Washington State Copper Paint Law

[foggysail]

Not sure if this is the right forum ---

Big Brother is here again to save the world!

Pacific Northwest Boating News: Washington becomes first state to ban copper paint for recreational boats | Three Sheets Northwest

[rodney_k]

And there is SB 623 in California which is almost identical to the Washington law. Not passed by CA yet but out of the environmental committee and on to the appropriations committee. Mexico is looking better & better.

[capnorv]

I'm SURE this is for our own safety against ourselves. It would be absurd to ask larger pleasurecraft to conform to such a commoners rule. Go Christine, another great decision.

[bangkaboat]

Originally Posted by rodney_k

And there is SB 623 in California which is almost identical to the Washington law. Not passed by CA yet but out of the environmental committee and on to the appropriations committee. Mexico is looking better & better.

Good to know, as I have to have my boat hauled in LA for paint. I figured California was already a done-deal, as they usually seem to lead in "going green" laws!

[delmarrey]

Well, I guess it’s time to tear down the Statue of Liberty. How much copper does that old hunk of metal leech into New York Harbor?

My favorite comment from the Responses.

This doesn't include all the water we drink that runs thru copper pipes or the copper based moss killers we put on our roofs and yards.

So, I wonder if you come from out of state/country if you'll get fined if your boat already has copper bottom paint?

SB 5436 - 2011-12

[senormechanico]

THANK YOU Chrissie!

[Marksman]

I wonder what the next "Boogy Man" will be when targeting under 65ft pleasure boats doesn't compensate for over fishing, dams, runoff etc. They really must think we're stupid.

[lookoutnw]

Wasn't it Blackstone's book that said something like ' The needs of the many out wigh the needs of the few' ? Or was it in Latin from the Roman's. Either way, It is backward here in this state.

[Capt Phil]

Having spent my formative years slapping on gallons of 'red lead' to the hulls of seineboats in the PNW, I am delighted that Commissar Gregoire has elected to ban any and all bottom paint that does not have the 'spotted owl' seal of approval.
My other half is totally convinced that my strange political predisposition is entirely due to a wild and misspent youth working commercially on the water and all the unpolitically correct bottom paint and engine room asbestos ingested over the years has caused brain lesions manifesting themselves in political rants and generally poor public behaviors. Thank you, Christine, for saving generations of others who could have been similarly infected by hard work, keeping your word and other terrible conditions that I had to suffer through. Capt Phil

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by lookoutnw

Wasn't it Blackstone's book that said something like ' The needs of the many out wigh the needs of the few' ? Or was it in Latin from the Roman's. Either way, It is backward here in this state.

Mr. Spock says these actual words to Captain James Kirk, in the movie "Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan".

[westsail42]

Am I correct in assuming that commercial and military shipping are exempt from this law? Whose combined tonnage no doubt exceeds that of all pleasure craft in the state?

Last I heard it was still legal for commercial and military shipping to use TBT paints.

Anyone know if that is still true?

[IdoraKeeper]

Well, here I am a day late and a dollar short. I am going haul out next week. I assume that Idora will be well enough protected by the childrens water colors that will now be the only legal bottom paint. Finger paints will now be the only legal option I am sure.
Atleast I am too old to be dragooned into the WA State boater law. We seem to be unable to get these things right. The GOP would have arsenic in the Duwamish or the Dems want to wreck my boat. Meanwhile the WSP is out on the road (at great expense) stopping anyone who even looks like they would go 57 in a 55. The trends are all bad.

Todd

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by foggysail

Not sure if this is the right forum ---

Big Brother is here again to save the world!

Pacific Northwest Boating News: Washington becomes first state to ban copper paint for recreational boats | Three Sheets Northwest

I thought there was already some regulations in MD about this.

Sorry folks, I agree.
We need to stop polluting the waterways.
Banning copper paint will force some entrepeneur to come up with a green alternative. The manufacturers have not had the incentive to do so, so far.

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by lookoutnw

Wasn't it Blackstone's book that said something like ' The needs of the many out wigh the needs of the few' ? Or was it in Latin from the Roman's. Either way, It is backward here in this state.

Wasn't that Spock in Sar Trek II?

beat me to it Gord. but add "or the one."

[S/V Illusion]

How dare anyone attempt to make even a small effort to further eliminate contaminants from our water. Lets' all return to the days of indiscriminate dumping of waste, colored waterways, bacteria infested estuaries and toxic waste dumps. Left to our own devices, we can destroy what is left of this planet much quicker.

Sarcasm aside, copper is toxic particularly to marine organisms and no one who values our environment should be so uninformed as many here appear to be.