<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?>
<doc callnum="GC1311 .U55 1979">
<metadata>
	<titleStmt>
		<mainTitle nfc="0"><title>Federal plan for ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring, 1979-83</title>/<respStmt>Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution Research, Development, and Monitoring ; Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology.</respStmt></mainTitle>
	</titleStmt>
	<authorStmt>
		<corpAuthor mainEntry="y"><name type="jurisdiction">United States.</name><subName>Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution Research, Development, and Monitoring.</subName></corpAuthor>
		<corpAuthor><name>Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology.</name></corpAuthor>
	</authorStmt>
	<editionStmt><edition>1st draft.</edition></editionStmt>
	<imprint>[<pubPlace>Washington, D.C.</pubPlace>:<pubName>The Committee</pubName>,<pubDate>1979</pubDate>]</imprint>
	<classStmt>
		<locClass>
			<subject cat="top">Marine pollution</subject>
			<subject cat="gen">Research</subject>
			<subject cat="geo">United States.</subject>
		</locClass>
		<locClass>
			<subject cat="top">Oceanography and state</subject>
			<subject cat="geo">United States.</subject>
		</locClass>
	</classStmt>
</metadata>

<text xml:space="preserve">
<pb n="1" />

     Coastal Zone                                                                          12712
      Information
	 Center
                                               COASTAL ZONE
                                    INFORMATION CENTER

                              Federal Plan for
                              Ocean Pollution Research,
                          Development, and Monitoring,
                            1979-83

                              First Draft
                              April 1979

                              Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution
                              Research, Development and Monitoring

                              Federal Coordinating Council for Science,
                              Engineering, and Technology
            GC
             1311
            .U55
        1979
<pb n="2" />

                                                                                          12712

                                                            COASTAL ZONE
                                                            INFORMATION CENTER

                               Federal Plan for
                               Ocean Pollution Research,
                               Development, and Monitoring,
                               1979-83

                               First Draft
                               April 1979

                                                    US     DEPARTMENT OF COMMERECE
                                                     COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
                                                     2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
                                                     CHARLESTON,SC 29405-2413

                                                            prcoerty of        Library

                               Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution
                               Research, Development and Monitoring

                               Federal Coordinating Council for Science,
                               Engineering, and Technology

                                    GC1311.455 1929
<pb n="3" />

                                     NOTICE TO REVIEWERS

                   ALL BUDGET  FIGURES IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE PRELIMINARY AND
                   SUBJECT TO  CHANGE&amp; THESE FIGURES AND ANY PRELIMINARY

                   FINDINGSj ANALYSESj OR CONCLUSIONS BASED ON SUCH FIGURES
                   SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR QUOTED. THIS FIRST DRAFT OF THE

                   FEDERAL PLAN IS BEING CIRCULATED FOR REVIEW TO SOLICIT

                   COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE CURRENT FEDERAL APPROACH TO

                   OCEAN POLLUTION RESEARCHj DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING AND ON

                   FUTURE,DIRECTIONS.

                   -  Please submit comments in writing

                   - Please provide comments on all aspects of this document including

                       analyses, conclusions and priorities

                   - Please make specific comments on the recommendations you feel

                       the Committee should make in the final Plan

                   - Your recommendations will be considered in preparation of the

                       final Plan

                   - This first Plan will be finalized by the Committee in early June,

                       1979
<pb n="4" />

                                                                                           UKAFT'-
                                         FEDERAL PLAN FOR OCEAN POLLUTION

                                     RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING

                                                        CONTENTS

                                                                                                 Page

                 I.     OVERVIEW OF THE FIRST FEDERAL PLAN        ..........................      I-1

                 Il.    ANALYSIS OF CURRENT FEDERAL EFFORT        ..........................     II-1

                 A.     Pollutants of Concern in the Marine Environment          .............      2

                        1. Petroleum and Petroleum Products         ........................        5

                        2.  Synthetic Organic Chemicals %..       .........................         8

                        3.  Metals and Inorganic Chemicals        ..........................      12

                        4.  Artificial Radionuclides      ...............................     0   15

                        5.  Habitat Modification and Sediment Deposition         ............     17

                        6.  Nutrients and Other Biostimulants       .....................         19

                        7.  Cooling Water ...    ...........  -   ..............                  21

                        8.  Microorganisms and Pathogens       ... oo .... o.*ooe  .......o.....  23

                        9.  Chlorination Products             ..................   o.o.oo ...  o. 25

                        10o Other Pollutants     ........ o ....... o........... o.... oo.o-      27

                 B.     Regional Efforts          ...........                    ......           29

                        1. North Atlantic -       ......                   .........              30

                        2.  Middle Atlantic      ...........        .....................         33

                        3o  South Atlantic and Caribbean Islands                        ......    38

                        4.  Gulf of Mexico ..    ........ o ....... -  .......         ... o...   42

                        5.  Pacific Southwest     ...* ............                     ......    48

                        6.  Pacific Northwest     ..........                       ....... o...   53

                        7o  Alaska -    ......   oo .....o .......o..........o  ......... *....   57

                        8.  Hawaii and Pacific Islands       ...... o... oo..o.o..o..o .......    62

                        9.  Great Lakes          ...........   ...0 ...... 0.0 ......0 ........   64

                                                                v
<pb n="5" />

                                                                                                       jkl

                                                    CONTENTS (Cont'd)
                                                                                                   Page

                  C.     Sources of Pollution     ....... *s.#  ...........................         67

                         1. Coastal Land-Use Practices o         .....o.............   o..o ...     67

                              a. Habitat Modification      ...       ....... *  ........            67

                              b. Nonpoint Sources       ..............   o.o ................       68

                              c. Facility Siting        .............................     o...      69

                         2.   Marine Waste Disposal                o ........   ooo ....o ......    73

                              a. Sewage Sludge Dumping       .........................    oo..      73

                              b.  Municipal Sewage Outfalls       .... oo  .... o..o.o  .........   75

                              c.  Industrial Waste Disposal .      ...o ......  o.........o...      80

                              d.  Dredge Material Dumping       ............ 0  ..............      82

                              e.  Radioactive Waste Disposal       ........................         85

                              f.  Ocean Incineration             ......................   o...      86

                         3.   Marine Energy    .........................................            87

                              a. Steam Electric Powerplants        ..........   o.o ....o.....o     87

                              b. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion        .........  o .........      92

                              c. Other Energy Technologies        ............  o.... o.o .....     94

                         4.   Marine Mineral Resources ... ....              o...............       96

                              a. Oil and Gas Development                 oo  ....o..........        96

                              b. Deep Seabed Mining       ................   o...............      103

                              c. Sand, Gravel, and Shell Production          .... o.oo  ........   105

                              d. Brine-Producing Activities        ........  o...............      107

                         5.   Marine Transportation ... o    ...................         .....     108

                         6.   Other Sources of Ocean Pollution       ....    oo .........o ......  114

                              a. Recreation     ....................   o..................    o    114

                              b. Living Resources      ........ o ..........       ..........      115

                                                           V.1
<pb n="6" />

                                                  CONTENTS (Cont'd)
                                                                                                 Tage

                         7. Accidental Discharges       ...................................       117

                             a. Risk Analysis      ......................................         117

                             b. Spill Cleanup and Response        .......... 0 ..............     120

                 D.      Impact on Health, Living Resources, and Recreation          .........    129

                 III.    NATIONAL NEEDS    .............................................         III-1

                 A.      Common Needs    .......................

                         1. Monitoring    .... o............  o..........  - .........

                         2.  Measurement Technology ..     ...... 0................   0 .......      7

                         3.  Quality Assurance    .................   o.........

                         4o  Data and Information Dissemination       ..........                   12

                         5.  Summary   .....o ...o... -  .......   ........... o-  .......         18

                 B.      Regional Priorities    ............   *..* ............. 0 ..........
                                                                                                   24

                 C.      Source Priorities    ......     .......                 .............     33

                 APPENDIX A       The Act and the Interagency Committee       .............       A-1

                 APPENDIX B       Summary of Agency Programs      .................   o .......   B-1

                 APPENDIX C       National Ocean Pollution Research and Development

                      and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-273)            ......   C-1

                                                        Vii
<pb n="7" />

                                      WORKING DOCUMENTS

                1. Estes Park Scientific Workshop Proceedings

                2.  Tysons Corner National Needs and Problems Workshop Proceedings

                3.  Reports of the Research &amp; Development, Monitoring, Needs &amp; Problems,

                and Data Subcommittees of the Interagency Committee

                4.  Inventory of Federal Ocean Pollution Research and Development and

                Monitoring Programs

                5. Inventory of Federal Facilities

                                                   viii
<pb n="8" />

                                                                               DRAFT

                              1. OVERVIEW OF THE FIRST FEDERAL PLAN

                        In May 1978 President Carter signed the National Ocean Pollution

                   Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-273)

                   into law. The Act posed a major challenge to the Executive Branch --

                   "to establish a comprehensive 5-year plan for Federal ocean pollution

                   research and development and monitoring programs in order to provide

                   planning for coordination of and dissemination of information with

                   respect to such programs within the Federal Government."

                        This document, and its associated Working Papers, are a major

                   step in responding to that challenge.

                        By identifying the existing Federal effort in ocean pollution

                   research and development and monitoring, recommending directions for

                   future Federal efforts, and establishing goals which should be met

                   during the next five years, this document constitutes a broad plan

                   which can be used.as the basis from which more specific plans can be

                   developed. These specific plans, which will be issued as the biannual

                   supplements, will give detailed, year-by-year goals and objectives for

                   each Federal entity involved in ocean pollution related activities.

                        Congressional action calling for this plan and the Executive

                   Branch work in developing the plan have taken place in an atmosphere

                   charged with developmental, environmental, and economic pressures.

                                                 1-1
<pb n="9" />

                                                                               PRAFT

                   The plan, like the research and development and monitoring efforts

                   which it discusses, does not attempt to resolve the conflicts among

                   these pressures. Rather, it provides information and guidance which

                   may be used by decision-makers as they attempt to resolve these con-

                   flicts by management techniques, regulatory procedures or legislation.

                        This document is a snapshot of the Federal effort to address ocean

                   pollution problems in fisal-year 1978, It is the first attempt to

                   summarize the existing Federal effort and measure that effort against

                   national needs which have been identified by decision-makers, regulators,

                   scientists, and a cross section of public interest groups.

                        However, the document--and the planning effort directed toward

                   establishing a coordinated Federal Ocean Pollution Program--is limited

                   by several problems which will be solved over time. The major limitations

                   involve the inventory of the Federal efforts and the budget process.

                        The Inventory of Federal Ocean Pollution Research and Development

                   and monitoring Programs, which was mandated by P.L. 95-273 and is a

                   major source of information for the analysis reflected in this document,

                   is extensive and surely captures the bulk of the Federal effort. However,

                   it is not complete. Incomplete reporting of efforts resulted from diffi-

                   culties in determining precisely which are "pollution-related." (For

                   example, fishery stock assessments may be used in determining potential

                   impacts of pollution, but are not routinely considered "pollution-related"

                                                 1-2
<pb n="10" />

                                                                              DRAFT

                  studies unless conducted in direct response to an oil spill or other

                  polluting incident.) Difficulties also were encountered in determining

                  which of the estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes efforts should be

                  included and in controlling the level at which efforts were reported.

                  (For example, some'reported efforts are actually individual tasks;

                  others are projects which represent a number of tasks; still others

                  are diversified programs'.)

                       In addition, no attempt was made during this first plan to inventory

                  ocean pollution-related efforts which are funded by the U.S. Congress,

                  by State and Local Governments, and by private institutions, industry

                  or interest groups which do or could provide information to the Federal

                  Government.

                       The budget process followed by the Federal Government posed problems

                  in projecting the inventory into future years.   It was not possible in all

                  cases, in the timeframe available, to determine  specific efforts which

                  may be continued or initiated and dollars which  may be expended in the

                  future. This problem has also been encountered   by the National Climate

                  Program whose experience and methods can provide some guidance, although

                  their task is significantly different from the Federal Ocean Pollution

                  Research and Development and Monitoring Program.

                       In spite of these limitations, the plan has already contributed to

                  the Federal ocean pollution-related effort by beginning a dialogue between

                                                  1-3
<pb n="11" />

                                                                               DRAFT

                   the agencies and Federal employees involved in funding, managing, con-

                   ducting, and using these projects and programs. The value of interagency

                   familiarity with the scope of the Federal effort and of interaction among

                   the various mission agencies cannot be easily quantified. However, it

                   will have a beneficial effect on the work of the agencies. (A detailed

                   description of the procedures which have been followed in implementing

                   P.L. 95-273 is contained in Appendix A.)

                        The remainder of this chapter lists the General Findings which

                   became obvious in studying the material gathered for the plan, the Recom-

                   mendations of the Interagency Committee which has worked to implement

                   P.L. 95-273, and Goals which the Committee has set for the first five-

                   year period.

                        These General Findings, Recommendations, and Goals are based on

                   public comment and materials found in the Working Papers and summarized

                   in Chapters II and III. Chapter II contains a crosscut of the existing

                   Federal effort by pollutant, regional effort, uses which are sources of

                   pollutants, and impact on human health, living resources, and recreation.

                   Chapter III contains a discussion of national needs which have been iden-

                   tified and priority ranked by scientists, interest groups, and Government

                   agencies.

                   General Findings

                        o The Federal ocean pollution-related effort identified to date

                           for purposes of implementation of P.L. 95-273 consists of more

                                                    1-4
<pb n="12" />

                                                                              DRAFT,

                          than one thousand projects at a cost of $155 iaillion in 1978

                          with a projected cost of $160 million in 1980.

                       o More than one-half of the Federal effort is directed toward

                          problems related to petroleum or petroleum development on

                          the Outer Continental Shelf. (Figure    i

                       o  More than three-quarters of the Federal effort is directed

                          toward specific sources of pollutants. The largest of these

                          sources is extraction of minerals (including oil and gas),

                          followed by waste disposal, transportation, and energy genera-

                          tion.   (Figure 2

                       o more than half of the Pederal effort is directed toward

                          projects in Alaska and the Mid-Atlantic. (Figure 3

                       o  The Department of the Interior provides funding for the

                          largest portion of the Federal ocean pollution-related

                          activities. The-next largest funding agency is the Environ-

                          mental Protection Agency, followed by the Department of Commerce,

                          the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy

                          respectively. (Figure    4

                       o  Roughly five-sixths of the Federal effort is spent in research

                          projects, while the rest is directed toward monitoring and

                          technology development. (Figure    5

                                                  1-5
<pb n="13" />

                                              Metals

                                        Synthetic-
                                        organics
                                                                    Petroleum
                                        Other

                         Pathogens
                       Cooling water

                                Nutrients

                            Habitat modification

                                                  Radionuclides

                   FY 1978:

                   Pollutant-specific (as shown)             Approx. $ !107 million
                   Poll utan t-non spec-ific                 Approx. $ 48 million

                   Figure l.-- Current Federal Program for Ocean Pollution Research, Development,
                              and Monitoring analysis by pollutants.
<pb n="14" />

                                                        Minerals

                                                                       Transportation

                                                                             Energy
                                         INot source-specific

                                                                  Was te Disposal

                                        Other sourcres
                                                           Coastal Land use
                                               %)

                                        FY 1978:
                                        Approx. $ 155 million

                       Figure 2.-- Current Federal Program for Ocean  Pollution Research, Development,
                                  and Monitoring analysis by sources  of pollution.

                                                             1-7
<pb n="15" />

                                                                                            DR-

                            Northern Calitonia and
                            F5a_c_ificNorfhwest

                                                        Gulf of Mexic o
                              Southern
                              California                                   Great Lakes

                     South Atlantic and
                     Caribbean Islands

                           Hawaii and                                          Alaska
                           Pa-c@fficlslands

                          North Atlantic

                                                        Middle Atlantic

                     FY 1.978:

                     Region-specific (as show6y                  Approx. $  95 million
                     Region -nonspecific                         Approx. $ 60 million

                     Figure .3.-- Current Federal Program for Ocean Pollution Research, Development,
                                 and Monitoring analysis by regions.

                                                             1-8
<pb n="16" />

                                                                                      DRAFT

                                                 FIGURE 4

                                             Ocean Pollution

                             Research, Development, and Monitoring Programs

                                              for 1978      1980

               Department of the Interior                      $44,932K     $41,884K     $58,431K

               Environmental Protection Agency                  36,481K      28,364K      28,364K

               Department of Commerce                           17,538K      22,765K      24,040K

               Department of Energy                             15,514K      16,804K      15,168K

               National Science Foundation,                     151$534K.    15,006K      13,655K

               Department of Defense                             8,577K        7,066K      6,445K

               Department of Transportation                      8,809K       8,448K       5,991K

               Department of Health, Education, &amp;
                   Welfare                                       4,113K        3,718K      3,583K

               National Aeronautics &amp; Space
                   Administration                                1,750K          531K      1,050K

               Nuclear Regulatory Commission                     1,245K         9 55K         885K

               Department of Agriculture                            152K         154K         140K

                                                              $1549645K    $145,695K    $157,752K

                                                       1-9
<pb n="17" />

                                                                   DRAFT

                                         FIGURE 5

                                 CURRENT FEDERAL PROGRAM
                     EFFORT BY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND MONITORING

                                         FY 1978

                                     RESEARCH

                                                            MOt]ITORING

                                                        DEVELOPMENT

                                              I-10
<pb n="18" />

                                                                                DRAFT

                        * Most of the Federal ocean pollution-related effort responds

                           to specific operational mandates for regulatory control,

                           licensing, resource management, and preservation of health

                           and safety.

                        *  A smaller portion of the Federal ocean pollution-related

                           effort focuses on baseline studies and assessment of conditions

                           for the purposes of environmental impact statements and agency

                           policy formulation.

                        * The smallest portion of the Federal ocean pollution-related

                           effort, primarily that funded by the National Science Founda-

                           tion, is basic research which is not mission oriented but which

                           ultimately contributes to the knowledge necessary to pursue

                           agency missions.

                        *  Highest priority areas for the Federal ocean pollution research

                           and development and monitoring effort are industrial waste dis-

                           posal, land use practices, municipal sewage outfalls, oil and

                           gas development, oil transportation, steam electric power plants,

                           and transportation of hazardous materials.

                        * Medium priority areas for the Federal ocean,pollution research

                           and development and monitoring effort are deep seabed mining,

                           fish and shellfish processing, hatcheries and aquaculture,
<pb n="19" />

                                                                               DRAFT

                           ocean dumping of dredged material, recreation, sand and

                           gravel and shell mining, and sewage sludge dumping.

                        *  Low priority areas for the Federal ocean pollution research

                           and development and monitoring effort are biomass fueled

                           energy systems, brine producing activities, ocean kinetic

                           energy systems, ocean-thermal energy conversion, salinity

                           gradient energy systems, and satellite power energy systems.

                        * Major benefits to the Federal program can result from encour-

                           aging and facilitating linkages and interchanges between existing

                           ocean pollution-related projects.

                        * Ocean pollution-related projects could provide additional informa-

                           tion for use in the decision-making process if more emphasis is

                           placed on integration, analysis, and dissemination of project

                           results.

                        *  The Federal ocean pollution-related effort is largely crisis-

                           oriented. However, a multi-agency plan which identifies on-

                           going work and general goals could result in a Federal program

                           which is focused on national needs while remaining flexible

                           enough to respond to crises situations without being distorted

                           by them.

                                                      1-12
<pb n="20" />

                                                                                DRAFT

                       c, It appears that the critical national needs which are

                          currently identified in relation to ocean pollution can

                          be met within the existing financial framework. Huge new

                          sums of money apparently are not immediately necessary.

                       o  Pollution-related needs appear to be most efficiently

                          and effectively addressed at the regional, rather than

                          national or local, level.

                       o It will take time to develop a review of ocean pollution-

                          related budget items across agency lines; however, such a

                          review could identify ways to make the best use offunding.

                  Recommendations of the Committee

                       Recommendations will be developed by the Int@ragency committee

                  on Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring based on

                  the analysis in this document and comments by reviewers. The Inter-

                  agency Committee recommendations will be printed at this point in the

                  document when a final version is prepared.

                  Goals for 1978 - 1983

                       Based on the analysis,in this document and its associated Working

                  Papers, the general findings, and recommendations of committee members

                  and reviewers, the Interagency Committee will develop an initial set

                  of goals for the first five-year National Ocean Pollution Program.

                                                     1-13
<pb n="21" />

                                                                             DRAFT

                   These goals, and milestones for accomplishing them, will focus on

                   substative research and development and monitoring issues and on

                   ways to improve the interagency planning process. The goals will

                   be printed at this point in the document when a final version is

                   prepared. Goals and milestones for the first plan period are shown

                   in Figure 6-9  which will be expanded in the final version.

                                                1-14
<pb n="22" />

                                                                                    ST-I

                                                                                                             rrl        C) --i

                                                                                                             C-)        m          00
                                                                                -n       I     m      m

                              n             z        I    &gt;       &gt;             z        I     &gt;      &gt;
                                            tv            r-      r-            tj             r-     r-

                                                                                               :It    :;t

                                                                                                                                   co
                                                                                                                                   C:)

                                                                                                                                                        C-1)

                                                                                                                                                 CD     m
                                                                                                                           -Ti                          :-Z

                                                                                                                           &lt;                     C/)
                                                                                                                           m

                                                                                                                           &gt;                     t-j
                                                                                                                           M                     :@c

                                                                                                                           r-                    rri    ---i
                                                                                                                           &gt;                     C/1)   m

                                                                                                                                                 C)

                                                                                                                           m
                                                                                                                           m                     C/)    C--)

                                                                                                                           Cl      00

                                                                                                                                   co
                                                                                                                                   kA

                                                                                                                                   @-4

                                                                                                                                   co

                        ijwmc]
                                  v 0
<pb n="23" />

                                                                     9T-I

                                                                                                              m       co
                                                                                                              Cl

                                                                                             &gt;
                                                                                             t7'

                                                                                       Pd

                                                                                                                      LO

                                                                                          b.

