Department of Ecology uses this site to share information to engage interested parties and the public about antifouling boat paint studies. For more information, please visit our Antifouling boat paint laws website.
We’ve been studying antifouling paints and ingredients as directed by RCW 70A.445.020. In the most recent draft report, we focus on developing safer criteria and determining whether safer and effective alternatives to copper-based paints are feasible, reasonable, and readily available.
Our 2023 Draft Antifouling Paints in Washington State: Third Report to the Legislature, concluded that the potential restrictions on copper-based paints identified in RCW 70A.334.020(3)(a)(c) won’t take effect and we’ll conduct a second review of relevant studies and information. We’ll submit a follow-up report to the Legislature by 2029.
The public comment period for the 2023 draft report ended on January 17, 2024. We’re reviewing comments, developing a response to comments document, and updating the final Legislative report. We’ll publish the response to comments document and final Legislative report together in the summer of 2024.
Past Events
December 4, 2023, to January 17, 2024: Public comment period
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who submitted comments. We plan to provide a written response to the comments. It will be available in the summer of 2024.
December 6, 2023: Public workshop
The workshop provided an overview of the draft report, emphasized the draft determinations, shared public comment information, and provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions.
Iris Deng, PhD Toxics Researcher Department of Ecology Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program iris.deng@ecy.wa.gov
ADA Accessibility
The Department of Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Policy #188.
To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-407-6700 or hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology’s website for more information.