(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person may not distribute, possess, sell, or offer for sale, apply, or offer for use or application any marine antifoulant paint containing tributyltin compounds. Authorized personnel of the department of environmental management, department of the attorney general, and state police may seize any antifoulant paint held in violation of this chapter and any seized substances shall be considered forfeited.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-2

  • Acceptable release rate: means a measured release rate not to exceed four (4. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-1
  • Commercial boat yard: means any facility which engages for hire in the construction, storage, maintenance, repair, or refurbishing of vessels (other than seaplanes) or any licensed independent marine maintenance contractor who engages in those activities. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-1
  • Department: means the department of environmental management. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-1
  • Marine antifoulant paint: means any compound, coating, paint, or treatment applied or used for the purpose of controlling freshwater or marine fouling organisms on vessels. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-1
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Tributyltin compounds: means any compound having three (3) normal butyl groups attached to a tin atom and with or without an anion such as chloride, fluoride, or oxide. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-25.3-1

(b)  A person may distribute or sell a marine antifoulant paint containing tributyltin with an acceptable release rate to the owner or agent of a commercial boat yard. The owner or agent of a commercial boat yard may possess and apply, or purchase for application, an antifoulant paint containing tributyltin with an acceptable release rate and the paint may be applied only within a commercial boat yard and only to vessels which exceed sixty-five feet (65?) in length or which have aluminum hulls or to vessels less than sixty-five feet (65?) in length if it is applied only to the outboard or lower drive unit of the vessels.

(c)  A person may distribute, sell, or apply a marine antifoulant paint containing tributyltin having an acceptable release rate if the paint is distributed or sold in a spray can in a quantity of sixteen (16) ounces avoirdupois or less and is commonly referred to as outboard or lower unit paint.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 255, § 1.