                                                                  z     C:

                                                                  0
                                                                  Pd    m                                             00
                                                                                                                      CD

                                                                                                                                  -n
                                                                                                                CIO

                                                                                                                                  M
                                                                                                                -n                ;:o

                                                 .po                                                            m
                                                 m
                                                 &lt;
                                                                                                                m     ca          CD
                                                                                                                &gt;                 G-)

                                                 &gt;
                                                 z

                                                 Cl
                                                 &gt;                                                              -,o               M
                                                                                                                m
                                                                                                                m

                                                 &gt;
                                                                                                                t=)   00

                                                                                                                      co
                                                                                                                      kA

                                                                                                                      00
                                                                                                                      J=l

                        T7
                         v acl,
<pb n="24" />

                                                            FIGURE 8

                                                  FEDERAL OCEAN POLLUTION
                                         RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING
                                                      BUDGET STATEMENT

            5/78         1/79             1/80             1/81             1/82            1/83           1/84
          ACT                                    IST FIVE-YEAR PLAN PERIOD
           SIGNED

                                                   FY 82
                                                    BUDGET
                                                    STATEMENT

                                                                     Fy 83
                                                                     BUDGET
                                                                     STATEMENT
                                                                                      Fy 84                            NMI
                                                                                      BUDGET
                                                                                      STATEMENT

                                                                                                     FY 85
                                                                                                     BUDGET
                                                                                                     STATEMENT
<pb n="25" />

                                                        FIGUPE 9

                                           FEDERAL PLAN REVISION SCHEDULE

           5/78         1/79            1/80            1/81            1@82           14/83          1./84
          ACT                                  IST FIVE-YEAR PLAN PERIOD-
          SIGNED                 46

                                        REVISE
                                IST    Develop Agency-by-  4
                               PLAN    Agency Goals,
                                       Objectives and
                                       Milestone Statements

        co
                                                                     REVISE

                                                           2ND
                                                          PLAN      Assess Progress,
                                                                    Revise Agency
                                                                    Statements

                                                                                                REVISE

                                                                                          3RD
                                                                                         PLAN
<pb n="26" />

                                                                                T'@

                                  II. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT FEDERAL EFFORT

                   The current Federal program for ocean pollution research, development,

               and monitoring is funded at approximately $155,000,000 in fiscal year 1978

               and will continue at about that level through 1980. A major part of the

               effort in this first plan has been to identify the Federal projects and

               programs that address ocean pollution problems.

                   In identifying ocean pollution problems, it is apparent that the

               various national constituencies have different perspectives on how

               to look at national needs and problems. The scientists tend to look at

               the problems from either a pollutant or environmental systems point of

               view. The public is worried about the region they live in. Industries

               are concerned about pollution regulations on activities in ocean and

               coastal areas. And both the legislative and executive branches of the

               Federal government must deal with laws, regulations, and policies that

               affect sources of pollution.

                   This analyses tries to deal with these three perspectives -- pol-

               lutant, regions, and sources. In addition, there is an important impact

               section that identifies the need for common approach to problems of

               human health, living resources, and recreational resources. These needs

               cut across the Federal program and should be considered for any effective

               Federal Program.
<pb n="27" />

                             A. Pollutants of Concern in the Marine Environment

                   Federal research and monitoring programs can be described in two broad

               categories. These are 1) generic studies which collect baseline data,

               define natural processes, and identify types of information which apply
               to all pollutants, and 2) specific studies which are directed at individual

               classes of pollutants or pollutant problems. The specific studies focus

               on the following major categories of pollutants:

                        * petroleum and petroleum products

                        * synthetic organic chemicals

                        * metals and inorganic chemicals

                        * artificial radionuclides

                        * habitat modification and sedimentation

                        * nutrients and other biostimulants

                        * cooling water

                        * microorganisms and pathogens

                        * chlorination products

                        * other pollutants.

                   All of the Federal agencies involved in the review mandated by P.L.

               95-273 have supported generic studies, which accounted for 39 percent of

               the total Federal program. Specific studies accounted for 61 percent.

                                                   11-2
<pb n="28" />

                                                                                     %.Y A I

                    More than half-of the Federal funding (54%) was spent on research,

                development, and monitoring related to or made necessary by petroleum and

                petroleum products. Approximately 14 percent was spent on studies related

                to or made necessary by synthetic organic chemicals, and 13 percent was

                spent on studies related to or made necessary by metals and inorganic

                chemicals. The remaining funding (19%) was spread among seven categories

                of pollutants and pollutant problems.

                    The need for Federal research and development and monitoring is not

                generally identified by pollutant, but rather by an ocean or coastal use

                which is the source of pollution or by geographic regions which are or

                may be impacted by pollution. For that reason, the following analysis

                discusses only how the existing Federal program addresses these pollutants,

                not what further work may be necessary. The adequacy of these programs

                is discussed in the sections of this report which analyze the Federal

                program by regions and by sources of pollution.

                    An attempt to identify national needs and make recommendations

                related to specific pollutants was made by scientists at the Estes Park

                workshop of July 1978. Their work is contained in Working Paper No. 1.

                                               11-3, 11-4
<pb n="29" />

                                                                                      JA
                                                                              L) A

                1. PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

                    Contamination of the marine environment by petroleum has received

                extensive publicity in recent years. In many instances the dominant

                theme has been the threat of ecological disaster resulting from petroleum

                spills. In certain cases (for example, the recent Amoco Cadiz spill in

                France) some of the worst fears for damage to some marine species and

                associated industries appear to have been realized. In other instances,

                little damage has been detected after fairly substantial introductions of

                petroleum into the marine environment -- at least in the short term. The

                latter spills have not reached coastlines. They were in open ocean

                areas where natural conditions contributed to rapid dilution, evaporation,

                and dispersal.

                    Nevertheless, the continued introduction of large amounts of petroleum

                and petroleum products into the oceans remains a potential problem to the

                viability of marine environments. Generally, concentrations of water-

                soluble fractions of crude petroleum on the order of parts per million

                are needed to kill most marine animals in laboratory studies. However,

                short-term exposure to concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in the

                much lower parts-per-billion range disrupt behavior patterns of certain

                marine animals. Very little is known about long-term effects of petroleum

                exposure on the marine environment.

                                                    -;7 -5
<pb n="30" />

                   Crude petroleum and petroleum products are composed of hundreds of

               different individual components. Some of these components are readily

               measured; others can be quantified only by the most advanced analytical

               chemical techniques; and others cannot at present be measured. Petroleum

               hydrocarbons are metabolized by the enzymes of fish and other marine

               species, so that after exposure to petroleum their tissues contain some

               of the original petroleum components and a variety of metabolites of the

               original petroleum components. Only a few of the metabolites have been

               identified so far, and their effects on marine animals are largely unknown.

               Moreover, spilled petroleum is continually changing chemically ("weather-

               ing") in the ocean, and the effects on the marine biota of these changes

               are in general not known.

                   One third of the total Federal research, development, and monitoring

               program is directly related to studies of petroleum and petroleum products.

               More than $47 million was spent in FY 1978 primarily by the USOI (64%),

               EPA (15%), and the USCG (9%), with NOAA, Navy, HEW, and DOA having programs

               amounting for the other 12 percent. Almost half of the program ($22.7

               million) was devoted to baseline studies funded primarily by BLM with a

               few'small projects by EPA and DOE. Slightly more than 25 percent were

               biological studies, 57 percent physical and chemical studies; the remainder

               were directed toward the study of geological hazards.

                   15 percent of the total program was used to study the effects of oil

               on birds and mammals, fish and benthic organisms, plants and ecosystems

               in general. 10 percent was used to study the behavior and movement of

                                                  7-
                                                     0
<pb n="31" />

                oil including measurement of existing distributions and development of

                dispersion and trajectory models.

                    The USCG, NOAA, EPA, and BLM spent more than $2 million on studies of

                spills of opportunity such as the.Amoco Cadiz.

                    Approximately $5 million (11% of the total program) was spent on

                development activities related to oil and hazardous materials pollution.

                A small amount ($750,000) was used by USGS for development of equipment

                related to safety and inspection of offshore platforms. More than $3

                million was used by the Coast Guard, Navy, and EPA to develop and test

                clean-up and containment systems.for spilled materials and treatment

                systems for oily waste water discharged from vessels; $1 million was used

                to develop sensors and systems for detection and surveillance of oil and

                hazardous materials. Less than 1 percent was directed by Coast Guard and

                EPA to techniques for reducing or preventing spills from damaged vessels.

                    More than 3 percent of the total program was spent by EPA, the Coast

                Guard, and NOAA for the development of chemical and biological methods

                for measuring hydrocarbons and their effects; although BLM plans to

                increase its effort by FY 1980, in FY 1978 $140,000, less than 0.5

                percent, was aimed at quality assurance.

                    Research related to economic impact and cultural and aesthetic aspects

                of OCS activities accounted for less than 1 percent of the overall program

                in 1978; however, these studies are expected to be substantially expanded

                in FY 1979 and 1980.

                                                  7-1
<pb n="32" />

                                                                              DRAF7

                   Of the $47 million accounted for in the category of petroleum and

               petroleum products, approximately 14 percent was related to spill response

               and clean-up activities -- activities which are also aplplicable to other

               hazardous materials. It is estimated that the remainder of the program

               was solely oil related.

               2. SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS

                   In this category are a large number of organic chemicals, pesticides,

               and herbicides, many of which have been developed in only the past few

               decades. Hundreds of different compounds are included; one broad class

               are the aromatic halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT, PCBs, dieldrin).

               These halogenated hydrocarbons have gained wide acceptance as solvents,

               pesticides, heat exchangers, dialectrics, and polymer intermediates; some

               are characterized by a high degree of chemical stability. Characteristitally,

               these compounds are extremely insoluble in water; however, they can be

               transferred to living organisms. Another broad class is the lower

               molecular weight chlorinated hydrocarbons whose bioaccumulation factors

               are 100 to 1,000 times smaller than their heavier aromatic counterparts.

               Many undergo more rapid degradation in the environment. Although toxic

               levels of the lower molecular weight hydrocarbons are much higher than

               known levels in the marine environment, little is known about sublethal

               effects on marine organisms.

                   Another class of synthetic organic chemicals is the organophosphate

               compounds (e.g. Malathion, Parathion, Chlorfeninphos) which is to some

               extent replacing the aromatic organochlorine insecticides. These are
<pb n="33" />

               less persistent in the environment than aromatic organochlorines. They

               act on the nervous system and may be toxic to mammals and aquatic species.

               Because of their degradability, however, they probably cause problems

               in local areas. The same is most likely true of the carbamate compounds,

               another class of insecticides sometimes used in place of DDT.

                   There are in addition several herbicides, including a variety of

               organic mercurial compounds used in agriculture, and metal-containing

               pesticides, that pose varying degrees of potential threats to living

               resources.

                   The scientific literature contains reports of lethal and sublethal

               effects from synthetic organic chemicals on marine and freshwater species.

               The threshold concentrations necessary to cause such effects in marine

               animals vary widely between different species and with different chemicals.

               Sublethal, or chronic, effects of synthetic organic chemicals can be

               either reversible or irreversible, depending on the circumstances of

               exposure, including factors such as the life stage of exposed animals,

               concentration of the pollutant, and duration of exposure. The most

               severe and irreversible effects of synthetic organic chemicals have been

               observed with early life stages (embryos through juvenile) of marine fish

               and invertebrates. Lethal effects of these compounds frequently result

               from disruption of the nervous system. DDT (and especially its breakdown

               product DDE) has been particularly implicated in effects on birds,

               including sea-birds, ranging from various subtle disturbances in behavior

               to egg-shell thinning resulting in reproductive failure. Such effects

               have been implicated in near-total collapses of some bird populations.
<pb n="34" />

                    Restrictions have been imposed on the release of both DDT and PCBs in

                the marine environment; nevertheless, even if future use is eliminated,

                parent compounds and/or derivatives will persist for many years because

                of their chemical stability.

                    Over $12 million was spent in FY 1978 on research related to synthetic

                organic chemicals, pesticides, and hazardous and toxic organic substances,

                other than petroleum, in the marine environment. Over 60 percent of this

                was spent by EPA with NSF, DOT, and NOAA each having programs over $1

                million.

                    About 23 percent of the effort was support of research on the effects

                of synthetic organic chemicals. Approximately 75 percent of this research

                was directed toward ecosystem effects and changes in growth and reproduction

                rates for organisms exposed to these compounds. EPA and NSF supported

                most of the "effects" studies. The other 25 percent of these "effect"

                studies is related to human health and the identification of mutagenic,

                carcinogenic, and teratogenic organics in the marine environment. In

                addition, research is being carried out to determine the pathways of

                organics in the human food chain and direct effects on human health.

                    The DOT and EPA spent approximately 16 percent of the total on research

                to develop methods for cleaning up and detecting hazardous chemical

                spills, and for developing techniques to prevent future spill occurrence.

                    Seven different agencies supported research for determining the

                ecosystem information necessary for evaluating the sources of organics

                and pesticides. These studies include identifying new organics in the

                                                     -10
<pb n="35" />

                marine environment, monitoring present levels, and determining distribution

                patterns. Approximately 3 percent of the total funds were spent in this

                area of research and monitoring.

                    EPA and NOAA have research and monitoring programs for organics in

                the Great Lakes accounting for approximately 6 percent of the total funds.

                These studies cover the spectrum of information needed to understand

                organics in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Additionally, a significant effort

                is being made to understand the movement and effects of PCBs in the marine

                and Great Lakes ecosystems. Six percent of the total synthetic organic

                chemical funds were spent by EPAand NOASA on PCB research with about 75

                percent of this being conducted in the Great Lakes watershed.

                    EPA also has a major research and monitoring effort related to organics

                and pesticides in the Chesapeake Bay accounting for approximately 26

                percent of the total spent on organics. These studies are designed to

                understand the distribution, fate, and effects of pesticides and toxic

                organics in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and to monitor input levels of

                these materials to the Bay.

                    NOAA supports a research and monitoring effort (4% of the total) to

                provide information needed to determine the effects and safety of ocean

                disposal sites for pharmaceutical wastes.

                    The remaining 3 percent of the total for synthetic organic chemicals

                was spent to develop methods for measuring these materials in the marine
<pb n="36" />

                                                                                 R
                environment. Of this 3 percent, approximately half was identified for

                quality assurance and interlaboratory comparison of data and methods.

                3. METALS AND INORGANIC CHEMICALS

                   Inorganic chemicals which are considered to be particularly important

                marine pollutants include metals, acids, alkalis, and cyanides. Although

                the latter three types can be highly toxic in localized areas, their

                effects are quickly netutralized by the ability of seawater to buffer,

                biodegrade, and essentially inactivate them in the environment. Human-

                induced sources of metals and inorganic chemicals include the release of

                industrial and sewer effluents into rivers and oceans, the combustion of

                fossil fuels, and the disposal of wastes in the ocean. Because it is

                often difficult to distinguish between this input and natural geochemical

                fluxes, the impact of metallic wastes on the marine environment is

                difficult to assess.

                    The most toxic metals are considered to be mercury, silver, copper,,

                cadmium, lead, zinc, chromium, tin, and selenium. Several factors may

                influence the toxicity of these metals on a particular marine organism.

                They are (1) the physiochemical form of the metal, (2) the synergistic or

                antagonistic action of other associated compounds, (3) the condition of

                the seawater (salinity, temperature, pH, etc.), and (4) the physiological

                condition of the organism. Much of the information about lethal effects

                of metals on marine animals has been demonstrated in short-term laboratory

                experiments. The basic mechanism for these acute effects is primarily

                interaction of metals with tissue proteins, often resulting in enzyme
                inhibition. Long-term, sublethal effects of some metals have also been

                                                      12
<pb n="37" />

                                                                                         F T
                demonstrated by laboratory experiments; the main effects have been genetic

                deformity.

                    Although high concentrations of metals have been detected in marine

                organisms, these instances were generally quite localized and occurred

                near the point source inputs. In a few isolated cases such as the Minimata

                mercury disaster, metals have found their way to humans through the food

                chain. Few examples have been reported in the scientific literature of

                deleterious effects in free-living marine organisms from high levels of

                metals. However, as with most pollutants, increased contamination by

                metals in the marine environm ent may lead to harmful effects on the biota.

                Some detrimental effects on the marine ecosystem could occur when soluble

                concentrations of metals are about ten times the normal value.

                    Almost $11 million was spent in FY 1978 studying metals and inorganic

                chemical estuarine and ocean ecosystems and the Great Lakes. Most of

                this research effort (92%) was supported by DOE, EPE, NSF, and NOAA.

                Other agencies supporting research on metals and inorganic chemicals were

                NSF, USDI, HEW, DOD, and DOA.

                    Studies on characterization of metals, their distributions, movement,

                exchanges and fate in the physical ecosystem accounts for 34% of the

                effort. These studies were supported by NSF, DOE, NOAA, DOI , and EPA.

                These studies vary from baseline studies needed for understanding the

                behavior of metals and inorganic chemicals in physical systems to studies

                on the distribution of metals in sediment, sediment-water interface, water,

                and the air above the ecosystem. Studies involve over 20 different metals.

                                                       3
<pb n="38" />

                                                           uRA

                    DOE is supporting a major effort on the effects and fate of brine

                disposal from proposed salt dome storage facilities for petroleum reserves.

                These studies while also concerned with brine and temperature effects

                account for 23 percent of the metal efforts in FY 1979; funds to support

                this effort are proposed to triple in FY 1979 and be reduced in the

                following years.

                    Another major effort (19% of the total funding) deals with metals in

                the food chain and their movement and concentration through different

                trophic levels of the ecosystem. These studies involve the effects of

                metals on the growth and reproduction of organisms.and possible effects

                on human health from their consumption.

                    EPA supports a major effort (9% of the total metal funding) on the

                Chesapeake Bay. EPA (8% of the total funds) and NOAA (1% of the total

                funds) support studies on the Great Lakes. These studies on the Chesapeake

                Bay and the Great Lakes are to define the distribution movement, exchange,

                and baseline conditions in these ecosystems so that a better understanding

                can be developed of the effects of additions of metals.

                    Five percent of the total funds were spent to determine the fate and

                effects by metals and inorganic chemicals in waste disposal areas,

                primarily in the New York Bight, in conjunction with the MESA program. A

                small effort (less than 1% of the total effort) was spent directly on

                developing new methods and techniques for determining metals in the marine

                environment and for quality assurance.

                                                       4
<pb n="39" />

                4. ARTIFICIAL RADIONUCLIDES

                    The principal human-iuduced sources of radionuclides are fallout from

                nuclear weapon explosions and releases from nuclear power facilities.

                The physiochemical interactions by which radionuclides are distributed

                in the marine environment are not well understood, especially with respect

                to the transuranics (plutonium, americium, and curium). A'large proportion

                of the transuranics ultimately reach ocean sediments by a process determined

                through environmental factors and biological actions. Although much is known

                about the concentrations of artificial radionuclides in the marine environ-

                ment, it is difficult to assess impacts because so little is known about

                their chemical behavior.

                    Potential toxic effects of artificial radionuclides on marine organisms

                would be expected at both the population and individual organism levels.

                Assessment of effects on populations is hampered by the lack of relevant

                experimental data. Although natural and laboratory populations have been

                exposed to radiation, the dose rates were much in excess of those that
                exist or may be expected to exist in marine ecosystems. Experimentation

                with individual marine organisms has demonstrated that transuranic-derived

                alpha particle radiation causes biological changes with primitive animals

                being more resistant and young fishes being most sensitive. It has been

                postulated that low-level exposure to radiation can cause genetic changes.

                    Even though artificial radionuclides can be toxic to marine plants

                and animals, no deleterious effects on-these biota would be expected
<pb n="40" />

                                                                              CIRAFT

                from cur rent levels of radioactive elements in the marine environment.

                The radiation dose received by humans from worldw ide fallout via food

                from the oceans and from discharges into the sea by power-producing

                reactors is at.present very small. With increasing future uses of atomic

                energy, however, the risk of accidental contamination of the marine

                environment becomes greater. Such contamination could lead to an increase

                in background levels and to point sources of artificial radionuclides

                which might be damaging both to marine biota and to man.

                    In FY 1978 approximately $4.5 million was spent on ocean related

                research, development, and monitoring for radionuclides by DOE, NRC, EPA,

                NSF, and FDA. Approximately 50 percent of the program was supported by

                DOE, and 25 percent by NRC.

                    EPA contributed 11 percent (expected to expand to 22 percent by FY

                1980 due to program transfers from DOE) for study of the fate and effects

                of materials disposed at oceanic radioactive waste dumpsites during the

                past two decades.   FDA spent approximately 3 percent on the national

                shellfish moniitoring program.

                    Most DOE activities were directed toward defining natural ocean

                processes that influence radionuclide distribution (16%), and to

                understanding the behavior and fate of radionuclides derived from both

                fallout and nuclear waste disposal in the ocean and estuaries (18%). NSF

                sponsored an additional 10 percent for basic research directed at

                understanding the behavior and distribution of radionuclides in the ocean.

                Small regional projects (less than $200,000 per year) on deteminin
                radionuclide levels in sediments and concentration rates through tRe food
<pb n="41" />

                                                                                   'f@w.;'

                 chain, are being carried out in the Columbia River  estuary off   the coast

                 of Washington and in the Gulf of Mexico. A slightly greater effort

                 ($300,000) is taking place around Bikini and Eniwetox atolls in the

                 Marshall Islands defining the physical characteristics, circulation, and

                 groundwater geochemistry related to level and distribution of radionuclides.

                     The NRC directed almost all of its efforts toward developing models

                 and studying transport of radionuclides associated with nuclear powerplants.

                 A study on the behavior of radionuclides from nuclear powerplants is

                 planned for FY 1980.

                     Relatively little money from the ocean pollution program has been or

                 is planned to be used to determine the effects of radionuclides on

                 organisms and humans4 Of the total, 4 to 5 percent is being directed

                 toward study of the effect and mechanisms of radionuclide uptake by

                 organisms and on monitoring radionuclide levels in shellfish.

                 5. HABITAT MODIFICATION AND SEDIMENT DEPOSITION

                     Marine habitats may be modified by uncontrolled or polluted sediment

                 deposition. Sediment degrades many marine ecosystems both as a carrier

                 of adsorbed pollutants and in excessive quantities as a pollutant itself.

                 Sediment enters the marine environment as a result of natural land runoff

                 and through disposal operations for dredged materials. In excess, it

                 can modify habitats by physically covering benthic ecosystems and reducing

                 light penetration; as a carrier of other pollutants it can introduce

                                                     7j-
                                                         17
<pb n="42" />

                nutrients and toxic materials which have been adsorbed on the   surface of

                sediment particulates; these in turn modify the habitat. Habitats may

                also be modified by other activities related to indiscriminate removal

                and disposition of sediment such as dredging and deep-sea mining.

                    The COE and NOAA account for 82 percent of the approximately $4

                million spent on pollution research, development, and monitoring activities

                related to habitat modification and sediment deposition in FY 1978.

                Other agencies involved were EPA, FWS, USGS, and Navy.

