U.S. Navy Statutory Monitoring of Tributyltin in Selected U.S. Harbors

In compliance with the requirements of the Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act of 1988, the U.S. Navy has initiated a harbor monitoring program. Under Section 7(b) of the act-Navy Home Port Monitoring-the U.S. Navy is required to' ...provide for periodic monitoring, not less than quarterly, of waters serving as the home port for any Naval Vessel coated with an antifouling paint containing organotin to determine the concentration of organotin in the water column, sediments, and aquatic organisms of such waters. A baseline survey of water-column tributyltin concentrations was conducted in 15 Navy harbors between 1984 and 1986. These data were used in the U.S. Navy's environmental risk assessment and supported initiation of the U.S. EPA Special Review. In compliance with the requirements of the Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act, a quarterly monitoring program has been initiated to do the following: (1) Document butyltin concentrations in water, tissues, and sediments within harbors that serve as a home port for Navy vessels coated with organotin antifouling paint; and (2) Determine if TBT concentrations are changing significantly over time in relation to Navy use patterns.