Boaters, clubs, marinas, industry, elected officials and government agencies are invited to attend a Strategy Session Workshop to explore actions that can be taken to obtain a common-sense, uniform statewide standard for copper-based anti-fouling surfaces.
Monday, April 21, 2014
2:00 pm
Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
RSVP TO: rboc@rboc.org
THE ISSUE
Local regional water quality control boards are taking action to implement copper total maximum daily loads [TMDLs] in impaired water bodies in California. This occurred first in Shelter Island Yacht Basin in San Diego. Earlier this year, this occurred in Marina del Rey. Next up could be Newport Beach, and others are anticipated.
In each of these situations, a good deal of misunderstanding surrounds the topic of copper based anti-fouling paint. Some regional water quality control boards, following the requirements of the Clean Water Act, have started to implement measures that seek to reduce the amount of copper in the water. The target has been recreational boaters and the reliance upon copper based anti-fouling paint.
The real problem, however, is that the current federal standard is overly protective and that, in fact, the copper in the water of our marinas is not in any way toxic to benthic organisms.
The Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] could promulgate a new and economic method to determine realistic site-specific copper standards: the Biotic Ligand Model [BLM]. This would enable a correct assessment of the impairment to marine waters due to copper.
We need to take action. See you at the Workshop!