                    NOAA spent 25 percent of the total in this category in the Deep Ocean

                Mining Environmental Studies (DOMES) Program to determine the possible

                environmental consequences from deep seabed mining. This program

                included studies on the effects of the mining dredge on benthic populations,

                as, well as the effects of the sediment plume discharged on the ocean surface.

                    Approximately 55 percent of the total was spent on dredging and

                dredged material related studfies by the COE, NOAA, EPA, and USGS. Of

                this 55 percent, 17 percent was directed by the COE, EPA, and NOAA toward

                determining the effects of dredged material dumping on benthic organisms,

                on characterizing changes at disposal sites and on stabilization methods

                for disposal sites. 38percent was spent primarily by the COE with

                limited participation by the Navy and USGS, on exploring dredging alterna-

                tives, techniques, and equipment for minimizing dredging and dredging

                effects and beach nourishment. The other 45 percent of the dredging

                total, almost $1 million, was spent by the COE on studies of breakwater

                and channel stability.and development of methods to reduce siltation in

                channels, as well as models to predict sedimentation resulting from

                storms.
<pb n="43" />

                                                                                     77
                                                                                  -V @L

                    Construction and structure placement are additional sources  of

                sedimentation and habitat modification. Approximately 8 percent of the

                total funds was directed toward studies and modeling for predicting the

                effects of structure placement on wetlands and on sedimentation in

                navigational channels, control of sedimentation during construction and

                design of small basins with maximum flushing characteristics. A small

                effort, $67,000, was spent by the EPA on the effects of pipeline burial

                in the Gulf of Mexico, but a considerably larger effort in the Gulf ($1

                million) on this problem is planned by BLM for FY 1979.

                    The remainder of the work in this area consisted of small studies by

                EPA, NOAA, and FWS ($250,000) on wetlands and estuaries in Alaska and the

                impact of logging and other activities on these ecosystems, as well as

                $150,000 on the effect of recrational boating on aquatic vegetation, in
                the Chesapeake Bay, and the effect of water use practices on Great Lakes'

                fish.

                    With the exception of the DOMES projects, which is expected to

                decrease, most efforts are planned to continue at similar levels through

                FY 1980.

                6. NUTRIENTS AND OTHER BIOSTIMULANTS

                    Primary production in the world's oceans can vary by a factor of 100.

                In contrast to freshwater systems where phosphate is the limiting nutrient

                for production of plant life, nitrogen is probably the limiting nutrient
<pb n="44" />

                for plant growth in the sea. Highest primary production rates are  normally

                associated with an abundant and balanced supply of nutrients, ideal

                sunlight conditions, and temperature. Unbalancing the nutrient supply

                can result in quite different effects. There have been few attempts to

                rigorously quantify in the environment effects of nutrient enrichment on

                the quantity and quality of plant and animal life. Attempts have been

                made, however, to correlate laboratory studies on balanced nutrient

                enrichment with field values and predict possible changes. The predictions,

                as expected, range from general enhancement of growth of original plants

                and animals, to grossly altered ecosystems in terms of species selection,

                to complete loss of ecosystem viability.

                    Nutrient enrichment may be either beneficial or extremely detrimental

                to many existing aquatic plants and animals and to marine ecosystems.

                    Ocean related research, development, and monitoring on nutrients

                amounting to almost $3.5 miillion was carried out by EPA, NOAA, DOE, and

                DOI in FY 19788; 23 percent of the effort ($900,000) was carried out in

                the Great Lakes; and 35 percent ($1.4 million) was carried out in the

                Chesapeake Bay by EPA and USGS. Of the $3.1 million spent in marine

                waters, approximately 13 percent was spent by DOE, on studying the

                sources of nutrient rich waters, and their impact on phytoplankton in the

                South Atlantic Bight. This effort is expected to expand modestly through

                FY 1980. EPA funded several projects on the effects of nutrients on

                marine organisms; however, in FY 1978 these amounted to less than 6

                percent of the total spent and are planned to end by FY 1980. NOAA and

                                                   7- -20
<pb n="45" />

                EPA both funded mariculture related research on the relationships between

                nutrients and commercially important fish and shellfish (8%) and on the

                use of marine organisms for waste disposal (12%) (sewage and rum distillery

                wastes). Approximately 8 percent of the marine related work is directed

                by NOAA and EPA toward development of management information -- primarily

                models which include nutrient effects in the Chesapeake Bay, Louisiana

                wetlands, the New York Bight, and Orange Lake in Florida. NOAA spent

                less than 1 percent in developing instrumental techniques for measurement

                of nutrients.

                    Slightly less than $900,000 was spent on nutrient related research in

                the Great Lakes by EPA, NOAA, and DOE. Approximately 90 percent of that

                was directed toward dollecting information leading to development of

                models describing the relationships between nutrients and phytoplankton,

                and algal blooms. The remaining 10 percent was dfrected toward models

                addressing the effects of land-use paractices.

                    Several studies include, to a limited extent, consideration of the

                effects of metals, synthetic organics and/or hydrocarbons on nutrients

                relationships.

                7. COOLING WATER

                    The use of marine waters as cooling water in coastal power and

                industrial plants causes problems resulting in pollution of several forms.

                Cooling water is usually returned at temperatures higher than the receiving

                                                    ,7-21
<pb n="46" />

                water-body temperature. This can cause temperature stresses on   local

                biological communities; synergistic effects may result from the   presence

                of other pollutants such as metals and organics. Temperature effects may

                also attract warmer water species to the area, changing the natural organism

                distribution either beneficially or adversely. Entrainment and impingement

                problems arise from drawing large amounts of marine waters with associated

                biota through cooling water systems. While larger fish and organisms can

                be kept out of cooling systems by covering intake pipes with protective

                screening, some organisms are injured. Those passing through the screening

                (the planktonic species, including fish eggs and larvae) may be totally

                destroyed, thereby impacting local ecosystems.

                    Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) facilities located in the open

                ocean will cause similar problems. In the process of generating energy,

                large volumes of cold, nutrient-rich bottom waters are pumped from great

                depths to the ocean surface, causing thermal pollution as well as

                impingement and entrainment problems in open ocean areas.

                    In FY 1978 approximately $1.4 million was spent on studies related to

                the pollution consequences of using marine waters for industrial and

                powerplant cooling, and OTEC, by DOE, EPA, NRC, NOAA, and FWS.,

                    Almost 50 percent was directed toward evaluating temperature effects

                on fish, plankton, and benthic organisms. Specific studies were carried

                out in the Great Lakes, in the Hudson River and Middle Atlantic regions,

                with several studies less region-specific. One quarter of the temperature

                stress studies concentrated on boring and fouling commuinities.

                                                    _7 i-22
<pb n="47" />

                                                                                      7@

                    8 percent was used for impingement and entrainment studies to evaluate

                the consequences of cycling through cooling water systems for planktonic

                organisms, including fish and shellfish larvae and eggs.

                    The DOE spent approximately 35 percent ($460,000) on OTEC-related

                environmental studies assessing potential sites for future OTEC facilities.

                8. MICROORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS

                    The marine environment contains a wide variety of microorganisms that

                function in a number of important ways. These microorganisms range from

                true marine residents to terrestrial organisms introduced into the ocean

                via sewage, freshwater runoff, or other means. Some microorganisms may

                be potential human pathogens or pathogens of marine aquatic species;

                others function in chemical degradations and transformations.

                    Nonmarine microbial agents and organisms that can cause human disease

                may be present intermittently in the marine environment, but frequently

                do not have long-term survival. Toxins from certain planktonic organisms

                (dinoflagellates) normally found in the marine environment may be

                accumulated in shellfish and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning in man.

                Certain nonmarine bacteria which may be pathogenic to humans may also

                infect and multiply in fish in polluted environments, thus becoming

                vectors for reinfection of humans. A number of diseases of marine species

                are known to be caused by bacteria and other microorganisms introduced

                into the ocean. Some of these microorganisms result in high mortality to

                                                       r 0
<pb n="48" />

                fish, shellfish, and other species which are free living or cultured in

                mariculture projects.

                   Microorganisms are also extremely important to marine ecosystems

                bdcause they assimilate, degrade, and transform a variety of natural

                waste materials to nutrients, a process that is necessary to the

                viability of the ecosystem. In addition to the  1. natural" role in the

                cyclic turnover of all major elements necessary for life, microorganisms

                function in the degradation and transformation of pollutants. This

                latter role also may be necessary in many instances for the continued

                heath of the ecosystem. Microorganisms, therefore, can be pollutants

                themselves or can serve in mitigating other pollutants and their effects.

                    Federal research, development, and monitoring programs directly

                related to pathogens and microorganisms amounted to slightly more than $1

                million. It was spent by NOAA, EPA, and FDA on pathogen-related studies

                and development. More than 36 percent of the $1 million was directed to

                the development of methods for measuring pathogen levels in particulates,

                water, fish and shellfish, as well as developing and improving techniques

                and indices for assessing degree of pollution -- including the use of

                mollusks as indicators. 46 percent of the $ million was used to determine

                the effects of pathogens on fish, shellfish, and humans. Regional studies

                on the effects of pathogens were carried out on fish in Florida and on

                the causes of shellfish and larvae disease in Puget Sound.

                    Studies on human health effects related to swimming in recreational

                waters off Long Island and Lake Pontchartrain in Louisisna are continuing

                with the objective of setting water quantity criteria for public beaches.

                                                   71
                                                   --24
<pb n="49" />

                NOAA is funding a study on the health consequences for divers working  in

                polluted waters in order to developl immunization procedures, and the FDA

                is continuing its shellfish sanitation program to monitor levels of

                pathogens in shellfish collected for human consumption.

                    Approximately 10 percent of the $1 million was directed toward

                determining the behavior and fate of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in

                seawater, including inactivating mechanisms and methods of removal of

                sewage. The remaining 8 percent (approximately $84,000) is used to define

                the levels and distribution of pathogens in shellfish through several

                projects in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, some leading to the identification

                of bacterial indicators as standards.

                9. CHLORINATION PRODUCTS
                      14

                    The use of chlorine and other biocides in various water treatment

                processes causes the formation of many biologically active compounds.

                Chlorine is introduced to drinking water and waste water for disinfection,

                and to cooling waters of electric power-generating plants and other

                industrial facilities to minimize slime and other types of biofouling.

                The clorine interacts with organic materials in seawater to produce

                chlorinated substances, and these can then react with naturally occurring

                bromate ion to produce brominated organic compounds. Among the compounds
<pb n="50" />

                formed are chloroform and bromoform, both of which have carcinogenic and

                mutagenic properties. The use of chlorine is expected to increase in

                the future, and hence it is a cause for continuing concern.

                    Evidence indicates that undesirable impacts on marine organisms are

                associated with these chlorination products. Lethal effects have been

                found, and shellfish which exhibit measurable uptakes of halocarbons

                (such as chloroform and bromoform) provide a potential route to humans

                for these toxic substances. Waste waters with no measurable chlorine

                residuals have caused measurable shifts in the colonization and composi-

                tion of communities of marine algae.

                    Little is known about the reactions of organic materials present

                in waste water to the chlorination process. Additional toxic substances
                                  4

                may result from the treatment process, or pollutants may be eliminated

                by conversion to harmless forms.

                    Approximately $750,000 was spent in FY 1978 on studies of the fate

                and effects of compounds formed when chlorine is added to cooling water

                used in coastal powerplants. 72 percent was funded by NRC, the remainder

                by DOE. Roughly 50 percent was directed toward identification of compounds

                and determination of reaction kinetics for chlorination byproducts; the

                rest was used to investigate toxic effects including pathways and

                bioaccumulation in marine and estuarine organisms. The program effort is

                expected to decrease by 50 percent through FY 1979 and 1980, with emphasis

                on fate studies increasing slightly.

                                                     7 7_26
<pb n="51" />

                10. OTHER POLLUTANTS

                    Two other pollutants.have been identified as possible problems

                litter and explosives. Litter encompasses A variety of insoluble sub-

                stances: plastics and synthetic organic materials, glass, metals, wood,

                petroleum products in the form of tar balls, grease balls, and natural

                organic matter. Litter can be found on beaches, in coastal and open

                ocean waters., in or on bottom sediments, and in marine organisms. Its

                sources include recreational activities on land and at sea, ship dis-

                charges, industrial effluents, and sewage-related additions such as

                storm system overflow and bypass of treatment systems.

                    Although litter has been found in the internal organs of marine

                organisms, there is no clear evidence of morbidity or mortality from its

                ingestion.

                    The accumulation and fouling of beaches by litter is a major aesthetic

                problem. The cost of cleanup is high, and economic losses to beach-

                related industries can reach annual values of tens of millions of dollars.

                Few quantitative studies of the types, fluxes, and persistence of litter

                have been made.

                    One project exclusively related to litter was identified. The Coast

                Guard is developing a solid waste incinerator for use of Coast Guard

                vessels. This project was funded for $91,000 in FY 1978 and $290,000

                for FY 1979.

                                                      7' -27
<pb n="52" />

                   Explosives were also identified as ocean pollutants. Primary concerns

               are related to disposal of waste materials from ordnance manufacturing

               operations and the physical damage resulting from explosive testing in

               marine environments.

                   The U.S. Navy spent approximately $600,000 in FY 1978 on pollution

               research, development, and monitoring related to ordnance and explosives.

               The program is expected to decrease to $439,000 by 1980. In FY 1978

               almost half was spent on evaluating the extent of hazards from explosive

               testing to marine organisms. The remainder was used to develop water

               treatment systems for removal of explosives from process plant waters and

               monitoring systems for explosive plant effluents.
<pb n="53" />

                                                                                    J v!
                                        B. Regional Efforts

                    This section of the analysis considers ocean pollution problems

                and the Federal response from a regional perspective. The regions are:

                        North Atlantic -- Canada-Maine Border(Northeast Channel) to Rhode
                            Island

                        Middle Atlantic   Long Island to Cape Hatteras, N.C.

                        South Atlantic    Cape Hatteras to Key West, Fla., including Puerto
                           Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

                        Gulf of Mexico -- Key West to Texas-Mexico Border

                        Pacific Southwest   Mexico Border to Point Conception, Calif.

                        Pacific Northwest   Point Conceptioin to Washington-Canada Border

                        Great Lakes -- Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior, and the
                            Saint Lawrence River.

                        Alaska -- Gulf of Alaska, Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

                        Hawaii and Pacific Islands

                   This division enabled development of a statement of regional needs

                recognizing such differences as the Middle Atlantic waste disposal problem,

                Gulf of Mexico and Alaska oil and gas development, and the jutrophication

                and PCB problems of the Great Lakes. The Federal response is also focused

                regionally in many cases. However, that focus is usually informal and ad

                hoc. A stronger regional emphasis is one approach which may increase the

                utility of the program in future years.

                                                   T7-PQ
<pb n="54" />

                                                                                        .7
                                                                              14,
               1. NORTH ATLANTIC REGION

               a. Introduction -- The Setting

                   The North Atlantic region, from the U.S.-Canada border to Connecticut,

               is noted for its recreational importance. It has a scenic rocky coastline

               in the north and wide sandy beaches along Cape Cod. The area is charac-

               terized by narrow, deep, and open inlets, cool fertile waters, and high

               tidal ranges. The coastal circulation is dominated locally by heavy

               spring runoff, but natural erosion and sedimentation are not severe

               problems. Due to  early historic development and dependence upon marine

               resources, the North Atlantic region contains a high concentration of

               Federal and academic marine research facilities.

                   The area sustains important commercial fisheries for lobsters, clams,

               and scallops, and the especially productive fisheries of Georges Bank

               -- cod, haddock, herring, and flounder. Most of these fisheries are not

               heavily dependent on the estuaries. However, two formerly important

               fishery species (Atlantic salmon and sturgeon) are estuarine-dependent

               and are now rare or endangered.

                   Pollution is at present confined primarily to relatively small areas,

               with estuarine modification being the most pronounced problem, particularly

               in the Boston, Mass., Providence, R.I., and Portsmouth, N. H. areas.

               The well-developed ocean circulation and strong tidal currents provide

               a tremendous flushing capacity to this region and tend to mitigate the

                                                   11-30
<pb n="55" />

                                                                                  11. UAJ7-4@11 F 7
                                                                              I LU ud
              effects of pollution. Local concerns are expressed over present effects
              of lumbering, municipal waste disposal, and wastes from fish processing
              operations; and the possible effects that oil and gas development will
              have on fisheries, recreational quality, and air and water quality.

              b. Regional Needs

                  1. Georges Bank Oil and Gas Exploration. Assessment and monitoring

              of the probable effects of impending oil and gas exploration and possible

              development on Georges Bank on the local ecosystems and highly productive

              fisheries.

                  2. Spill Damage Assessment. Damage assessment of probable oil and

              hazardous materials spills to determine the need for protection of high
              value recreational areas and rare and endangered species habitats.
                     .1

                  3. Powerplant and Oil Refinery Sitings. Assessment, including
              surveys, research on effects, and conceptual and numerical models, of
              proposed coastal powerplants and oil refinery sitings.

                  4. Waste Disposal. Assessment of environmental impacts of waste
              disposal near major coastal urban centers.

              c. Present Activities

                  The total Federal ocean pollution research and development and
              monitoring effort in the Northeast Atlantic coastal region for FY 1978

                                               11-31
<pb n="56" />

                                                                                         701f

              was approximately $4.86 million. The bulk of this effort, $3.77 million

              (77%), was directed toward assessing possible effects of impending offshore

              petroleum development in the Georges Bank area. A total of $0.8 million

              (16%) was spent on the environmental impacts of urban waste disposal.

              Research on spilled oil received $0.2 million (4%). Research on coastal

              powerplant effluents was funded at $0.07 million (1%).

                 Most of the DOI/BLM effort, $3.48 million (71.6%), was directed to

              offshore petroleum.development; DOINSGS and DOI/FWS each funded approxi-

              mately $0.05 million for research on urban waste pollution problems;

              EPA funding, in the amount of $0.6 million (12%), supported studies related

              to offshore petroleum development for 0.2 mllion, research on powerplants

              for $0.04 mllion, spilled-oil activities for $0.2 million, and urban

              waste disposal activities for $0.15 million; NOAA funding, in the amount

              of $0.48 million (10%), was basically directed toward urban waste effects

              ($0.44 million) and one Sea Grant study of coastal powerplant wastes

              ($0.03 million) -- the Ocean Power Program, a long-term research and moni-

              toring study, is planned to begin in 1979; DOE funded a total of $0.2

              million (4%), of which $0.125 million was for trace metal cycling in

              sediments and $0.067 million was related to offshore petroleum development.

              d. Analysis

                  The major concern in the northeast Atlantic coastal area is the poss-

              ible reduction of fishery resources and recreational amenities by offshore

              petroleum development. Potential environmental impacts and geological

                                                   11-32
<pb n="57" />

                                                                                r--?     @-
                                                                                  N

                hazards have been under evaluation for several years in areas where oil
                and gas lease sales are expected. The present Federal program appears
                to respond to this need adequately. Future efforts should be reevaluated,
                and if the likelihood of petroleum production in the area decreases, so
                should this program emphasis.

                    Damage assessment programs for possible oil spills are inadequate.
                If petroleum production becomes-a reality, this deficiency should be

                corrected.

                    Waste-disposal-related efforts appear to be rather small and do not
                address urban centers equally. State efforts should be assessed,
                and the Federal program should be redirected in accordance with demon7

                st rated local need.

                    While Federal agencies are concerned with the pollution threat imposed
                by powerplant effluents, most of this environmental work is carried out
                by the utility companies. The basis upon which to assess Federal efforts
                to overview the adequacy of these studies is not included in the inventory
                of programs associated with this Plan.

                2. MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION

                a. Introduction.- The Setting.

                    The region from Long Island to Cape Hatteras has been heavily
                impacted by the dense population and industrialization of the coast
                from Washington to New York. Its major estuaries -- New York Harbor/Raritan
                Bay, Delaware Bay, and Chesapeake Bay -- have undergone a considerable
                degradation.

                                                 11-33
<pb n="58" />

                                                                                 OR-A

                   Despite its myriad pollution impacts (municipal waste discharge,

               toxic waste disposal, dumping of sewage sludge, massive urbanization,

               coastal modification, etc.) the area still supports active outdoor .

               recreational activities along its scenic coastal beaches, outer banks,

               inner marshes, and estuaries. Chesapeake Bay, one of the world's largest

               estuaries, is particularly noted for recreational attractions. It provides

               wintering grounds for great flocks of ducks, geese, and whistling swans.

               The Bay also sustains two of the most important commercial fisheries of

               the region -- oyster and blue crab, the latter being the largest of its kind

               in the world. However, productivity of the Bay is endangered by the

               increased runoff, sedimentation, erosion, waste disposal, dredging, and

               transportation-related pollution.

                   In the New York Bight area, the adverse effects of human activities

               reached such a degree that they sparked vocal public concern over the

               potential hazards and degradation of the environment. Events such as the

               fish kill of 1976 (caused by bottorr-water anoxia), and the closing of

               Long Island beaches (because of washup of sewage wastes including grease

               and tarballs), have increased the public's awareness and demands for

               action.

                   The long-term effects  of polluting activities on the estuaries of

               this region, particularly  the New York Bight, are not at all understood.

               Perceptible changes, such  as the tainting of seafood organisms and higher

               incidence of fish and shellfish disease, are indicators of the deleterious

               effects of toxic metals, PCBs, and other polluting substances.

                                                     11-34
<pb n="59" />

                    OCS oil and gas exploration activities are being conducted in the area,
                and there is concern for their potential impacts.

                b. Regional Needs

                        1. New York Bight Area. One of the most pressing needs is the
                requirement for sound comprehensive information upon which to base future
                environmental, resource, and waste-managment decisions in the New York
                Bight area. This should include scientific, economic, and social information.
                The generation of realistic but effective environmental recommendations
                concerning ocean outfalls, ocean dumping, and dredging are imperative,
                if the degradation of the environmental quality of the estuary and the
                adjacent waters is to be halted. A comprehensive, coordinated scientific
                program is needed to insure proper direction of the needed efforts.

                        2. Chesapeake Bay Assessment. A comprehensive assessment of
                Chesapeake Bay is.needed in order to determine the long-term viability
                and sustenance of this system. Research and monitoring on the effects
                of agricultural and urban runoff, sedimentation, nutrients, and sewage
                on the estuary's biota, particularly through its aquatic vegetation, is
                needed in order to protect this important natural habitat and/or derive
                optimal socioeconomic benefits from its resources.

