02-04-2002 Port of Houston Expansion Review Committee Minutes

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• Problem 2. 2 The excellent reduction of these long life compounds within the ecosystem of Galveston Bay, due to the total banning of their use from local shipyards will be reversed especially from the expected increased traffic from non-compliant shipyards in the Far East. Problem 3 The City of LaPorte rises up to an approximate height of less than 20 feet above Mean Sea Level. During a category 1 Hurricane or higher, the natural reefs and ecosystems have historically protected the City. If these natural protections are depleted by additional "kill off' due to Organotin pollution, this would lead to greater destruction than would normally be the case. Natural reef formation through clean Bay waters should be encouraged rather than damaged irreparably. Problem 4 Antifouling Paints made primarily outside the United States often contain this lethal "Organotin" additive. These compounds are usually stored within unlocked and unregulated "paint lockers" of International Vessels entering U.S. waters. Any inspection whatsoever of same will show clearly that open and dried out paint cans, together with damaged cans are invariably visible. At dockside often work details are given over to idle crew to clean out these areas. The disposition of these materials usually goes on in the darkness of night. Our concern is of the illegal disposal of these pollutants over the side, and in Galveston bay waters. Paint Lockers ought to be locked upon entering U.S. Waters, and always inspected by the Coastguard. Reference Material Source: ORTEPA An International organization of Organotin Manufacturers. Reference www. Ortepa.org. Abstract\Introduction Tributyltin (TBT) has been used as an antifoulant in marine paints since the 1960s. Concern about the effect of TBT on non-target organisms led the US Congress to pass the Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act (OAPCA) in late 1988, which limited the use of