Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act of 1988
Public Law 100-333 · H.R. 2210 · 100th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jun 16, 1988 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC-1)
Cosponsors (24): Rep. Gerry Studds, Rep. Robert Davis,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with amendment)
Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act of 1988 - Prohibits the use of organization-based antifouling paint on a vessel which is less than 25 meters in length, except as specified.
Prohibits the sale of antifouling paint containing organization or its application to a vessel unless the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency certifies that the release rate of such paint is below a specified level. Prohibits the sale of organization paint additives. Permits the sale of existing stockpiles for no more than 180 days following enactment, and the application of such paints for no more than one year.
Sets forth certification procedures.
Directs the Administrator to monitor and report annually for ten years to specified congressional officials on the concentrations of organization in representative estuaries. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to periodically test and report to the Administrator and the State Governor on organization contamination in the waters and harbors serving as the home port for any Navy vessel. Requires the Administrator to report at the end of five years to the Congress on the effectiveness of existing measures and on compliance with water quality criteria concerning organization compounds which are to be issued by March 30, 1989.
Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.
Requires the Administrator and the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional officials on alternative antifouling chemicals and systems.
Requires sale and use prohibitions to continue until a final decision on the release of organization into the aquatic environment through such paints takes effect.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee; Oceanography Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Jun 16, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-333.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jun 7, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 24, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- Apr 18, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment(SP1960) by Voice Vote.
- Dec 18, 1987Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Dec 12, 1987FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1788 without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Nov 10, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
- Nov 9, 1987FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Oct 27, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Sep 22, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Aug 5, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jul 8, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- May 20, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oceanography Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 29, 1987CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.