                                               11-35
<pb n="60" />

                                                                                                Ali*

                        3. Environmental Monitoring. This coastal region, particularly
                around the New York Bight and Chesapeake Bay, has undergone substantial
                environmental degradation. A system for monitoring not only the water
                quality but the long-term fate and effects of pollution is an immediate

                need.

                        4. OCS Oil and Gas Development. The impact of outer continental
                shelf oil and gas development must be determined. A thorough assessment
                of all related activities affecting the area must be made so that appropri    ate
                protective or prohibitive measures can be developed. This should include
                surveys, research, monitoring, and modeling of the offshore and coastal

                systems.

                        5. Evaluation of Past Long Island Sound Studies. An evaluation

                of past studies in Long Island Sound should be considered to determine
                long-term trends (50 years) of the impact of human activities on this
                body of water. High priority should be given to evaluating the extent
                towhich sewage and other materials can be disposed in open water and the
                consequences of these actions on the living resources.

                        6. Assessment of Fish and Shellfish Stocks. A continued assess-

                ment and monitoring of the fish and shellfish stocks of the area must be
                made to protect the public from contaminated seafood.

                c. Present Activities

                    The Federally funded marine pollution research, development, and
                monitoring activities in the Middle Atlantic coastal region are at a
                level of $18.869 million. From these funds the area centered around       the
                New York Bight received $5.545 million (29%), the Chesapeake Bay received

                                                  11-36
<pb n="61" />

                $5.791 million (31%), the efforts related to the outer continental shelf

                oil and gas development were funded,at $4.5 million (24%); the comprehensive

                monitoring of water quality and the long-term effects of pollution has

                not been initiated, and the Long Island Sound related pollution efforts

                received only $0.03 million (0.1%). The monitoring of shellfish harvesting

                areas received $2.0 million (11%).

                    DOI/BLM funded the offshore oil and gas development related efforts

                at $4.5 million (24%), DOINSGS funded ecological studies in the New York

                Bight region at $0.59 million (3%); DOC/NOAA funded ecological and other

                pollution related studies in the New York Bight region, including ocean

                dumping studies, at $4.7 million (25%), in the Chesapeake Bay region at

                $0.12 million (0.6%), and in Long Island Sound at $0.03 million (0.1% --

                Sea Grant); EPA funded the bulk of the Chesapeake Bay studies at $5.35

                million (28%), and funded investigations related to ocean dumping at the

                level of $1.5 million ( %? ); HEW funded the shellfish safety monitoring

                program at $2.0 million (11%); DOE funded offshore oil and gas development

                related studies in the area at $0.6 million (3.2%); DOT/CG contributed

                to monitoring efforts at 0.25.million (1.3%); NASA funded monitoring

                related efforts at $0.3 million (1.6%); and NRC funded nuclear powerplant

                effluent related studies at $0.1 million (0.5%).

                d. Analysis

                    The review of the current Federal programs in the Middle Atlantic

                region indicates that the funds for the three major needs -- studies

                                                     11-37
<pb n="62" />

                related to New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, and OCS oil and gas development

                  are nearly equally distributed and seem adequate for these areas.

                The major gap is the lack of a monitoring program that would look at not

                only those three areas, but would extend to cover the entire region as

                well. Additional studies on the potential environmental impacts and

                geological hazards may be needed for future lease sales. A review of

                existing State programs will be necessary to assess the level of Federal

                agency involvement in Delaware Bay and Long Island Sound. The current

                program does not take advantage of the numerous studies that have been

                carried out in the past in Long Island Sound.

                3. SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

                a. Introduction -- The Setting

                    The South Atlantic Region, from Cape Hatteras, N.C., to Key West,

                Fla., and including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, is undergoing

                increased coastal development and land use. This region contains an

                ecological range from temperate to subtropical environments. The massive

                estuarine system defined by the barrier islands and marshes sustains the

                important commercial fisheries of menhaden and shrimp. The major concern

                relating to the mainland is the potential loss of estuarine habitat to

                coastal development. Affecting the islands, there is concern about the

                need to use the ocean for waste disposal and the potential consequences

                of sand and gravel mining.

                                                     11-38
<pb n="63" />

                                                                                       ?A

                   Acting on the estuaries are the destructive forces brought about by
               increased population pressure -- dredging, filling, channelization, and
               spoiling. These can occur as navigation is improved, as commercial or
               residential land is developed, and as refuse is disposed. All cause
               virtually total destruction of marsh habitat, as the marsh is-filled with
               silt or sand or refuse to an elevation at which it no longer can survive.
               Thus, the effects of spoiling in the estuarine environment can best be
               assssed in terms of direct physical loss of habitat.

                   Another major stress on the estuarine systems is the nonpoint-source
               pollution of agricultural runoff. This and pollution from industrial
               outfalls and soil erosion pose threats to the environmental quality of

               the area.

                   There are few studies available on the specific effects of stresses
               on a salt marsh system. Although it might be possible to synthesize a

               model from available data to describe the effects of certain stresses on

               the system, the goal is still far removed.

                   OCS oil and gas exploration has just begun in the area and may expand,
               causing additional stresses on the coastal environment.

               b. Regional Needs

                   1. Estaurine Ecosystems. An understanding of estuarine ecosystems,
               and their links with oceanic fishes through a comprehensive research
               program including laboratory and field studies and modeling, in order
               to determine to what extent habitat can be stressed destroyed before
               altering the balance within the ecosystem. Focusing on several selected
               habitats would be most cost effective for such a large area.

                                                11-39
<pb n="64" />

                                                                                       A
                                                                                     N-4   J.

                   2. Nonpoint Sources of Pollution. Comprehensive studies, along the
               same approach as item 1, to determine the fates and effects of nonpoint-source
               inputs in selected estuarine systems such as those around Savannah, Ga.,
               and Charleston, S.C., and within the barrier island system.

                   3. OCS Oil and Gas Development. The potential impact of OCS oil
               and gas development should be evaluated. A thorough assessment at all
               related activities impacting the area must be accomplished in order that
               appropriate prohibitive or protective measures can be developed. Particular

               concern should be demonstrated for the effects of OCS activities on

               estaurine dependent fisheries and offshore shellfish beds.

                   4. Oil Spills and Discharges off Southern Florida. Selected impact
               and recovery studies of oil spills and operational discharges on coral
               reefs., mangrove habitats, and recreational resources off southern Florida

               should be undertaken.

                   5. Sand Dredging Near St. Thomas, USVI. Assess the environmental
               implications of offshore sand dredging near St. Thomas and determine the
               effect this may have on the near-shore biota.

                   6. Pharmaceutical Waste Dumping Near Puerto Rico. Determine the
               fate and effects of the dumping of pharmaceutical wastes at oceanic
               disposal sites near Puerto Rico.

                                                  11-40
<pb n="65" />

                                                                                             W

                    7. Habitat Preservation of Endangered Species. There is a particular
                need to perform a comprehensive study of the degree of habitat preservation
                (through designation of refuge areas, limited access areas, etc.) required
                for the propagation of endangered marine species. Emphasis should be
                given to ocean turtles and manatees as two species particularly suffering
                from coastal development.

                c. Present Activities

                    Marine-pollution-related activities identified as specific to the
                U.S. Southeast Atlantic region, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands are
                funded at $6,330 million. Of this total, approximately 41% ($2,581
                million) is devoted to OCS oil and gas development, and approximately 30%
                ($1,850 million) to concerns about estuarine modification and habitat
                protection -- fate (11%) and effects (6%) of nonpoint pollutants (11%), oil
                spills (4%), and disposal of pharmaceutical wastes in Puerto Rico (9%).

                    Present activities also include projects devoted to safety of seafood
                ($239,000) and powerplant sites in the coastal zone ($1,663,000) by DOE.
                This sum is approximately 29% of the expenditures in the region.

                d. Conclusions -- Analysis

                    At present, no program addresses the problems of sand and gravel
                mining in the Virgin Islands. The level of effort indicated as going
                toward estuarine habitat and ecosystem modification ($676,000) may not be
                indicative of the problems in that area. Some research activities in
                this area may be supported by local funding sources and thus may not be
                reflected in the Federal inventory.

                                                 11-41
<pb n="66" />

               4. GULF OF MEXICO REGION

               a. Introduction -- The Setting

                   The Gulf of Mexico has many important natural resources. These

               include the diverse environments where water and land meet. They provide

               habitats for fish and wildlife and present a unique setting for recreational

               pursuits. The extensive shoreline of barrier islands, beaches, estuarine

               bays and sounds, and tidal marshes support numerous water-related outdoor

               leisure activities. The diversity of bird life includes such rare or

               endangered species as the whooping crane, southern bald eagle, greater

               sandhill crane, and Cape Sable sparrow exists.

                   The dominant feature of the Northern Gulf is the Mississippi River

               Delta with its vast area, great river channel and flow, intricate network"

               of lesser channels and bayous, and numerous lakes, bays, marshes, estuaries,

               and islands. Notable also are  Tampa, Mobile, and Galveston Bays; the

               elongate complex of bays, marshes, and islands of the western Texas coast;

               and the estuaries and barrier islands of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,

               and Texas.

                   Most of the coastal zone land has been developed for agriculture, wood-

               land timber, urban, industrial, residential, recreational, transportational,

               wetlands, bays, and estuary uses. The population growth rate along the

               Gulf coast is greater than the U.S. average, particularly along the East

               Texas coast (Houston metropolitan area) and the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

                                                    11-42
<pb n="67" />

                    An important natural resource of commercialvalue is the fisheries

                industry. In 1976 the Gulf States offshore fishery accounted for 33 percent

                by weight and 29 percent by value of total U.S. fisheries. On a worldwide

                basis, the fisheries yield in tons of the Gulf, particularly the northern

                area, is second only to that off the Peruvian-coast. The, most productive

                fisheries region of the Northern Gulf is around the Mississippi Delta.

                Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the Gulf fisheries catch is taken on

                the eastern side. The Gulf fishery is dominated by shellfish (shrimp,

                crabs, and oysters and smaller catches of clams and scallops), which

               .generally are worth three or four times more than the much greater volume

                .of finfish (menhaden, mullet, snapper, and others). The total commercial

                fisheries catch of the Gulf States is dominated (97.5%) by estuarine-

                dependent species (fish or shellfish that spena all or part of their

                lives in estuaries).

                    As of March 1977, 7.8 million acres of coastal and offshore area were

                held under active lease for petroleum production. of this acreage, 42

                percent is now producing, mostly in offshore Louisiana and Texas. As of

                February, 1979 there were more than 16,000 exploration and development

                wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico OCS. More lease sales are expected.

                    The Gulf is the site of numerous nearshore and deepwater (400 fathoms)

                dumpsites for disposal of dredged material and explosives, and has been

                the site for toxic chemical and industrial wastes disposal. The Gulf

                also was the location of the experimental shipboard incineration of

                organochlorine and other toxic chemical wastes. Consideration is being

                given to using an offshore rig as a hazardous material incineration site.

                                                      11-43
<pb n="68" />

                                                                                     .,ALW4

                The diversity and extent of uses of the Gulf have placed heavy demands on
                the region's resources.

                    The most significant source of pollution is that carried into the
                Gulf by the Mississippi River. Drainage from more than 5.5 million km 2
                or 41 percent of continental U.S. land is into the Gulf. There are high
                levels of organic pollutants in sediment of the Mississippi Delta area.
                The impact of this pollution on the marine resources of the Gulf is little
                understood. Until recently, it was ove@looked.

                b. Reg_ional Needs

                    1. Nonpoint Source Pollutants from the Mississippi River. A scientific
                program is needed to determine the effects of the nonpoint-source pollutants
                carried by the Mississippi River into the Northern Gulf. The Gulf waters,
                sediments, and biota are assimilating large quantities of toxicants. Their

                fates and effects need to be identified.

                    2. Long-Term Effects of Petroleum Development. A post assessment
                program is needed to determine the long-term -- more than 25 years --
                effects of petroleum development on living resources, and on the offshore
                and nearshore environments. Thorough chemical, biochemical, and geological
                analyses of the significant constituents of the biota, water, and sediments
                are needed for historical ecological comparisons. They should prove
                useful in ongoing assessments.

                    3. Louisiana Wetland and Estaurine Assessment. A comprehensive

                assessment is needed on the ef fects of wetland and estuarine modification

                along the coast of Louisiana. Information is needed on the cumulative
                effects of channeling, dredging, filling, and spoiling in the massive
                wetlands areas. The extent to which physical alteration can continue
                before productivity of the ecosystem is permanently lost must be evaluated.

                                              TI-44
<pb n="69" />

                                                                               4
                                                                                         &amp;

                    4. Petrochemical Industrialization on Galveston Bay and Texas Coast.
                The long-term effects of increasing petrochemical industrialization on
                Galveston Bay and the Texas coast are not well understood. A focus of
                field and laboratory research and monitoring for long-term assessment is
                needed to protect the aquatic environment and public health.

                    5. Development in West Florida Coastal Embayments. A comprehensive
                study is needed to determine the long-range effects of increasing coastal
                development on the West Florida coastal embayments. To what extent can
                an area, such as Tampa Bay, assimilate the impacts of urbanization and

                industrialization?

                    6. Disposal of Brine from Salt Dome Storage Sites. There is a need
                to monitor and study the dispersion of brine disposal from salt dome
                storage sites for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

                    7. Drilling Mud Discharges on the Flower Garden Banks. The monitoring
                and assessing of effects from drill-mud discharges and other OCS-related

                activities on the Flower Garden Banks should be undertaken. The Banks

                are a unique recreational and marine wildlife habitat in the offshore
                Gulf waters and are being considered for designation as a marine sanctuary.

                c. Existing Programs

                    Research and monitoring programs and projects dealing specially with
                coastal and offshore Gulf of Mexico received,over $11 million in Federal

                                                 11-45
<pb n="70" />

                                                                              11,J11MAFT

               funds in FY 1978. Oil and gas development and production has  been a

               major coastal and offshore activity for many years. Funds related to

               this activity were nearly $6 million, or one-half the total for the

               region. In addition to this Federal interest, significant efforts also

               were directed to offshore brine disposal for Strategic Petroleum Reserves

               (SPR), $2.5 million, and problems of wetland alteration and use,

               approximately $1 million.

                   The study of pollution related to oil and gas operations is supported

               for the most part by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and EPA. Both

               agencies are funding studies on the assessment of long-existing oil fields

               off Louisiana and Texas, respectively. Total funding for these efforts

               is approximately $2.5 million. Projects studying effects of drilling

               muds on biota, and conducting reconnaissance and monitoring of unique and

               sensitive environments (e.g., the Flower Garden Banks) amount to over $2

               million. Three other ongoing environmental surveys funded by DOI/BLM

               total nearly $1 million.

                   The Department of Energy is funding $2.5 million in studies dealing

               with research and monitoring of the effects of offshore disposal of brine

               from onshore salt domes. Brine disposal and OCS oil and gas activities

               are the principal Federal programs in the Gulf.

                   The problems of wetland and estuarine alteration are being studied by

               the Army Corps of Engineers. Several individual projects are funded

                                                    11-46
<pb n="71" />

               through NOAA Sea Grant. Of the combined Federal effort (over $1 million)

               in this area, approximately $400,000 is for development of an information

               base (DOI/FWS).

                  .Problems related to ocean dumping of municipal and industrial wastes

               in the Gulf of Mexico received nearly $400,000 through NOAA projects.

                   Several projects are addressing the distribution and effects of

               pesticides and trace metals along the coast and in the estuaries. Also,

               fishery products are being monitored for contaminants. The total funding

               for these studies is less than $1 million throug h several Federal agencies.

                   Problems associated with the coastal development of West Florida and

               pollution of Galveston Bay have identified funding- of approximately

               $200,000 and $100,000, respectively.

               d. Analysis

                       In terms of level of funding, the above listed needs receiving

               the greate st and most concerted effort for the Gulf of Mexico are:

               Need #2, postassessment of petroleum development, Need #6, research and

               monitoring of salt brine disposal, and Need #8, effects of drilling muds,

               particularly with respect to Flower Garden Banks. The adequacy of these

               efforts must be judged in the future. Coordination between programs is

               essential now.

                   The Mississippi River outflow presents many problems that require-

               study (Need #1). In FY 1978 no major program was addressing the capacity

               of the Gulf of Mexico system to handle the pollutants carried by the

               river. Several individual projects addressed the various pollutant

                                                     11-47
<pb n="72" />

                                                                               R A-I'm"T

               component.s found in the Mississippi, or in neighboring estuaries, but

               these are considered inadequate to assess synergistic and cumulative

               effects.

                   Projects assessing wetland modification (Need #3) are inadequate in

               scope or magnitude to define the problems arising from pressures and

               stresses on this system. A concerted, coordinated effort is needed. The

               evaluation is impaired by lack of information on State-supported programs.

                   Galveston Bay (Need #4) is the site of considerable industrial and

               municipal impact. The level of funding devoted to these problems was

               insignificant in FY 1978. Efforts devoted to development of West Florida

               coastal areas (Need #5) also appear to be insignificant.

                   Ocean dumping activities in the Gulf are declining; however, projects

               are funded on the fates and effects of pollutants. The results will have

               general application to similar pollutant problems, but continuation of

               this effort is not needed for the Gulf.

               5. PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION

               a. Introduction -- The Setting

                   The Pacific Southwest Region (Mexico/California border to Point Conception,

               Calif.) is characterized by a narrow continental shelf and a continental

               borderland off southern California. Because of the narrow continental

                                                    11-48
<pb n="73" />

                                                                                    A2

                shelf, periodic upwelling of deep water close inshore    as winds force
                the California Current offshore    brings cool, fertile water near the
                coast for several months of the year. The coastline has a typical beach
                .and bluff configuration and only a few shallow embayments.

                    Southern California is densely populated and supports areas of
                concentrated industrial development. Recreation, shipping (particularly
                petroleum transportation), oil and gas development, and municipal and.
                industrial waste disposal are intense in this region. Commercial and
                sport fisheries, bird and mammal migration routes, kelp beds, and recreation
                areas are the major resources at risk.

                    There is a high level of ecological awareness and environmental
                concern in the Pacific Region. This concern is reflected by extensive
                State and local programs, which are designed to provide the best balance
                between-commercial development and the preservation and enhancement of
                environmental quality.

                    Current oil and gas exploration and development activities in the
                area result from anticipated lease sales.

                b. Regional Needs

                    1. Petroleum and Mineral Development. Assess the impacts of pollutants
                associated with petroleum development. Pollutants associated with energy,
                and mineral development, transport, and use, will increase in importance
                and warrant close scrutiny. Southern California is being considered as
                a port of entry of Alaska oil, LNG, and new offshore oil drilling operations.

                                                11-49
<pb n="74" />

                                                                              T
                                                                              U,J
                                                                              @T' IR A 1 F 7

                   2. Nonpoint Source Impacts. Determine the effects of nonpoint-source
               pollutants on coastal ecosystems and evaluate the contributions from agri-
               cultural chemicals, runoff, aerial fallout, and vessel wastes.

                   3. Point Source Ocean Outfalls. Continue investigation of the ecolo-
               gical implications of waste disposal at point-source ocean outfalls in
               southern California and nonpoint sources (atmospheric fallout, runoff)
               along the southern California coastal zone.

                   4. Impacts of Geohazards on OCS Petroleum Development. Examine the
               potential impacts of geohazards on OCS petroleum development.

                   5. Impacts of OCS Petroleum Development on Critical Habitats. Assess
               the potential impacts of OCS petroleum development on offshore critical
               habitats, particularly the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Channel, and
               Tanner/Cortes Bank areas.

               c. Present Activities

                   Existing programs address the impacts of OCS oil and gas development
               on offshore critical habitats, the impacts of pollution associated with
               energy development, and the impacts of transshipment activities on the

               southern California environment.

                                                 11-50
<pb n="75" />

                     The total expenditure for the region is $1.2 million.  Of the total,

                 nearly 60 percent ($666,000) is being.spent on addressing and evaluating

                 the potential pollutant impacts of O@S petroleum development on offshore

                 critical habitats, particularly the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Channel,

                 and Tanner/Cortes Bank area. The Environmental Protection Agency is

                 funding a project (at a level of $200,000) to establish a complete environ-

                 mental data base for the Santa Barbara oil-lease area and the effects

                 oil extraction and transport will have on coastal ecosystems. Another

                 significant effort addressing-this need is a DOI/BLM-sponsored project

                 (funded at $546,000), which will provide a biological characterization

                 and geological reconnaissance survey of the Southern California Bight

                 areas of current and proposed oil and gas leases.

                     Another study addresses erosion, and transport of sediments and

                 pollutants, on the San Petro shelf-off southern California. This project

                 is funded at $224,000, approximately 30 percent of the expenditure for

                 the region. It specifically addresses Need #1 -- the potential impact of

                 new OCS drilling operations on the nearshore environment.

                     Other activities in the region (&lt;10%) address the nonpoint-sources of

                 pollutants and geohazards associated with OCS drilling and pipelines.

                 One activity, funded at $33,000, addresses the effects of thermal effluents

                 on the biota. This was not identified as a regional concern.

                                                     11-51
<pb n="76" />

                                                                                4-4      :1-A a___r*

                                                   0
               d. Analysis    Conclusions

                   The regional needs expressed by concern about the effects of nonpoint-
               source pollutants on coastal ecosystems, and problems associated with the
               ecological implications of pollutants at point-source outfalls off
               San Diego, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara, may not be given proper

               support. Although considerable work has been done in the past to assess
               the potential impacts of transshipping Alaska crude oil to west coast
               ports, this work should be coordinated in an overall assessment.

                   It is recognized that the Southern California Coastal Water Research
               Project (SCCWRP), located in Los Angeles, has been performing comprehensive
               studies of the environmental impacts of marine waste disposal in the Southern
               California Bight for several years.

                                                 11-52
<pb n="77" />

                                                                                   u    0
                                                                                       A
                6. PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION

                a. Introduction -- The Setting

                    The Pacific Northwest Region, Point Conception, Calif.,to Washington/

                Canada border, has a continental shelf and coastal configuration similar

                to the Pacific Southwest. Its ocean water temperatures are lower, and

                movement of the California Current away from the coast is less pronounced.

                Because of the greater rainfall, some major rivers cut through the coastal

                mountains to form deeply embayed estuarine systems. Extensive erosion

                and sedimentation have produced the wide tidal flats, bars, and shoals

                typical of estuarine.systems. With the exception of San Francisco Bay,

                Tornales Bay, Coos Bay, and Puget Sound, effluents in the rivers tend to

                becarried directly offshore.

                    The Straits of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, which were glacier

                formed, do not have as severe erosion of sedimentation as along the ocean

                coast, and have retained much of their original configuration. The

                Straits and Puget Sound are a classical estuarine system, and a potential

                site for polution problems, particularly if the area is chosen as a

                transshipment point for Alaska oil.

