The Washington Legislature is moving forward with a bill that would extend the deadline on a copper paint ban from 2018 to 2021.
The delay was proposed because proponents couldn’t find a safer alternative to copper as a biocide, Peter Schrappen, vice president and director of government affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association, told Trade Only Today in November.
In 2011, then-Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill prohibiting the use of copper-based bottom paints on recreational boats that was to take effect in January of 2018.
Senate Bill 6333, which the National Marine Manufacturers Association also supports, will give the state extra time to perform an exhaustive review of existing data.
It would also allow time to perform in-state studies of the impact of copper paint and e-paints to determine the environmental impact of copper, and e-paint chemicals.
Current Gov. Jay Inslee supports the extension, Schrappen said.
The bill has passed the Energy Committee and is pending in Rules, according to the NMMA.
