a] [5]. Although the major 

 responsibility under this Act is the Administrator of the EPA, the Act 

 expressly encourages other Federal, State and local agencies to cooperate 

 in establishing National programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimi- 

 nation of pollution. This includes research, investigations, experiments, 

 training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, 

 effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution 

 (Section 104[a][l]). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 (NCAA) is directed to establish, equip, and maintain a water quality 

 surveillance system for the purpose of monitoring the quality of navigable 

 waters, the contiguous zone and the oceans. NCAA in Section 303 is also 

 directed to engage in activities responsive to the establishment of water 

 quality standards, and effluent discharge standards in Section 307 (a) . 

 The Act directs the Administrator of the EPA to identify and quantify the 

 distribution of in-plaoe toxic contaminants with emphasis on toxic 

 substances in harbors and navigable waterways. The EPA Administrator is 

 also authorized, acting through the Secretary of the Army, to make con- 

 tracts for the removal and appropriate disposal of such materials from 

 critical port and harbor areas (Section 115) . Therefore, in the future, 

 if the concentrations of organotin compounds should increase in estuarine 

 bottom sediments faster than they degrade, it may become necessary to 

 implement the regulatory process as developed for the disposal of con- 

 taminated dredged materials. 



II-3 