                    Fishes of importance in the Pacific Northwest zone include all five

                species of Pacific salmon and many other a'Aadromous and marine fish and

                shellfish. Harbor porpoises, sea lions, and harbor seals are the common

                marine mammals. Sea otters have been reintroduced to coastal waters of

                Washington. The rare humpback whale frequents bays and estuaries.

                                                      11-53
<pb n="78" />

                                                                                          w

                   The Region has a number of effective environmental programs but is
               not free of pollutants and their impacts. There is concern about the
               discharge of industrial and municipal effluents to waters of San Francisco
               Bay and Puget Sound, their input rates, fates, and effects. The discharge
               of wastes from various sources (including pulp and paper mills in Puget
               Sound) subject the estuaries to a variety of chemical compounds that are
               potentially detrimental to the marine biota and humans. Some of the
               contaminants have a direct and obvious impact on the biota (especially at
               higher concentrations); others have a more subtle, indirect effect. Some
               have no discernable effects at present concentrations, but may have
               chronic effects if introduced over a long period.

                   The possibility of future OCS oil and gas development is uncertain at
               present; however, lease sales have been scheduled for the area.

               a. Regional Needs

                   1. Effects of Multiple-Source Pollutants on Sensitive Habitats.
               Identify and assess the impact of multiple-source pollutants on sensitive
               habitats of migratory marine species. A highly coordinated effort is
               required to identify and control pollution of coastal habitats of marine
               species (birds, mammals, and anadromous fish) in the Pacific Northwest.
               The continuity of these species requires successful completion of their
               entire life cycle. Protection of a migratory species in the marine
               environment is futile if'its life cycle is interrupted by pollution
               of its freshwater/estuarine habitat.

                   2. Effects of Effluents on Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay.
               Identify and characterize the major marine components and processes of
               the Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay ecosystems which are involved in
               critical environmental problems. related to industrial and municipal effluents.

                                                11-54
<pb n="79" />

                    3. Petroleum Development. Examine the potential impact.of OCS
                petroleum development and transshipment on sensitive coastal habitats
                and identify the potential geological hazards.

                   4. Monitoring the Farallon Islands Low-Level Radiation Disposal Sites.
                Continue monitoring of low level radiation disposal site near the Farallon
                Islands to assess the dispersion, accumulation in the biota, and possible
                transfer to man of these-pollutants.

                   5. San Francisco Bay Dredge and Fill Activities. Provide a study
                of the historical, current and planned dredge and fill activities in San
                Francisco Bay and describe the exosystem impact of these coastal alterations.

                                                11-55
<pb n="80" />

                                                                                    R17

                  b. Existing Program

                      The total Federal effort in the Pacific Northwest Region exceeds $4

                  million. Approximately two-thirds of this effort is directed to specific

                  regional needs -- the Puget Sound ecosystem, $1.44 million; the San

                  Francisco Bay ecosystem, $0.77 million; OCS geohazards, $0.38 million;

                  and habitats of migratory species, $0.22 million (all wetlands research).

                      Several DOE studies (funded at approximately $0.75 million) may

                  represent a cohesive program on the fate and effects of Columbia River

                  derived radionuclides, but this is not clear from available information.

                      Other small efforts include ecosystem chracterization, the "mussel

                  watch" programs, and carcinogens in marine invertebrates.

                      The USGS conducts the major studies of the San Francisco Bay, which

                  focus on the circulation, sedimentology, and geochemistry. EPA and NOAA
                                                               0

                  provide major support for the Puget Sound efforts.

                                                       11-56
<pb n="81" />

                                                                              I J11
                C. Analysis

                    The Puget Sound program addresses a regional need and is a well-

                balanced multiagency effort. The San Francisco Bay effort appears to

                lack a program element dealing with fate of pollutants and their effects

                on living resources, although State and local programs may address this

                need. There are minimum efforts devoted to the OCS program; however,

                OCS oil and gas lease sales have been scheduled within the next 5 years.

                Efforts to assess the effects of pollutants on critical habitats of

                migratory marine species are minimal and restricted to wetlands research.

                7. ALASKA REGION

                a. Introduction -- The Setting

                    Alaska's extensive coastline and corresonding coastal estuarine

                systems are one of the State's most important resources. They are

                biologically productive and are used for many purposes. They serve as

                nurseries, spawning and feeding grounds, and passageways between the

                open sea and spawning areas of freshwater streams. Most of the commercial

                seafoods harvested in Alaska are associated with coastal estuarine systems.

                These systems also provide habitat for numerous species of sea birds and

                marine mammals.

                                                     11-57
<pb n="82" />

                                                                              DRAF
                    Increased petroleum production and transport of oil products through

                Alaska's coastal waters have increased the risks of pollution. Many more

                oil and gas lease sales are anticipated. Minor problems, which are

                evident, include wastes from municipalities and from activities of the

                petroleum, timber, pulp and paper, and fishing industries.

                    Significant pollution of Alaska's coastal systems by oil has not yet

                occurred.   The most immediate problems appear to surround the 800-mile

                Trans-Alaska pipeline, which brings oil from the oil-rich North Slope to

                the ice-free tanker terminal at Port Valdez in south-central Alaska. The

                coastal systems in the region are particularly vulnerable, especially

                Port Valdez, Valdez Arm, and other systems located in Prince William Sound.

                    Among Alaska's most important industries, now and in the future, are

                those involved with its forests -- their harvesting and processing.

                Coastal pollution problems originating from the logging industry are

                apparent in southeast Alaska. The discharge from pulp mills has seriously

                affected water quality in certain southeast Alaska bays. A serious

                degradation of water quality caused by inadequately treated wastes from

                pulp mills in Ward Cove and Silver Bay has been documented.

                    Wastes from the fish processing industry also have caused serious

                degradation of water quality and prevented various other important and

                economic uses of that water.

                    Only isolated cases of decline in water quality caused by the discharge

                of municipal sewage into the sea have been documented.

                                                    11-58
<pb n="83" />

                                                                                  'Wt
                                                                                   A4

                b. Regional Needs

                    1. Ice Damage in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Determine th  e
                potential of ice to damage nearshore structures and pipelines in the
                Beaufort and Chukchi seas. In the nearshore zone, there are many pressure
                ridges in the fast ice. Ice shove, and overriding of beaches, by as
                much as several tens of meters in distance, occurs regularly in some
                areas. The gouging of the ocean floor, by the keels of the pressure
                ridges and ice islands, also is a potential hazard.

                    2. Clean-up of Oil Spills in Ice-Covered Regions. Develop new
                technology, including biodegradation, to control and clean up oil spills
                in ice-covered regions. There is some hope for effective cleanup in
                summer, if not too much ice is present, less hope for tackling spills
                under fast ice, and no available method for cleanup of spills in moving
                pack ice.

                    3. Sand and Gravel Removal on the Beaufort Sea Coast. Determine

                and assess the impact of removal of sand and gravel for construction in
                the Beaufort Sea coastal zone. Barrier islands are part of this dynamic
                system, and their stability and usefulness as habitats may be threatened
                by demand for gravel. Careless removal of gravel from river bottoms
                also can affect critical habitat for the overwintering of fish.

                    4. Petroleum Degradation by Microorganisms. Determine the role of
                microorganisms in degradation of petroleum in Arctic coastal environments.

                    5. Petroleum Development Effects on the Bowhead Whale. Evaluate
                the threat of petroleum development to the bowhead whale in Arctic waters.
                There are great uncertainties about the endangered bowhead population,
                their reproduction, migratory routes, and overwintering range. Although
                possibly not threatened by low concentrations of oil, the bowhead whale
                population may be threatened by humans and their activities.

                                                 11-59
<pb n="84" />

                   6. Pollutant Effects on Sensitive Habitats. Assess and predict the
               potential effects of pollutants on sensitive habitats. For example, the
               ice edge, which has been shown to be biologically important, would be
               likely to concentrate and trap spilled pollutants in its many leads and
               irregularities. The Pribilof Islands are a sensitive habitat that must
               be carefully protected.

                   7. Logging, Pulp mill, and Fish Processing Effluents. Determine
               the effects of logging and pulp mill and fish processing effluents on
               water quality and ecosystems.

                   8. Geological and Physical Hazards. Study the effects of geological
               hazards on shipping, structures, and pipelines, particularly on Cook
               Inlet, Prince William Sound, and the Beaufort Sea. Although experience
               with offshore oil development in the northern part of Cook Inlet has
               shown that environmental hazards that are less destructive than major
               earthquakes can normally be dealt with, it is clear that Cook Inlet
               structures and pipelines will be subjected to strong tidal currents,
               high rates of sediment movement, active faults and seismic activity, and
               the action of ice during the winter months. Petroleum transport and
               storage activities in Prince William Sound are vulnerable to seismic
               activity, ice hazards, and tsunamis. Subsea permafrost can be a hazard

               to coastal and offshore structures in the Beaufort Sea.

                                                 11-60
<pb n="85" />

                c. Existing Program

                    The marine pollution program in Alaska is funded at a greater level

                than for any other region, exceeding $20 mil lion in FY 1978. The program

                is almost entirely funded by BLM and managed by NOAA's Outer Continental

                Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP). Other Federal agencies

                (EPA, USGS, USCG) contribute limited funds, as do the State of Alaska and

                private industry. Because of Alaska's harsh environment and vast distances,

                program support costs are large. They account for nearly 40 percent of

                the program expenditures.

                    Of the remaining $13 million effort, over 50 percent is devoted to

                environmental characterization and biological effects studies. These

                types of studies, involving ecosystem characterization, food-web dynamics,

                concentration and effects of pollutants, and physical oceanography,

                while not unique to Alaska, are particularly applicable in poorly under-

                stood, pristine subarctic and arctic areas.

                    The balance, $5.6 million, is devoted to environmental problems

                peculiar to, or highly characteristic of, the Alaskan regime.

                d. Analysis

                    Each cited.need is addresssed by the current program, with the

                exception of specific studies on the effects of sand and gravel removal

                in the Beaufort Sea. The efforts addressing Need #5 and Need #7 are

                                                     11-61
<pb n="86" />

                                                                                   @A.

               notably small. The contribution of State and private funds to these

               needs is unknown. The large effort directed at environmental charac-

               terization of the Alaska regime is subject to evaluation in terms of

               program priorities, especially in view of the 4- to 5-year effort

               conducted in this area. The large geoenvironmental hazards project is

               also subject to reexamination in view of the limited success in discover-

               ing and completing new producing wells; however environmentally sensitive

               areas should continue to be identified.

               8. HAWAII AND PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

               a. Introduction -- The Setting

                   The Pacific Islands Region includes the Hawaiian Islands, Eniwetok

               (the former weapons testing area),

               and Marshall Islands -- tropical oceanic islands of volcanic origin.

               Dominating factors are lack f a continental shelf, full exposure to

               oceanic conditions, and warm air and water temperatures. Coral reefs and

               beach and bluff configurations are typical.

                   Hawaii is a potential site for processing deep sea-bed manganese

               nodules. Concerns are environmental impacts of tailings and mineral

               processing effluents. Residual radioactivity at Eniwetok is a matter for

               concern, with particular emphasis on long-term fate and effects.

                                                     11-62
<pb n="87" />

                                                                                       -1 L4

                b. Regional Needs

                    1. Seabed Mineral Extraction and Processing. Assess the impacts of
                pollutants associated with potential deep sea-bed mineral extraction and
                processing development.

                    2. Radionuclides in Areas of Former Weapons Testing. Assess the
                fate and effect of radionuclides in areas of former weapons testing.

                c. Existing Program

                    The Federal program in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands was funded at
                just under $2.5 million for FY 1978. Two projects dominate the program
                effort. The NSF, with some DOE contribution, funds studies of the
                atmosphere-ocean transfer of metal and organic pollutants, with ancillary
                studies of circulation, and fate and effects of radionuclides in corals
                and ground water. These studies are conducted principally at Eniwetok
                atoll ($1 million plus).

                    The second major effort is the Deep Ocean Mining Environmental Study
                (DOMES) conducted south of Hawaii by NOAA. This project examines the
                physical and biological effects of seabed disturbance and particulate
                plumes generated by prototype mining activities (approximately $1 million).

                    A small NOAA-funded effort examines the role of pathogenic bacteria
                and viruses from sewage in degradation of water quality in Hawaiian waters.

                                                   11-63
<pb n="88" />

               d. Analysis

                   The Federal program appears to address the principal concerns in this

               region. There are two possible exceptions. If the level and economic

               climate for deep-ocean mining of manganese nodules improves substantially,

               consideration should be given to: (a) the impact of full-scale, multiyear

               mining on the marine environment in the mining area; and (b) the nearshore

               impact to the Hawaiian Islands of a mineral processing facility and its

               effluents.

               9. GREAT LAKES REGION

               a. Introduction     The Setting

                   Until recently, the Great Lakes have been viewed as a virtually

               inexhaustible supply of high-quality water. However, increasing population,

               and advancing technological innovation and intensification of water and

               land use in the Basin, have resulted in a continuing degradation of the

               lakes. Although the Great Lakes are an interconnected system, each basin

               is unique in terms of its limnology, the socioeconomic characteristics of

               its communities, the type and degree of pollution, and the kinds of control

               measures required.

                   In the Great Lakes region the causes for deterioration of water

               ,quality include: eutrophication, caused by phosphorous input from land

               runoff and atmospheric fallout; sediments, carried in by erosion, dredging,

               and watershed runoff; pesticides, heavy metals, industrial organics, and

                                                    11-64
<pb n="89" />

                PCBs, often carried together with sediments; and bacteria and viruses,
                introduced by sewer overflows.

                b. Regional Needs

                    1. Multiple Pollutant Inputs. Monitor and analyze the multiple
                inputs of pollutants in the Great Lakes. Pollutants are not derived
                uniformly from whole watersheds or even subbasins. The relative importance
                of Pollutant sources from each watershed is important, but not sufficient
                to define the resultant multiple inputs to the Lakes.

                    2. Diagnostic Management Models of Pollutant Fates and Effects.
                Develop diagnostic management models of the fates and effects of pollutants
                entering the Great Lakes. Available information on inputs and ecosystems
                need to be integrated to determine pathways, fates, and effects of pollutants.

                    3. Fates and Effects of Pollutants from Diffuse Sources. Monitor

                the fates and effects of the diffuse pollutant inputs to the Great Lakes,
                with particular emphasis on transformation products, remobilization products,
                and synergistic effects. In order to determine potential hazards to human
                health and lacustrine biota, and to assist in the development or refinement
                of control strategies and environmental indicators, surveillance of pollutant

                fates and effects must be maintained.

                c. Present Activities

                    The current Federal effort in the Great Lakes Region is primarily
                devoted to monitoring the fates and effects of pollutants. This amounts
                to approximately 66 percent of the total funds expended in the region
                ($6 million). The majority of this ($5 million) is in response
                to the Great Lakes Water Quality agreement by Canada and the United
                States. This is a joint program between the two countries to effectively

                                                 11-65
<pb n="90" />

               manage the resources of the Great Lakes basin. The U.S. participation in
               this activity is primarily carried out by EPA. In addition, DOI/FWS
               supports research on the effects of pollution on living resources of the
               Great Lakes ($820,000), and the NOAA/Sea Grant Program suppo rts research
               through various universities in the area ($350,000). This research is
               attempting-to determine levels and fates of toxic chemicals (especially
               PCBs) in the ecosystem.

                   NOAA, through the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratories
               (GLERL), is funding $2,538 million in research efforts to develop diagnostic
               models of the fates and effects of pollutants in the Great Lakes. This
               amounts to approximately 33 percent of the total effort in the Great
               Lakes Region.

               d. Observations -- Conclusions

                   At the present time, there appears to be adequate support for monitoring
               pollutants in the Great Lakes. This activity also is supported by several
               bordering States and Canada. The level of effort for developing and
               evaluating diagnostic management models could be expanded to broader areas
               of the lakes. The level of support for monitoring multiple inputs of
               pollutants to the Great Lakes, especially the nonpoint sources, does not
               appear to be adequate.

                                                11-66
<pb n="91" />

                                     C. Sources of Pollution

                   In the previous section the Federal program was viewed from the recep-

               tor aspect-marine resources impacted by pollution. Now the emphasis shifts

               to human activities that create the problem -- sources of Pollution. This

               section focuses on needs and Federal response to pollution from specific

               marine activities; waste disposal, marine energy, mineral resources, marine

               transportation, recreation, and fishing.

               1. COASTAL LAND-USE PRACTICES

                   Most sources of ocean pollution, exclusive of marine transportation

               and OCS oil and gas development, result from man's land use practices.

               These activities yield pollution from: 1) nonpoint sources such as urban

               runoff and agricultural land use, 2) siting of coastal industrial, domes-

               tic, and energy facilities which results in concentrated aggregations of

               multiple point sources of pollution, and 3) wetlands modification through

               dredging and filling of wildlife habitats and fisheries breeding grounds.

               These ocean pollution sources contribute much of the pollutant load to the

               coastal oceans and are much more difficult to control than individual

               point sources'.

               a. Habitat Modification

                   Physical alteration of wetlands through dredging and filling, naviga-

               tion channel development, jetties, breakwaters, and other coastal facili-

               ties can adversely affect water circulation patterns and living resource

                                                     11-67
<pb n="92" />

                                                                                      @;P

                habitats. Physical alteration of the coastline by these activities may

                jeopardize the fisheries resources of the ocean which depend on these areas

                for nursery and breeding grounds. As with facility siting, these activi-

                ties are often progressive and insidious and the overall impact may not be

                recognized due to consideration of individual projects on a case-by-case

                basis. For example, less than 400,000 acres of California's original

                3.5 million acreas.of wetlands remain today. At least 50 percent of

                Connecticut's tidal marshes have been destroyed, and the remaining

                14,000 acres are being encroached upon at the rate of about 200 acres per

                year.

                   Needs

                   Physical and Biological Effects. Determine the physical and biological

                effects of dredging and channelization in the coastal zone on a site

                specific basis.

                   Reduction of_Aquatic Vegetation. Determine the effects of reductions

                in aquatic vegetation (marshes, swamps, mangrove forests, seagrasses,

                etc.) on productivity and survivability of marine living resources.

                b. Nonpoint Sources of Pollution

                For the purposes of the Federal Plan, nonpoint sources of pollution are

                defined as those sources of ocean pollution not amenable to treatment as

                point sources in the context of P.L. 95-273. This includes 1) urban

                runoff which carries sediments, litter and animal droppings, atmospheric

                fallout from industrial stacks and the residue of automotive transportation

                (lubricants, asbestos, and lead) into the ocean, 2) agricultural runoff

                which carries fertilizer residue, pesticides, sediment and animal wastes,

                and 3) the aggregate contribution from many upstream point sources resulting

                                                  11-68
<pb n="93" />

                                                                                       R.,

                 from river discharges, to estuaries and the marine environment.         This

                 last category is an artificial one resulting from the definition of "marine

                 environment" contained in the Act. That definition sets the landside

                 boundary at the upstream limit of estuaries. Thus, for the purpose of the

                 Act, the aggregation of all upstream,point sources appears as a nonpoint

                 riverine discharge. As a result, much work being done to assess inland

                 point source pollution of rivers will not be reported. It should be noted,

                 however, that the Great Lakes are included in the marine environment for

                 the purposes of the Act and that work will be reported in the description

                 of the current Federal program.

                     Needs

                     Regional Inventory. Develop and maintain a regional inventory of

                 upstream sources of ocean pollution, including municipal and industrial

                 outfalls, agricultural and urban runoff, dredging and dredge spoil disposal

                 operations, port operations, and recreation.

                     Existing Pollutant Levels. Determine existing levels of critical

                 ocean pollutants in estuaries on a regional basis.

                     Pollutant Input and Flux Models. Develop general models for input and

                 flux of pollutants through the narrow coastal region (wetlands and bays

                 out to three miles offshore).

                 C. Facility Siting

                     The threat of ocean pollution from location of industrial facilities

                 and urban development in the coastal zone often develops incrementally.

                 One more house, factory, or store seldom is the key to total degradation

                 of the marine environment. However, the aggregate of all these uses does

                 significantly alter and degrade the environment.
<pb n="94" />

                                                                              DRAFT

                   Although some progress has been made, planning for coastal development

               is often done on a facility by facility basis with no consideration of

               the aggregate impact of multiple sources of ocean pollution in one area.

               Lack of a preplanned listing of acceptable sites for particular coastal

               facilities often hampers necessary development activities and results in

               prolonged litigation as the evaluation process mandated by the National

               Environmental Policy Act is carried out on a case by case basis. A similar

               lack of identification of particularly ecologically sensitive areas in

               the coastal zone often results in a poor initial choice of facility location

               which is only discovered much later in the development process at great

               cost to both the developer and the public at large.

                   Needs

                   Site Selection Guidelines. Develop use specific guidelines for coastal

               facility site selection which take account of envii-onmental, health, safety,

               and socio-economic impacts.

                   Impact Assessment Methods. Develop methods for adequately assessing

               the overall impact of multiple facilities in a specific geographic region and

               carry out these assessments in selected areas.

                   Present Activities

                   Almost $20 million was spent in 1978 by EPA, NOAA, DOI, and the Army

               COE for studies related to coastal land practice. EPA spent the greatest

               portion of this, more than $15 million, primarily'for studies in the Chesa-

               peake Bay and Great Lakes where major programs are investigating the impact

               of land runoff in these confined water bodies. Circulation and flow models

               related to assessing pollutants entering various estuarine systems were

               carried out by the USGS.

                                                   11-70
<pb n="95" />

                                                                                LJXIAFT

                     Several small projects totaling $84,000 were focused on inputs of pollu--

                 tants through atmospheric pathways; the remainder of the studies were carried

                 out on a site specific basis in areas such as San Francisco Bay ($400,000),

                 Coastal areas in Florida ($100,000), Barataria Basin ($120,000), Great Lakes,

                 and Chesapeake Bay.

                     The FWS carries out a national pesticide monitoring program for fish

                 and game in coastal areas.

                     Almost $1.4 million of the $20 million was directly related to habitat

                 modification studies. More than half was directed toward evaluation of

                 physical alterations and sediment movement in coastal areas; less than 15

                 percent was used to study biological implications such as primary productivity,

                 food web transfers, and relationships between marsh vegetation and estuary

                 health, outside the Chesapeake Bay. (The Chesapeake Bay Program, funded

                 by EPA, is a comprehensive study of the bay and its problems including

                 aquatic vegetation.)

                     Analysis

                     1. Land use practices in the coastal zone are probably.the greatest

                 single influence on pollutants entering the oceans. This aspect of the

                 Federal program is grossly underemphasized. While some work has taken

                 place at regional levels; it is not coordinated for multipurpose applica-

                 tion and little overall direction is provided at any level. A coordinated

                 national effort to inventory sources of pollution entering the ocean,

                 through coastal areas, and develop models for pollutant.influx should be

                 undertaken.

                     2. Efforts to develop guidelines for coastal facility site selection

                 should be continued and new methods for assessing overall regional impact

                 should be initiated.

                                                    11-71
<pb n="96" />

                                                                                  AR A F T

                  3. Assessment of the role of aquatic vegetation in local ecosystems

              should be continued as required for areas of special concern.

                                                   11-72
<pb n="97" />

                                                                              W"RAFT
                2.  MARINE WASTE DISPOSAL

                a.  Sewage Sludge Dumping

                    National policy under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries

                Act (P.L. 92-532) requires that all ocean dumping of sewage sludge be phased

                out by 1981. As of 1978, this requirement is well along toward implementation.

                Therefore, the research, development, and monitoring needs described below

                are restricted to existing ocean disposal sites used for sewage sludge,

                and related to present and pending litigation. A relatively low level

                of funding is recommended to meet these needs. It is anticipated that

                they will be met during the initial 5-year planning period.

                    Needs

                    Pollution Identification. Complete the chemical identification of

                sludge pollutants at existing sludge dumpsites.

                    Tollutant Transport and Fate. Complete oceanographic studies of

                fractionation, dispersion and distribution of sludge pollutants within

                the water column and bottom sediments.

                    Metals and Synthetic Pollutants. Complete studies of bioaccumulation

                of heavy metals and synthetic organic, pollutants attributable to sludge

                dumping.

                    Ddmpsite Monitoring. Perform ecosystem recovery studies at representa-

                tive phased-out dumpsites to determine time and degree of recovery, and

                residual pollutant abundance, distribution and ecological effects.

                    Risk to Human Health. Perform a risk assessment of human health con-

                sequences of sludge dumping at sea in such terms as can be compared to

                similar risk analyses of land disposal practices.

                                                    11-73
<pb n="98" />

                   Present Activities

                   In FY 1978 EPA spent $620,000 to survey the two active sewage sludge

               dumpsites -- in the New York Bight and in Delaware Bay.

                   The New York Bight site was monitored by EPA Region II to determine

               possible degradation of the site from dumping practices. In addition,

               studies of bathing water quality at New Jersey and Long Island beaches

               are performed every summer to determine their microbiological acceptability

               for water contact sports.

                   EPA Region III performs quarterly oceanographic surveys of water and

               sediment quality at the Philadelphia sewage sludge dumpsite located

               approximately 50 miles off the Delaware Coast.

                   In FY 1978, $150,000 of the total $620,000 funding was applied to

               developing the information necessary for writing Environmental Impact

               Statements for the two existing sludge dumpsites.

                   Analysis

                   Monitoring of active and phased out dumpsites should continue with

               emphasis on human health effects to determine recovery rates and ability

               of the oceans to absorb sewage sludge wastes.

                                                   11-74
<pb n="99" />

                b. Municipal Sewage Outfalls

                    In addition to development of advanced sewage treatment technologies

                and alternative disposal methods, the 1977 Federal Water Pollution Control

                Act Amendments requite monitoring and evaluation of coastal municipal

                outfalls that are exempt from secondary sewage treatment requirements.

                This monitoring is required for a 5-year period -- the duration of each

                allowed exemption. In 1983, renewal of the exemptions will depend upon

                analyses of the monitoring data. For renewal, the analyses of data must

                demonstrate that the outfall in question produces no adverse impact on

                the balance of the ecological community surrounding it. The outfall

                must continue to meet other chemical effluent standards established by

                regulation. Research, development, and monitoring needs for municipal

                sewage outfalls, including those which discharge mixed domestic and in-

                dustrial wastes, are as follows:
                                                                        lo

                    Needs

                    Pollutant Movement and Alteration. Information is needed on chemical

                and physical processes which disperse, concentrate, and cycle municipal

                waste pollutants in the ocean. Knowledge of these processes is needed to

                evaluate and determine requirements for discharge permits under EPA's

                NPDES program. Facts concerning inshore chemical and physical processes

                can be used to improve the scope, accuracy, and precision of predictive

                evaluation of discharge permit applications. Predictive evaluations

                should include analyses of natural phenomena such as currents, winds, and

                wave conditions which affect pollutant distributions as well as effects

                on ecosystems of the important pollutants.

                                                   11-75
<pb n="100" />

                   Synthetic Organic Pollutants. It is necessary to determine the

                identity, source, distribution, persistence, and bioaccumulation of

                synthetic hazardous chemicals in the marine environment, including food

                web transfers and possible pathways to man. Chlorination products from

                disinfection processes and antifouling compound residuals should be

                included in this investigation.

                   Outfall Monitoring. We should determine the efficiency and value of.

                differing sewage treatment practices in order to choose among them; studies

                of the degree and rate of recovery of outfall polluted environments after

                treatment is applied or discharges are removed should be performed.

                   Biostimulant Research. Municipal sewage otitfall discharges contain

                large amounts of biostimulant nutrients which could overload the nutrient

                assimilation capacity of receiving wastes. To improve our ability

                to choose waste treatment and outfall sites, we must be able to evaluate

                nutrient characteristics of particular inshore marine ecosystems, separating

                natural from manmade variations and accurately determining the degree and

                persistence of change that any proposed municipal discharge is likely to

                produce. Evaluations should include ecological and economic effects as

                well as sources, dispersion, persistence, abatement technologies, and

                risk assessment protocols.

                    Sediments. We need to develop standard methods and criteria for

                determining the pollution content of sediments so that we can choose

                suitable treatment technologies and strategies. Knowledge of polluted

                sediment effects upon diverse marine ecosystems such as coral, seagrass,

                kelp, and bottom invertebrate systems is needed. Migratory fishes and

                .groundfishes in coastal waters are also affected by polluted sediments,

                and these effects require ecological and economic evaluation as well.

                                                    11-76
<pb n="101" />

                                                                                        1-7

                    Microbial Pollutants. Municipal sewage outfalls cause health  and

                ecological risks by-introducing microorganisms into the marine environment.

                These risks must be determined. Areas of research and development and

                monitoring include sources, identification of dangerous species, persis-

                tence, transformation, measurement, diagnosis of health and ecological

                effects, development of risk protocols, and prevention of microbial contami-

                nation of the marine environment. Costs and benefits of abatement and

                prevention technologies should be determined.

                    Municipal Waste Treatment Technology Improvement. We need to reduce

                the volume and kinds of pollutants which reach the ocean. To do this,

                advanced alternative waste treatment technologies need to be developed,

                particularly for geographic areas of immediate hazard such as connecting

                channels of the Great Lakes and broad continental shelf zones of the

                Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Technolqgical, ecological, and economic costs

                and benefits of such technologies'should be determined at the pilot feasi-

                bility stage or before.

                    Monitoring Strategies. Monitoring sewage outfall effects in marine

                water traditionally has been a one-at-a-time., BOD, suspended solids

                and floatables effort, which has ignored the individual and cumulative

                effects of outfalls upon larger water masses and the ecosystems within

                them. New monitoring strategies to include these larger considerations

                need to be developed.

                    Present Activities

                    In FY 1978, the Federal Program dealing specifically with municipal

                sewage outfalls totaled $2,921,000. Only research focusing on sewage

                has been included in the total. Projects dealing with specific pollutants

                are included elsewhere in this report.

                                                   11-77
<pb n="102" />

                  There are three principal projects dealing with comprehensive studies

              of the impact of sewage outfalls. These studies, all funded by EPA

              ($700,000 for FY 1978), deal with outfall problems in Hawaii, Southeast

              Florida, and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. All three studies examine

              the effect of sewage stress on their respective ecosystems and the response

              of the system to removal of the stress.

                  In FY 1978, almost 35 percent of the total was used by DOE, NRC, and

              EPA for studies concerned with the effects of chlorination of sewage and

              powerplant cooling water on marine receiving waters.

                  Related to the problems of chlorination is research dealing with the

              identification, fate, monitoring and effects of sewage originated patho-

              genic microorganisms (principally bacteria and viruses). In FY 1978, almost

              25 percent ($695,000) of the sewage outfall research program was assigned

              to marine microbial pollution research.

                  One of the major scientific concerns is the impact of biostimulants

              (nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, vitamins etc.) on the growth

              of phytoplankton and rooted aquatic vegetation. In addition to the

              three comprehensive studies mentioned above, the biostimulation problem

              is being addressed by EPA's Chesapeake Bay research program and NOAA's

              New York Bight study (MESA).

                  It is recognized (see above) that there is a strong need for monitoring

              ecosystem response around ocean outfalls. The Clean Water Act provides

              for waivers of the secondary treatment requirement for municipal treatment

              plants providing monitoring reveals no significant environmental degrada-

              tion. While the FY 1978 program provides for very little monitoring of

              outfalls, present EPA/NOAA planning calls for extensive monitoring

              programs to be performed by the waiver applicants.

                                                   11-78
<pb n="103" />

                                                                             U AFT

                    Within the municipal waste treatment technology research area the

                main concern is developing the engineering (i.e. degree and kind of treat-

                ment) parameters for sewage treatment plant design. This information is

                being developed by the ongoing ecological research and monitoring program.

                EPA's project in southeast Florida is examining marine ecosystem responses

                to different types of waste treatment.

                    The effects of specific pollutants present in sewage, such as persis-

                tent organic compounds and heavy metals, is covered in generic studies and

                comprehensive ec osystem. studies. (Chesapeake Bay, New York Bight). Like-

                wise sediment transport studies are underway in the two main study areas of

                New York and Chesapeake Bay. The problem of sediment quality is being

                addressed in research performed by EPA, NOAA, and Army COE.

                    Analysis

                    1. The current research program examining the effects of different

                kinds and degrees of treatment on receiving water biota is inadequate.

                Additional resources are needed to fund these studies to produce greater

                geographical representation.

                    2. The developing EPA/NOAA monitoring program should have quality

                assurance built into it to determine the statistical significance of any

                measured environmental alteration from normal background.

                                                    11-79
<pb n="104" />

                   3. A data management system providing rapid and ready access to

               monitoring data should be developed for the national ocean outfall moni-

               toring program.

               c. Industrial Waste Disposal

                   Industrial wastes differ among industries, among industrial processes

               for manufacturing the same materials, and their composition even differs

               from time to time from the same outfall pipe. These differences, coupled

               with ecological and hydrological site differences, necessitate case-by-case

               consideration to administer the NPDES permit program for industrial

               wastes. For permitting purposes, guidelines for use within an industry

               or among industries using similar processes are useful, but cannot be

               counted upon if there is not a great deal of specific information on the

               kind, amount, transport, transformation, and effects of industrial waste

               in the ocean environment. The following needs relate to information

               identified as necessary for evaluating methods, costs, and benefits of

               industrial waste regulation.

                   Needs

                   Synthetic Organic Pollutants, Metals, and Inorganic Chemicals.

               Research and monitoring should be conducted to determine the sources,

               distribution, persistence, and bioaccumulation of synthetic organics,

               metals, and inorganic chemicals in the marine environment, including

               .food web transfers and possible pathways to human exposure.

               Accidental chlorination products should also be included with materials

               deliberately discharged into salt-water environments.

                                                   11-80
<pb n="105" />

                                                                                            WS"

                    Bioactive Industrial Compounds. Certain industrial waste discharges

                are rich in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous compounds which act as

                nutrients in the marine environment, much as do domestic sewage wastes.

                Some pharmaceutical manufacturing and food processing wastes also are

                high in nutrients derived from discarded living matter. The ecological

                and economic effects of these wastes in areas where they are significant,

                such as Puerto Rico, should be identified clearly and quantitatively,

                as should the costs and benefits of existing and development abatement

                technologies. Information derived in these research and development

                activities should be included in predictive risk assessment methods

                which are under concurrent development.

                    Monitoring of Industrially Polluted Environments. Both ecological

                and economic analysis of degree and speed of recovery of industrially

                polluted ocean environments should be conducted. Persistent and non-

                persistent synthetic materials should be considered separately.

                    Present Activities

                    In 1978, $4.3 million was used to carry out research on industrial

                wastes, primarily at ocean disposal sites in the Gulf of Mexico and off

                the coasts of New Jersey and Puerto Rico. The Navy used $506,000 of this

                to monitor and develop treatment systems for ordinance related wastes,

                and EPA directed some work to evaluate wastes from Caribbean rum distilleries

                and to develop standard methods for biological testing of industrial

                wastes. $2.2 million was used for research in other industrial dumpsite

                areas, primarily Deepwater Dumpsite 106, an industrial dispos'al site 90

                miles east of Cape May, N.J. These studies focused on characterizing

                the chemical and biological nature of industrial wastes dumped at sea,

                                                    11-81
<pb n="106" />

               physical characterization of the dumpsites and laboratory studies on the

               effects of dumped wastes on several species of marine organisms.

               - EPA used $150,000 to monitor dumpsites; Coast Guard provided $250,000

               for monitoring assistance and NASA used $300,000 to develop remote sensing

               capabilities for use in monitoring dumping activities.

                  No programs were reported for monitoring industrial wastes discharged

               at ocean outfalls.

                  Analysis

                  1. Research and monitoring of industrial dumpsites should continue,

               to the extent they are useful for assessing the capability of the oceans

               to assimilate waste through ocean dumping.

                  2. Overall emphasis should be shifted from ocean dumping to ocean

               outfalls and nonpoint sources. Ocean and estuarine areas impacted by

               industrial wastes should be monitored for degree and rate of recovery

               with respect to persistent pollutants on a site specific basis.

               d. Dredged Material Dumping

                  Dredged materials by themselves are not necessarily pollutants. Their

               polluting qualities depend upon the extent to which they have been contami-

               nated by other pollutants, and where they are redeposited in the marine

               environment. Even unpolluted dredged material can be a pollutant in

               areas where marine species are affected adversely by siltation, such as

               coral communities and oyster beds. Relatively little and only recent

               attention has been given to alternative uses of dredged materials, such

               as wetlands restoration, artificial island construction, and use as

               paving and building materials. Harbor dredging must  continue for purposes

               of commerce and national security. Therefore, there  is much technological

                                                   11-82
<pb n="107" />

                                                                                LA

               development and research required to prevent pollution from dredged

               materials and to use them for beneficial purposes.

                   Need

                   Ecological Impact. Studies describing the ecological impact of

               disposal of dredged materials in the coastal environment are needed.

                   Present Activities

                   The Corps of Engineers has completed a 5-year, $15M program dealing

               with the environmental aspects of dredging operations. This program

               included evaluation of the ecological impact of dumping in coastal areas.

                   In 1978, almost $1 million was spent by DOE, EPA, and NOAA on follow-on

               studies of the behavior of heavy metals associated with dredged materials

               and sediment transport in order to make recommendations for disposal site

               selection in specific regions.

                   A small amount ($145,000) was used by NOAA and DOA to evaluate stabiliza-

               tion techniques for dredged material disposal sites. This work should

               continue. If it is successful, it could minimize the need for additional

               dredging in the future.

                   Analysis

                   While some studies directly related to metals should continue, some

               of this effort should be redirected toward direct biological assessment

               in areas most likely to be subjected to dredging. Effects of sediment

               deposition as well as chemical alteration should be considered. Selected

               comprehensive studies examining dredge disposal areas before and after dumping

               should be carried out -- (such as the Chesapeake Bay).

                   Need

                   Prevention Technology. Means should be developed to minimize sediment

               resuspension and siltation in the water column. Dredge material emplacement

                                                   11-83
<pb n="108" />

                                                                                         3M

               techniques should be developed to minimize resuspension of materials and

               to contain or isolate materials when necessary during disposal operations.

                   Present Activities.

                   In 1978 more than $1.7 million (half of the total dredged materials

               program) was spent, primarily by the Army COE (with a small amount by

               Navy), for the development of new dredging equipment and techniques to

               minimize the need for dredging, as well as studies to understand the

               mechanism of sediment transport. Development programs directed toward

               minimizing the effects of dredging were not included.

                   Analysis

                   1. While development of techniques to minimize the need for dredging

               should continue, some of this effort should be directed toward development

               of dredging-technology that minimizes the effects of dredging by reducing

               sediment resuspension.

                   2. Containment and/or isolation techniques should be developed for

               disposal of dredged materials under certain conditions. Criteria for

               use of such disposal procedures should also be developed.

                   Need

                   Disposal Site Monitoring. Ocean Dumping Regulations require monitor-

               ing of existing and new ocean disposal sites. Data from these monitoring

               programs should be used to determine the ecological effects of dredged

               materials disposal on both short- and long-term bases.

                   Present Activities

                   A total of $658,000 was spent in 1978 by the Army COE, NOAA, and EPA

               for studying the impacts of dredged material disposal. Sixty percent of

               this was used to evaluate bioassay techniques and develop procedures for

               making measurements. EPA carried out its study in the Great Lakes; NOAA

                                                   11-84
<pb n="109" />

                funded A small project in Newark Bay and the Army COE monit ored open

                water disposal sites near Washington and Ohio and artificial wetlands

                constructed from dredged materials.

                    Analysis

                    1. These monitoring programs  should be continued; a mechanism for

                information exchange and coordination between all separate activities

                should be established in order to pool experience and results.

                e. Radioactive Waste Disposal

                    The United States has not conducted disposal of low-level radioactive

                wastes at sea since 1970. Prior to that time, however, such disposal was

                conducted in the Pacific at two sites near the coast of California

                and at two sites in the Atlantic near the Delaware coast. These sites

                provide areas for studying the long-term ecological impact of low-level

                radionuclides.

                    At-sea disposal of high level radioactive wastes by deep ocean emplace-

                ment is currently banned by international treaty and U.S. law. However,

                this disposal option should be evaluated for future use in any overall

                comparative study of nuclear waste disposal methods.

                    Need

                    Dumpsite Monitoring. Ecosystem recovery studies should be performed

                at phased-out dumpsites to determine time and degree of recovery and

                residual radionuclide abundance, distribution, and ecological effects.

                    Present Activities

                    In 1978, EPA and DOE spent $585,000 to monitor low-level radioactive

                waste disposal areas. EPA used the bulk of that to study the fate and

                behavior of waste containers at the four phased-out disposal sites near

                                                   11-85
<pb n="110" />

                                                                                       JAUR

               the United States, a program that will almost double in size by 1980.

               DOE used a small amount ($40,000) to carry out a continuing program to

               study an active low-level radioactive waste disposal site in the Irish

               Sea for the purpose of gaining an understanding of the behavior of

               radionuclides in seawater.

                   Analysis

                   Current programs appear to be meeting identified needs and no changes

               are recommended at this time.

                   Need

                   High-Level Radioactive Wastes. Methods for emplacement and potential

               consequences of high level radioactive waste disposal in the oceans

               should be evaluated.

                   Present Activities

                   The DOE is carrying out a continuing program to investigate the possi-

               bility of high level radioactive waste disposal in submarine geological

               formations of the deep oceans. This program, funded at $300,000 in 1978

               is expected to continue at the same level through 1980.

                   Analysis

                   Because of the importance of high level radioactive waste disposal,

               this project should continue at present or higher levels if greater effort

               would result in more timely information. Efforts should also be expanded

               to additional deep seabed disposal techniques such as encapsulation.

               f. Ocean Incineration

                   Land disposal of toxic chemical wastes is becoming less acceptable to

               the public as previous disposal sites create severe, long-term pollution

               problems. Ocean incineration of such wastes may be a viable alternative;

               approximately 46,000 metric tons of toxic synthetic organics have been

                                                   11-86
<pb n="111" />

                incinerated at sea in recent years.

                    Need

                    Evaluation of Concept. Environmental and economic analyses of ocean

                incineration as an alternative to land-based disposal of hazardous mater-

                ials should be evaluated.

                    Present Activities

                    EPA is evaluating five proposed ocean incineration sites. This

                evaluation examines the environmental considerations necessary for writing

                an Environmental Impact Statement. Approximately $300,000 was spent on

                this effort. A feasibility study is underway by EPA and the Coast Guard

                for evaluating the utility of converting an existing offshore platform

                for ocean incineration.

                    Analysis

                    Efforts in this area appear to be adequate.

                3. MARINE ENERGY

                a. Steam Electric Powerplants

                    Approximately two thirds of the operating nuclear and fossil-fueled

                electric generating plants in the United States are located in the coastal

                zone. Additional energy conversion and transmission facilities are

                scheduled to be operational in the coastal zone by the end of the century.

                Offshore floating powerplants are in the advanced stages of development.

                    Nuclear and conventional powerplants require large volumes of cooling

                water or engineered auxiliary cooling methods. This cooling water demand

                may elevate receiving water temperature and alter local biological community

                structure. Such alterations may actually be beneficial or may result in

                increased productivity and survivability of less desirable species at

                                                   11-87
<pb n="112" />

               the expense of more desirable ones. During the past decade considerable

               studies have been carried out on the temperature stresses related to

               powerplants, with little evidence of widespread damage to receiving-

               water ecosystems.

                   Regulatory concern has shifted from discharge temperature to the issue

               of adverse affects of intake entrainment on small organisms passing

               through the plant in its cooling water and from size of the discharge

               mixing zone to actual effects of effluent on the balance of species in

               the surrounding ecological community.

                   All powerplant cooling water discharges contain trace amounts of metals

               dissolved from heat exchangers surfaces as well as small amounts of water

               treatment chemicals and biocides used to maintain efficient plant operation.

               Trace amounts of radionuclides may be present in discharges from nuclear

               powerplants.

                   Need

                   Ecological  Impact of Cooling Water. An unresolved issue in several

               steam electric  plant adjudicatory proceedings has been the extent to

               which cooling water damage to the young of commercially, recreationally,

               and ecologically important species affects the abundance and distribution

               of the adults. The impact of low-level chronic thermal stress in combina-

               tion with effluent chemical pollutants from coastal and offshore powerplants

               must be evaluated.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1978 more than $2 million was spent on research related to assess-

               ment of the impacts of cooling water discharge on marine ecosystems.

               Studies were carried out by NRC, DOE, EPA, NOAA, and FWS. Approximately

                                                   11-88
<pb n="113" />

                half of the $2 million was directed toward identification of chlorination

                products and their behavior; a small amount was us ed to study the direct

                effects of chlorination products on fish and plankton communities.

                    27% ($540,000) was used to study the effects of elevated temperatures

                on shallow water organisms including fish, benthos, plankton and fouling

                communities. The Davis Besse powerplant on Lake Erie received special

                attention, while other studies were less site specific. Several studies

                considered synergistic effects of temperature and pollutants.

                    24% ($480,000) wa's used to determine the behavior and effects of copper

                and radionuclides that may be discharged from cooling water systems and to

                measure the distribution of radionuclides in sediments of the Columbia River

                outfall where a nuclear powerplant upstream had caused concern in the past.

                    Analysis

                    1. Future studies on powerplant and industrial effluents should be

                directed toward deter-mining the synergistic effects of chlorination bypro-

                ducts and elevated temperature.

                    2. A great deal of research is currently underway or has been carried

                out in the past on the behavior and effects of metals in the marine environ-

                ment. At attempt should be made t.o use information from these studies

                rather than to initiate new research specifically applicable td cooling

                water effluents. Emphasis should be shifted to monitoring metal and

                radionuclide levels in cooling water discharges and to characterizing their

                distributions in shallow water environments on a site specific basis.

                    Need

                    Transport of Pollutants from Powerplants. The physical, chemical, and

                geological conditions that influence pollutant transport and behavior in

                                                    11-89
<pb n="114" />

               the vicinity of coastal and offshore powerplants must be characterized

               on a site-specific basis prior to powerplant siting.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1978, $1.9 million was spent by NRC and DOE on studies directly

               related to defining transport regimes and developing predictive models for

               pollutants from powerplants. While most of this was aimed at nearshore

                areas for plants located in the coastal region, some effort was directed

               by DOE toward transport regimes on the continental shelf, presumably in

               anticipation of offshore facilities.

                   Analysis

                   1. Support of basic modelling technique development should continue.

               However, emphasis should be placed on development of generalized techniques

               that can be modified for specific site conditions.

                   Need                             $

                   Geological Hazards. Geological hazards in the vicinity of operating

               and proposed.coastal nuclear powerplants must be assessed in order to

               ,estimate the risk of large-scale radionuclide release as a result of

               seismic activity.

                   Present Activities

                   Although no programs in the inventory can be identified as directly

               responsive in this area, considerable work on geological hazards is

               carried out by USGS. Prior to approval, each site is studied by the

               applicant. The NRC reviews and audits these site-specific studies.

                   Analysis

                                                  11-90
<pb n="115" />

                   Need

                   Habitat Modification Resulting from Powerplant Construction.

               Alterations to sediment transport, current patterns and ecosystem struc-

               ture resulting from construction of offshore powerplants must be evalu-

               ated as well as the electrical power transmission systems with their

               accompanying electric fields.

                   Present Activities

                   Although there are no existing offshore powerplants, their construc-

               tion appears likely within the next 5 years. Federal programs to assess

               potential impact of offshore powerplants have focused on preparation

               of the EIS for floating nuclear powerplant manufacturing licenses.

                   Analysis

                   Areas where offshore powerplants are most likely to be constructed

               within the next 5 years should be identified. Appropriate studies to

               define potential impacts should be coordinated by DOE in these areas using

               existing NOAA and EPA programs wherepossible.

                   Need

                   Entrainment and Impingement.   The young of commercially and ecologi-

               cally important marine species need to be kept from passing through

               cooling water systems. When siting in spawning and nursery areas cannot be

               avoided due to economic, jurisdictional and engineering reasons, means to

               minimize their exposure to the generating plant need to be developed.

               Shallow water sites and shorelines are the greatest technological chal-

               lenge to protect. Offstream cooling and diffusion technologies need to

               be made more efficient and less expensive to build and operate.

                                                   11-91
<pb n="116" />

                     Present Activities

                     A total of $210,000 was spent in 1978 by URC and FWS for determining

                 the impact on ecosystems of entrainment and impingement from powerplant

                 cooling water systems. Half of this was directed specifically at the effects

                 on striped bass and white perch in the Hudson River, the other half was used

                 for obtaining information for design criteria to minimize impact and for

                 predictive models for fish stock assessments.

                     .Analysis

                     1. Generalized research to provide predictive models and information

                 upon which to base system design for minimum impacts should be continued.

                     2. Studies with limited application should be reevaluated and phased

                 out as soon as information to determine probable impact is adequate.

                 b. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

                     Marine thermal gradient systems such as OTEC would utilize the tempera-

                 ture difference between warm surface waters and cold deep ocean waters as

                 a source of energy for electrical power generation.

                     Small-scale pilot programs to assess OTEC feasibility are being conducted

                 off the coast of Hawaii. Engineering designs for full-scale OTEC plants

                 indicate that the primary cause of pollution from them will be the large

                 cooling water flow necessary, as much as 10 times that required for an

                 equivalent capacity conventional powerplant. While pollutant concentration

                 in OTEC plant discharges may be equivalent to that of conventional discharges,

                 that is 0.1 parts per million of chlorine as a biocide, the increased flow

                 may be an environmental problem. Large-scale upwelling of nutrient-rich,

                 cold bottom waters may also significantly alter the marine environment.

                 Such problems are not expected to be of concern for at least 10 years,
                 since commercial-scale OTEC will take that long to complete development.

                                                   11-92
<pb n="117" />

                     Need

                     Water Movement Effects. OTEC systems will move 10 times more seawater

                  per unit of electricity generated than conventional electrical generating

                  systems. Cold, nutrient-rich waters from below the thermocline will be

                  mixed with warm, plankton-rich waters above it. Effects of this water

                  movement on bottom dwelling water column animals (mostly fishes), and

                  surface dwelling planktonic and larger species need to be examined.

                  Entrainment, impingement, entrapment, temperature and pressure effects,

                  and nutrient enrichment of surface waters require evaluation for significance

                  and duration.

                     OTEC Chemical Discharge Effects. Risks need to be assessed for all

                  possible hazardous chemical releases, including gases released in open

                  cycle OTEC systems and chemicals that may be produced when offshore

                  chemical production plants are integreated with OTEC facilities. Normally

                  produced sea salt scale and accidental releases of amonia, chlorine,

                  hydrogen, and aluminum smelting residues need to be evaluated as potential

                  ocean pollution hazards.

                     Electrical Transmission Problems in the Ocean. OTEC systems may

                  require underwater transmission of electricity to onshore power grids.

                  The pollution and ecological disruption potential of these underwater or

                  buried sea floor transmission devices needs to be evaluated, as do hazards

                  of accidently severed transmission cables.

                     Present Activities

                     In 1978, DOE spent $876,000 on OTEC-related research. Almost 90 percent

                  of this was used for preliminary and baseline studies including satellite

                  measurements for OTEC siting and eventual evaluation of ecological signifi-

                                                   11-93
<pb n="118" />

               cance. Ten percent was us ed to evaluate effects of chemical releases

               from OTEC plants and potential impact of impingement and entrainment losses.

               This work is planned to continue at significantly great levels for the next

               few years.

                  The Federal program did not address the environmental consequences of

               electrical power transmission in the ocean.

                  Analysis

                   1. Baseline studies for potential OTEC facility siting should continue.

               However, whenever possible, they should be carried out in conjunction with

               similar studies as required by other programs such as BLM oil and gas leasing

               and deep seabed mining.

                   2. Current OTEC pilot operations should be used for gathering infor-

               mation on the effects of large water-mass movements. The pilot facility

               should be used as a field station for necessary ecological impact and

               assessment studies to the extent possible.

                   3. To the extent that electrical power from OTEC facilities will be

               transmitted to shore stations within the next 5 years, research on the

               effects of the electrical field surrounding the cable and environmental

               disruption caused by the cable as it differs from ordinary underwater

               pipeline construction and disruption, should be carried out.

               c. Other Energy Technologies

                   A number of alternative ocean energy conversion technologies are being

               evaluated. Most are at the conceptual stage. Kinetic energy systems which

               would harness the power of wind, waves, tides and currents are being

               considered; marine biomass (kelp) cultivation as a fuel source is being

               explored; pilot scale projects dealing with extraction of coastal geothermal

               energy are underway; and the possibility of satellite power systems which

                                                  11-94
<pb n="119" />

               would capture solar radiation in space and beam energy to massive receiving

               antennae in the ocean has been proposed. These systems will not be signi-

               ficant energy sources in the near term; however, evaluation of possible

               polluting consequences to the marine environment should be part of

               early development work to ensure that,informed decisions can be made

               regarding future development areas.

                   Needs

                   Geothermal Energy Systems. Pollution potential of coastal geothermal

               energy systems including assessment of the polluting potential of produced

               brine, thermal discharges and trace'contaminants should be evaluated.

                   Biomass Fueled Systems. The ecological consequences of artificial

               upwelling of large volumes of nutrient-rich bottom waters for commercial-

               ,scale kelp farming should be evaluated.

                   Kinetic Energy Systems. The biological and climatological effects of

               large-scale marine kinetic energy systems which extract wind, tidal, current

               and wave energy should be evaluated.

                   Satellite Power Systems. The ecological and climatological effects of

               an ocean-located satellite power system receiving antennae should be evalu-.

               ated.

                   Present Activities

                   The current Federal program does not directly address the

               environmental consequences of these/experimental energy systems, although

               some results from OTEC research on the effects of artificial upwelling

               may have application to biomass-fueled systems.

                   Analysis

                   1. Studies to determine potential environmental problems should be

               carried out as an integral part of development programs for all new energy

                                                  11-95
<pb n="120" />

                                                                                         vi

              generating systems so that problems can be defined and taken into considera-

              tion in feasibility and economic assessments.

              4. MARINE MINERAL RESOURCES

              a. Oil and Gas DevelODment

                  It is increasingly difficult to extract oil from onshore reservoirs

              in the United States. This is also true of offshore oil in shallow

              waters of the Gulf of Mexico. More difficult offshore oil recovery

              in Alaska, the northeastern Atlantic, and California coast are

              centers of active industrial interest. Whereas Kodiak and southern

              California oil fields are proven, Atlantic oil formations are just open-

              ing up to exploration. In Alaska, New York, and the New England States,

              the balance between oil supplies, fisheries, and coastal recreation is a

              matter of heated controversy and some litigation. If we are to preserve

              our renewable resources as we extract oil and gas from the outer continental

              shelf; research, development, and monitoring are needed to provide a better

              foundation for rational decisions on minimizing risks and protecting

              other resources.

                  Need

                  Discharges From Drilling and Production Operations. Normal operational

              discharges from offshore exploratory and production rigs consist largely

              of drilling muds, drill cuttings, and formation water containing suspended

              oil and brine. Drilling muds vary in chemical composition to fit differing

              needs of the drilling process. Their range of chemical components should

              be examined. The physical transport processes and ecological effects of

              drilling muds and cuttings must be determined, particularly in sensitive

              marine areas such as coral reefs, fish and shellfish spawning and nursery

              areas, and for bottom communities in the vicinity of drilling platforms.

                                                  11-96
<pb n="121" />

               Based on this information, protocols should be established for composition

               and disposal of discharges of concern. A variety of overboard discharge

               methods for operational drilling platform wastes should be investi-

               gated. Although discharges from production wells are sampled periodically

               to keep oil content below 50 parts per million, the effect of this chronic

               discharge on marine organisms is a source of concern.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1978 EPA spent $348,000 to study the effects of drilling muds and

               cuttings on marine organisms. Laboratory and field tests were carried

               out primarily on benthic food web organisms and communities. Considerable

               work has been carried on in this area by the industry in past years;

               however, there is little agreement on its adequacy.

                   Analysis

                   1. Past drilling mud studies should be thoroughly assessed before

               additional studies are funded. Special emphasis should be given to

               effects studies under realistic exposure conditions in the field.

                   2. Sensitive marine areas should be identified and tested prior to

               drilling platform sitings so that appropriate discharge requirements can

               be set.

                   3. Alternative discharge methods should be evaluated in selected

               test areas so that reconditioning or removal of drilling muds can be

               recommended for sensitive areas if necessary.

                   4. Results of other studies on the effects of long-term (20-year),

               low-level ecosystem exposure to oil should be evaluated for applicability

               to production platform discharges.

                                                  11-97
<pb n="122" />

                                                                                       d

                   Need

                   Geological Hazards. Geological hazards that affect the  siting of

               platforms and other offshore structures must be determined. Sediment

               instability and seismicity are especially important. Special problems

               associated with development in the Arctic, such as the effects of

               ice gouging and permafrost require additional study.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1978, the Department of the Interior spent more than $4.6 million

               on geological studies related to OCS activities. $4.3 million was used

               by BLM for region-specific assessments of geological hazards and sediment

               mobility. 61 percent of the effort was directed to Atlantic coast lease

               areas, 20 percent to Alaska, 11 percent to Pacific coast areas, and the

               remaining 4 percent to the Gulf of Mexico. USGS spent $289,000 primarily

               for region-nonspecific studies to understand sediment movement as a

               means to predict seafloor instability.

                   Analysis

                   1. Emphasis on geologic studies should be placed on development of

               risk and damage assessment criteria.

                   Need

                   Biochemical Effects of Oil. The effects of spilled oil on marine

               ecosystems and their ability to recover from spilled oil should be

               determined experimentally and, as the opportunity arises, in the field.

               Highly productive, shallow water fisheries such as Georges Bank are

               particularly susceptible to damage by effluents and spills from production

               platforms. The effects of chronic low-level discharges of oil must

               be evaluated in order to predict impact on fisheries.

                                                  11-98
<pb n="123" />

                   Arctic conditions foster special needs; the arctic is not well

               understood, and variations in structure and function need to be measured

               as baseline information.

                   An understanding of how to detect the presence of spilled oil under

               ice, how it disperses, how it accumulates in leads  and brine ponds, and its

               effects on migrating marine mammals and birds must  be obtained.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1979 almost $ 4.8 million was spent to study the behavior and

               effects of oil. 42 percent of  this was directed to Alaska and the Arctic.

               The greatest amount, 80%, more  than $ 3.8 million was funded by BLM; EPA

               spent $2.2 million, or almost 47 percent. Other smaller programs were

               carried out by NOAA, DOE, USGS, FWS, AND NIEHS.

                   $6 million was spent by BLM for physical oceanographic studies

               including transport processes and the behavior or ice and permafrost in

               Alaska. 37 percent of this work was carried out in Alaska. The remainder

               was directed at the south Atlantic coast and Georges Bank area.

                   A small amount, $430,000, was used to study the behavior of oil,

               particularly its association with bottom sediments, while $3.3 million was

               used to measure existing natural and marr-induced distributions of oil

               and trace elements in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

                  'More than $4 million was spent, primarily by EPA and BLM, to study the

               effects of oil on fish, birds, marine mammals, and shellfish. NIEHS

               carried out studies at a more basic level on carcinogenic responses and

               effects on organism defense mechanisms. NOAA funded studies on the direct

               effects of oil on fish and shellfish.

                                                   11-99
<pb n="124" />

                  BLM funded a small project, $561,000, to study oil-spill recovery

              rates in the middle-Atlantic.

                  Analysis

                  1. over 50 percent of the oil and gas effort is directed at Alaska.

              This emphasis should be reevaluated.

                  2. Special attention is being given to study of arctic ice conditions

              and the present effort appears to be appropriate.

                  3. Emphasis should be shifted from short-term to long-term studies

              on the synergistic effects of oil and other pollutants on marine ecosystems.

                  Need

                  Biological Characterization for the OCS Leasing Process. In order to

              assess the impact of OCS oil and gas development, important living marine

              resources and their habitats must be identified so that appropriate

              protective measures can be developed.

                  Present Activities

                  In 1978 more than $12 million was used for ecosystem characterization

              of OCS lease areas, primarily off Alaska, off the middle and north Atlantic

              coasts, and in the Flower Garden Banks area of the Gulf of Mexico.

              $1.2 million was used by EPA for planning overall assessment studies

              and assessment of the Buccaneer Oil Field in the Gulf of Mexico to evaluate

              the ecological consequences in an ongoing oil field.

                  Analysis

                  Emphasis should be placed on identification of sensitive marine areas

              prior to leasing and assessment of impact in existing high production areas.

                  Need

                  Transshipment of Oil and Gas. Disruption of biological habitats by

              pipeline construction and placement across beaches and wetlands must be

                                                 II-100
<pb n="125" />

                                                                                           1.0
                                                                                             811

                 evaluated. Existing pipelines should be monitored to determine

                 actual impacts.

                     Present Activities

                     EPA spent $67,000 in 1978 on a study to consolidate and evaluate

                 existing information on submarine pipelines and their environmental

                 consequences. BLM plans a similar study in the Gulf of Mexico.

                     Analysis

                     Based on the results of the EPA study, additional consideration

                 should be given to studies of pipeline construction taking advantage

                 of existing pipeline monitoring in sensitive areas.

                     Need

                     Development of Preventive and Safety Technology. Offshore platforms

                 are "point sources" of potential spills. They are subject to the harsh

                 marine environment and must.be routinely inspected for potential failures.

                 Techniques and equipment, including unmanned remote controlled equipment,

                 to improve nondestructive testing and inspection of platforms and

                 pipelines must be developed. In addition, equipment to promptly detect

                 smaller discharges from pipelines must also be developed. There is a

                 need to develop the capability for independent evaluation of drilling

                 technology. There may be a special need in the arctic to be able to

                 stop blowouts under ice. Rapid movement of the ice pack may necessitate

                 caping blowouts under ice. Methodology for pollution control under ice

                 should be developed. Risk assessment of the probability and severity of

                 such occurrences should be developed.

                     Present Activities

                     USGS spent $751,000 to develop equipment and methods for preventing

                 drilling accidents and inspecting offshore structures. Approximately

                                                 II-101
<pb n="126" />

                                                                                DRAFF

               30 percent of that was used to develop sensors for hydrocarbon leak

               detection, and blowout prevention systems for deepwater drilling.

               The remainder was used for offshore platform inspection-related development,

               including methods to detect and predict structural failure, underwater

               inspection tools, and improved safety for launching and retrieving divers

               and submersibles in heavy seas.

                   Analysis

                   Greater emphasis is suggested for risk analysis and developlment of

               inspection and prevention systems for Arctic use.

                   Need

                   Oil Spill Damage Assessment. The 1978 outer Continental Shelf Lands

               Act Amendments establish an oil-spill compensation fund which authorizes

               reimbursement for losses to national resources. Questions that need to

               be answered in order to administer this fund are:  what was damaged? how

               was it damaged? and how much was it damaged? We need to be able to

               convert losses of natural resources into equitable monetary values. A

               major research effort is recommended to develop this method.

                    Improved techniques are needed for presenting the results of oil

               spill trajectory analyses in easily understandable form so that

               important differences between alternatives can be highlighted.

                   Present Activities

                   With the exception of a few BLM projects evaluating cultural

               resources (sunken vessels of historic interest) in the Atlantic OCS

               areas which amounted to $400,000 in 197.8, there was no Federal effort

               to relate natural resource losses to monetary values.

                   Analysis

                   1. Methods for evaluating natural resource losses in terms of dollars

                                                11-102
<pb n="127" />

                 should be developed for use in oil-spill liability compensation as well

                 as cost/benefit analysis for ocean-use decisions where pollution risks

                 exist.

                 b. Deep Seabed Mining

                     Manganese nodules and crusts, the focus of the activity, are found

                 throughout the world in fresh and salt water. Commercially exploitable

                 deposits, however, are limited to the deep seabed in international waters

                 of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean at depths of 4,000 to 5,000

                 meters. Although commercial scale mining is not likely to take place

                 before the mid-1980s, exploratory recovery and small-scale prototype

                 mining are currently being carried out. The chronic environmental

                 consequences of removing large quantities of nodules and associated

                 sediments from the deep seabed must be better understood.

                     Needs

                     Surface and-Water Column Effects. Present nodule recovery technology

                 requires large volumes of sea-floor sediment to be brought to the surface

                 along with recovered nodules. In order to determine the effect of this

                 sediment on the ocean surface, the following studies should be carried

                 out.

                     Characterize the particle size range of particulate discharges,

                 their chemical composition, and their physical integrity.

                     Determine the distribution and fate of sediments discharged at the

                 surface.

                     Examine the extent to which surface discharges stimulate or inhibit

                 plankton populations and whether or not dissolved or particulate discharged

                 material enters the marine food web.

                                                       11-103
<pb n="128" />

                  Consider the necessity and practicality of discharge below the

              thermocline.

                  Bottom Effects. In essence, deep-sea mineral extraction stripmines

              the surface of the sea floor and is by necessity highly disruptive. It

              is not known to what degree this disruption will affect deep-sea

              life. Further, the extent to which deep-sea living creatures are important

              to man should be determined. Toward these ends, the following research

              is recommended:

                  Species disturbed by the dredge should be inventoried.

                  Effect of the mining process on deep-sea life should be described

              (e.g., masceration, siltation of habitats or food organisms, attraction

              and destruction, avoidance, etc.)

                  The prospect of regrowing mineral deposits should be investigated.

                  Processing and Production. Nodule processing is likely to be carried

              out at land-based facilities in the near future, but shipboard processing

              may become feasible at some time. The chemical and physical properties

              of processing wastes disposed of at sea should be determined, and the

              effects of alternative disposal and processing schemes should be evaluated.

                  Present Activities

                  In 1978, NOAA spent $990,000 for studies related to the environmental

              consequences of the first successful test of a demonstration scale deep

              seabed mining system. Additional studies in previous years concentrated

              on establishing baselines and defining natural systems in potential

              mining areas. Slightly more than half of the total was used to study

              surface and water-column effects and characteristics of the sediment

                                                 11-104
<pb n="129" />

                                                                                   14

                plume generated by the mining test operation; the remainder went  to

                investigating the impact of the mining dredge on benthic organisms and

                defining the magnitude of the benthic plume created during the test.

                This program is scheduled to be phased out by 1980, as data analysis and

                synthesis are completed.

                    Analysis

                    1. It appears  that some additional work could be done in order to

                completely define the overall environmental consequences of deep seabed

                mining. However,  further studies cannot be cost effectively carried out

                without prototype mining operations by the deep seabed mining industry.

                Since additional prototype mining is not planned for the near future,

                further environmental assessment work should be planned and phased

                in when prototype mining is resumed. This work should be continued for

                a sufficient time to define long-term impacts on the deep seabed.

                    2. Studies to define the chemical and physical properties of nodule

                processing wastes should be undertaken in cooperation with industry. To

                the extent that such wastes may be disposed of at sea, research leading

                to criteria for disposal methods should be undertaken.

                C. Sand, Gravel, Arid Shell Mining

                    Sandf gravel, and shell mining occur primarily on the shallow

                continental shelf, in areas filled with ecologically and economically

                important marine life. It is a use which competes with habitat

                stability, sport fishing, commercial fin- 'and shell-fishing, navigation

                and aesthetics in the coastal zone. Although it does not introduce

                foreign matter and chemicals into the sea, its primary effects

                local areas by extreme disruption of the shallow sea floor.                      ???

                                                  11-105
<pb n="130" />

                   Needs

                   Technology Development. Mining technology that is less disruptive

               to@the water column and surrounding seafloor should be developed. Silt

               containment and pattern mining to match hydrologic features of the area

               should be considered.

                   Long-Term Hazards. Determine the long-term effects, on benthic

               organisms as well as fisheries, of substrate alteration caused by fine

               sedimentary particles that result from mining operations and eventually

               blanket the sea floor over large areas. Determine the effects, on both

               fisheries and coastal erosion, of excavations in the sea floor caused by

               the removal of sand and gravel.

                   Sediment Hazards. Short-term effects on the metabolism and survival

               of organisms confronted with high concentrations of suspended fine sediments

               in the vicinity of mining activities should be determined.

                   Present Activities

                   The current Federal program contains no projects directly related to

               the pollution consequences of sand, gravel, and shell mining; however,

               planning for a 3-year environmental study to begin in 1979 in the Virgin

               Islands was completed.

                   Analysis

                   1. Research and technologies related to dredging operations should

               be assessed for their'applicability to sand, gravel, and shell mining,

               and transferred where possible.

                   2. Additional research should be undertaken where necessary on a

               site-specific basis to resolve unanswered questions on local ecosystem

               impacts.

                                                 11-106
<pb n="131" />

                    3. Considerable progress in sand, gravel, and shell mining  has taken

                place in Japan. These industries should be canvassed for technologies

                that may be of benefit for reducing environmental concerns, in the United

                States.

                d. Brine-Producing Activities

                    Natural and manmade brines are heavier than seawater and tend to

                creep along the bottom in streams until physical mixing disperses them.

                In the few places where this is a problem, effects can be locally devastating.

                to exposed marine life. Current brine-producing activities are desalini-

                zation for production of freshwater and the storage of oil in underground

                or undersea salt domes.

                    Need

                    Brine Disposal. The dispersion of brine and effects of brine disposal

                    on marine organisms and ecosystems in affected areas should be studied.

                    Present Activities

                    In 1978 the DOE spent $2.5 million'to determine the effects of brine

                disposal from salt dome oil storage facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

                This effort is planned to expand considerably over the next year.

                    Analysis

                    Activities in this area appear to be more than adequate for the

                limited area of impact. Considering the relative significance of these

                brine disposal activities, the program should be emphasized less in the

                overall Federal Plan.

                                                11-107
<pb n="132" />

               5. MARINE TRANSPORTATION

                   The primary source of ocean pollution from marine transportation

               results from vessels carrying oil and hazardous chemicals as cargo. The

               major portion of this pollution comes from operational discharges. Efforts

               to reduce operational discharges escalated as a result of the President's

               message of 17 March 1977 concerning the reduction of oil pollution of the

               oceans. The President's initiatives resulted in international agreements

               under the aegis of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organi-

               zation (IMCO). Parallel regulatory actions were also undertaken within

               the United States. These actions are expected to considerably reduce

               the amount of oil introduced into the oceans as a result of operational

               practices.

                   Many agreements were also reached through IMCO which will reduce

               the potential for accidental discharge of polluting substances from

               vessels. Again, a wide range of regulatory actions have been initiated

               in the United States to implement these agreements. These efforts call

               for improved navigation of vessels, installation of inert gas systems,

               strategically located segregated ballast and improvements in the quali-

               fications of shipboard personnel. A vigorous foreign vessel boarding

               program is also being conducted by the Coast Guard to detect and eliminate

               substandard vessels. While these efforts will.have an impact on the

               amount of pollution entering the sea, accidental discharges from vessels

               will continue to occur. The achievement of a zero accident rate in a

               potentially hostile environment such as the sea is unrealistic. Nevertheless,

               additional improvements in the status quo are possible.

                                               11--108
<pb n="133" />

                   Need

                   Transport of Hazardous Materials. Better information is needed   on

               general traffic routes for hazardous chemicals, trends in quantities

               transported, and the hazards of new chemical products.

                   Present Activities.

                   The U.S. Coast Guard identifies cargo of particular hazards and

               establishes specific requirements for their traffic control and transfer

               operations. Although this applies to a limited number of products,

               Coast Guard Captains of the Port are aware of and regulate all hazardous

               cargo movements within their area of responsibility. Data on product

               traffic and quantities are available from various sources but are not in

               a useful form. Information on hazards posed by a wide range of chemicals

               is available in several data storage systems, including the USCG's "Chemical

               Hazards Response Information System" (CHRIS), EPA's "Oil and Hazardous

               Materials Technical Assistance Data System" (OHM-TADS), and the "Chemical

               Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC), operated by the Manufacturing

               Chemists Association. A description of the hazards associated with new

               chemicals to be shipped in bulk on U.S. waters must be submitted to the

               Coast Guard before the cargo can be transported. The number of chemicals

               contained in each of the USCG's and EPA's systems approximates 1,000;

               however, the data points for the hazards of each are not complete.

               CHEMTREC possesses a more complete information file but much of the data

               is maintained as proprietary.

                   Analysis

                   1. Obtain better information on general traffic routes for hazardous

               chemicals and trends in quantities.

                   2. Maintain existing levels of effort to ascertain the hazards associated

                                                    11-109
<pb n="134" />

               with transported cargoes.

                   3. Evaluate the hazards of new chemicals and products under the

               Toxic Substances Control Act.

                   Need

                   Redundant Equipment on Vessels. Additional research on the relative

               reliability among various safety systems is needed.

                   Present Activities.

                   Considerable technical work and analysis has been performed to determine

               the extent to which placing redundant equipment on vessels will reduce the

               potential for pollution incidents. This topic was most recently addressed

               at the International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention,

               and is being reviewed within the Coast Guard's commercial vessel safety

               program.

                   Analysis

                   1. Bec ause there is disagreement on the extent to which redundant

               equipment should be required, despite the recent efforts at the Inter-

               governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, a study effort on the

               relative reliability of safety systems is needed.

                   Need

                   Vessel Design Research. Additional work is needed to determine

               optimum location of strategically placed segregated ballast.

                   Present Activities

                   Work has been accomplished through the Intergovernmental Maritime

               Consultative Organization, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers,

               and Ships Structure Committee.

                   Analysis

                   1. There is still disagreement on the way to optimize the

               location of strategically placed ballast. Additional work in this area

                                                II-110
<pb n="135" />

                would be useful to settle the controversy.

                   ..Need

                    Emergency Cargo Transfer Systems. The utility of requiring emergency

                cargo transfer systems on tank vessels should be determined.

                    Present Activities

                    The question has been investigated on several occasions within various

                fora, including the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization.

                Efforts to date have indicated that the systems would be of limited value.

                    Analysis

                    There is some disagreement concerning the usefulness of such a system.

                An additional study effort which estimates the amount of pollution which

                would potentially be eliminated if such a system were installed on tankers,

                and the estimated cost of placing and maintaining such a system on these

                vessels would serve to resolve the issue.

                    Need

                    Personnel Error. Analysis of past pollution incidents should be

                undertaken to determine how to avoid placing operating personnel in

                situations that lead to human error.

                    Present Activities

                    Efforts to date have been primarily directed at determining the

                training that an individual-must have to function satisfactorily in a

                position, and the level of manning that is needed to safely run a ship.

                The latest work in this area was performed as a result of the Presidential

                Initiatives of 1977 to Reduce Oil Pollution of the Ocean. The efforts

               ,culminated in the 1978 Conference on Training and Certification, sponsored

                by IMCO. The Port and Tanker Safety Act of 1978 also addresses this

                subject in detail. The unique-dangers associated wi  th maneuvering longer

                                                   II-111
<pb n="136" />

               and larger vessels have been recognized and operational tests have   been

               conducted to determine the maneuvering capabilities of these vess els.

               Simulators have been built to permit operators to experience the problems

               of vessel maneuvering in a "safe environment." Recent studies indicate

               human error is a major factor in 80 to 85% of all pollluting incidents.

               Efforts to define what human error is avoidable by changing the work

               environment are ongoing. The work is extremely complex and is only in

               the embryonic stage.

                   Analysis

                   Work to identify how to avoid placing the human in situations where

               there is a high probability of human error should be the focal point

               for the immediate future.

                   Need

                   Pollution Threat From Lightering. Evaluate the threat of pollution

               posed by lightering operations off the coasts of the United States. The

               results will allow prudent drafting of regulations, and will support

               their enforcement.

                   Present Activities

                   Related analyses have been performed in conjunction with the develop-

               ment of Environmental Impact Statements for proposed deepwater ports.

                   Analysis

                       Data should be collected and analyzed to evaluate the pollution threat

               from these operations.

                   Needs

                   Oily Water Discharge Monitors for Vessels. International agreements

               will soon limit operational oil discharges within 50 miles of land. The

               Coast Guard will enforce this agreement. The most efficient enforcement

               mechanism would require vessels to install an oily water monitor that
                                                11-112
<pb n="137" />

                will indicate and record for Coast Guard review when ballast or bilge

                water discharged and whether the oil content exceeded regulatory limits.

                Development of such a device is needed for installation on vessels.

                    Present Activities

                    Various manufacturers indicate that reliable systems are

                within the state of the art. The international shipping community disagrees.

                    Analysis

                    1. An engineering evaluation program is necessary to determine if reliable

                state of the art equipment exists.

                    2. An appropriate development program should be undertaken if the

                demonstration program does not produce an acceptable candidate.

                    Needs

                    Hazards of Nuclear Propulsion Vessels. There have been many studies

                performed to define the risks to the marine environment posed by nuclear

                propulsion aboard vessels, but their results have caused much disagreement.

                As fossil fuel supplies diminish large numbers of nuclear propelled

                vessels may be proposed as an alternative. Risks of ocean pollution

                effects from this change should be analyzed.

                    Present Activities

                    Military nuclear vessels have been built over the past 20 years. Many

                radiation safety studies, including the monitoring of base operational

                areas, have been conducted on a routine basis. No private interest in

                the construction of nuclearvessels has been shown recently.

                    Analysis

                    1. A survey of past work in this area should be performed. A program to

                fill identified information gaps should then be developed.

                                                 11-113
<pb n="138" />

                                                                                        A
               6. OTHER SOURCES OF OCEAN POLLUTION

                   Recreation

                   Recreational activities are probably a relatively minor source of

               pollution. Most forms of recreation-related pollution are related to marine

               waste disposal and marine transportation.

                   Needs

                   Litter Generated by Recr eation.

                      (Although 103,000 tons of litter per year is estimated to be

               generated by marine recreation, this quantity is miniscule compared to the

               solid waste problem of even a small municipality. We do not, however,

               know much about its effects or the loss of aesthetic value caused by this

               waste in coastal waters. There is a need to determine the amounts and

               kinds of pollution resulting from marine recreation, their importance,

               and what, if anything, need be done.

                   Habitat Disruption. 1@ecreational activities that disrupt habitats

               are a source of concern. Although the ecological impacts are not quanti-

               fied, there is great public interest in the problem. Objective assessments

               of ecosystem impact, extent of damage, costs, and benefits are needed to

               support management of recreational resources at the State and Federal

               regulatory level.

                   Marina Design. Criteria for marina design should be developed so

               that flushing characteristics can be maximized and alteration of circulation

               patterns can be minimized in the local environment.

                   Marine Sanitation Devices for Recreational Craft. Devices to hold

               and treat domestic wastes on small recreational boats must meet minimum

               regulatory requirements set mandated by the Clean Water Act. The need for

                                                 11-114
<pb n="139" />

               these regulations has been questioned by the boating industry and boaters.

               Studies should be performed to determine whether chlorinated wastes

               are more or less harmful than untreated wastes and whether wastes can be

               pumped directly overboard from small craft into coastal and estuarine

               waters.

                   Present Activities

                   In 1978 EPA funded one $12,000 study on design of small-boat basins.

                   Analysis

                   1. Marina design studies to improve design criteria for small-boat

               basins should be continued.

                   2. Studies to determine the effects of chlorinated wastes from small

               craft on recreational waters should be carried out with the objective of

               determining when and where, if at all, wastes can be discharged directly

               into coastal estuarine waters.

                   3. Assessment of aesthetic and ecological damage caused by recreational

               use of coastal and underwater Federal lands should be carried out with

               the objective of establishing regulatory and public awareness programs.

               State and local governments should be encouraged to carry out similar

               programs  for areas under their jurisdiction.

               b.  Living Resources

                   Industries that farm or process living.marine resources may pollute

               the ocean.

                   Needs

                   Fish and Shellfish Processing Wastes. The kinds of pollutant problems

               caused by processing wastes should be documented and evaluated for ecolo-

               gical significance. The extent to which these wastes are located or treatment

               problems should be examined.

                                                  11-115
<pb n="140" />

                   Hatchery and Aquaculture Wastes. The polluting consequences  of

               hatchery and aquaculture wastes should be evaluated to determine what,

               if any, waste treatment is necessary.

                   Disease Transmission. Fisheries processing wastes may serve as a

               vehicle for transmission of human and fish pathogens. The potential

               risk of such transmission should be evaluated.

                   Present Activities

                   There were no Federal activities reported in 1978 that directly

               addressed the pollution problems expressed above.

                   Analysis

                   1. Studies should be undertaken in cooperation with the fishing and

               mariculture industries to identify and quantify pollutants in wastes

               discharged from their operations on a site or facility specific basis.

               Likely pollution consequences should be estimat@d using related studies

               in other fields. Regulations, if necessary, should be developed

               using such information.

                   2. Fisheries processing wastes should be evaluated for their human

               and fish disease transmission potential.

                                                 11-116
<pb n="141" />

             7. ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGES

                    In spite of efforts to limit accidental introduction of pollutants to

               the marine environment, such incidents will continue to occur. However, the

               effects of these discharges can be minimized. Risks can be assessed by

               predicting the probability of accidents and the potential magnitude of resulting

               damage to natural resources. These risk analyses provide the information

               needed to make decisions that will minimize potential environmental harm

               and to develop comprehensive approaches for responding to polluting incidents.

               a. Risk Analysis

                    Effective utilization, conservation, and development of ocean and

               coastal resources requires a thorough assessment of the probability of

               pollutants entering the ocean from activities such as oil and gas develop-

               ment, industrial complexes, coastal powerplant siting, and transportation.

               Techniques should also be developed for assessing the value of natural

               resources lost due to polluting incidents. Such information

               is necessary for assessing liability and, in combination with information

               on probability of polluting incidents, for making informed, equitable

               decisions on facility siting and OCS oil and gas development activities

               which may conflict with other beneficial uses.

                   Need

                   Risk Analysis Techniques. Risk analysis techniques which include

               evaluation of social and economic factors and potential for human error

               must be developed for use in decisionmaking relative to marine pollution.

                   Present Activities

                   Environmental Impact Statements are required for any project involving

               Federal funding, or for which-a Federal permit is needed. The state of

                                                 11-117
<pb n="142" />

                                                                                        J'A
                                                                                         Am

               the art for evaluating risks involved in handling and transporting oil is

               good and has been evaluated in several study efforts. Data on past hazardous

               chemical incidents is lacking. Risk assessment in this area is therefore

               weak. Little has been accomplished in comparing the social and economic

               ramifications of discharges with those of limiting a particular activity.

               This is primarily due to the lack of knowledge concerning other than the

               acute effects of pollutants. Studies to reduce the potential for human

               error are not routinely conducted. Post accident analyses of major accidents

               are usually conducted by regulatory agencies and often result in new require-

               ments to eliminate identified causes.

                    Analysis

                    1. Levels of marine activity that might result in unacceptable levels

               of pollution should be defined. Current legislation should then be altered

               to require the submission of an environmental impact statement by all sponsors
                                                                                     01
               of activities that exceed identified levels.

                    2. Appropriate regulatory agencies should intensify their efforts to

               identify and eliminate operating conditions with potential for encouraging

               human error.

                   Need

                   Loss Evaluation Methods. Standard methods for evaluating losses of

               natural resources from polluting incidents and for converting these losses

               to monetary values for liability determinations are needed.

                   Present Activities

                   Work has been accomplished in this area in a number of forms. Assessment

               schemes for accomplishing this exist in the States of Virginia, California,

               Washington, and Florida. None of these is as extensive as is considered

               necessary for national standardization.

                                                 11-118
<pb n="143" />

                    Analysis

                     1. A review of existing and proposed schemes should be undertaken.

                    2. A standard method for loss evaluation should be developed to administer

                 the fund established by the 1978 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments.

                 A loss evaluation methodology will also be needed to administer superfund

                 legislation.

                     Need

                     Spilled Pollutant Movement Models. Mathematical models have been

                 developed to predict pathways that oil and/or hazardous chemicals can

                 follow when released into the marine environment. Improved models which

                 consider mixing and toxicity effects are needed to perform risk analyses

                 and to assist personnel involved in planning cleanup and mitigation strategies

                 during response actions, as well as to assist researchers in predicting

                 distribution of pollutants which will result from planned waste disposal

                 discharges.

                     Present Activities

                     A number of two-dimensional oil-spill trajectory models exist. Development

                 of three-dimensional models is ongoing. A Hazard Assessment Computer System

                 (HACS) is operated by the Coast Guard to describe the behavior of chemicals

                 'spilled on water and to calculate the hazards presented by these spills.

                 Graphic output displays to show the relationship between spill concentration,

                 vapor dispersion, evaporation rate, venting and sinking and flame size and

                 location as a function of time have been developed for a variety of chemicals.

                 This permits locations, flame fronts, explosive and toxic areas to be

                 estimated. Vulnerability models are now being developed to predict possible

                 loss of life and property damage at specific geographical locations for

                 various sized accidents. Tests to verify the HACS method are underway.

                                                  11-119
<pb n="144" />

                   Analysis

                   1. Development of three-dimensional oil-slick trajectory models and

               vulnerability models should continue.

                   2. Testing efforts to verify the HACS model should be intensified so

               that improvements can be made. This latter effort should be given the

               highest of priorities due to its potential for saving lives, as well as

               limiting environmental damage. Better coordination in the development of

               oil trajectory models also appears to be needed.

               b. Spill Cleanup and Response

                   Oil and hazardous material spills range from catastrophic releases to

               incidents of minor impact on the oceans. The capability to mount a rapid

               and effective response to polluting incidents is vital to minimizing their

               effects. Although much effort has been expended by the Federal government

               in this area, considerable work remains to be done, particularly in relation

               to spills of hazardous materials. Effective response equipment and techniques

               are required. Contingency plans must identify geographical areas by their

               susceptibility to pollutants if optimum strategies are to be arrived at

               during responses to pollution incidents.

                    Need

                    Protection of Birds. Water bird populations often are harmed severely

               by large oil spills. Methods to keep birds from landing in waters affected

               by acute discharges of oil or hazardous materials should be developed.

                   Present Activities

                   Bird repelling equipment exists in the form of noise making devices.

               They are marginally successful and lose their effectiveness as birds become

               accustomed to the noises produced by the devices.

                                                 11-120
<pb n="145" />

                   Analysis

                1. Innovative ways to keep birds from oiled areas should be developed.

                Ideally a nontoxic chemical that can be sprayed on oiled water surfaces

                would be easiest to use.

                   Need

                   Shoreline Vulnerability Classification. Various shoreline types within

                a coastal zone are not equally vulnerable to spilled oil or hazardous chemicals.

                Coastal habitats need to be classified according to-their vulnerability. The

                information can then be incorporated in contingency plans for responding to

                pollution incidents in these areas.

                   Present Activities

                   Techniques for classifying shoreline areas with respect to ecological

                sensitivity have been proposed. Although a great deal of work has been

                done in the past, general agreement has not been reached as to the criteria

                for accomplishing this. A comprehensive mapping of vulnerable areas has

                not been carried out.

                   Analysis

                   Standard guidelines for classifying the vulnerability of coastal areas

                should be established. An effort should then be undertaken to catalog

                the classification of coastal regions within the United States.

                   Need

                   Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Systems. Oil containment and

                recovery equipment that is deployable and will function in the highest sea

                states that oil can be expected is needed.

                   Present Activities

                   Devices exist that will function in five foot, wind driven seas. An

                ongoing program to improve operating procedures is expected to permit the

                                                 11-121
<pb n="146" />

               equipment to be used safely in seven foot seas.

                   Analysis

                   1. Refinements in operating procedures and existing systems are expected

               to permit oil to be recovered in up to 10-foot seas. Tests on the natural

               dispersion of oil slicks indicate that most oils will be driven into the

               water column when sea conditions exceed ten to twelve frost wind driven

               seas. A program of refining existing technology is therefore recommended.

               The current level of effort is considered appropriate.

                   Need

                   Spill Response Chemicals. Spilled oil penetrates sand, causing damage

               to burrowing invertebrates,and heavier oils tenaciously coat rocks. In

               these situations, cleanup efforts can be as disruptive of ecosystem integrity

               as is the spill itself. Shoreline damage from these causes could be lessened

               if nontoxic chemicals could be sprayed on a jeopardized beach to make sand

               less permeable and oil less adherent to rocks.

                   Present Activities

                   Efforts to date have included pretreatment of beaches with dispersants

               and surface collecting agents. Success has been marginal, and concern

               has been raised about the toxicity of the agents.

                   Analysis

                   1. Increased activity in this area is very desirable and has the

               potential for greatly reducing damage to beach areas.

                   Need

                   Hazardous Chemical Spill Response Equipment. Better equipment and

               techniques to clean up hazardous chemical spills are needed.

                   Present Activities

                   An active program is being carried out by EPA and the Coast Guard

                                                 11-122
<pb n="147" />

               to determine methods to detect, identify, and mitigate the threat posed by

               spills of hazardous chemicals. The problem is extremely complex. Although

               progress is being made much work remains to be accomplished.

                   Analysis

                   1. The current planned program is considered appropriate. Further coordi-

               nation between the principal agencies is recommended to reduce the potential

               for duplication and maximize the potential for carrying out piggyback development.

                   Need

                   Separating Oil from Water. Oil recovery devices recover a mixture of

               oil and water. A means to separate water from the recovered oil, possibly

               with a nontoxic chemical demulsifier, would greatly reduce the logistics

               of oil recovery operations.

                   Present Activities

                   Efforts are underway to develop a mechanical oil-water separator for

               this purpose. Several commercial firms claim to have developed such a

               demulsifier.

                   Analysis

                   1. Arrange for operational tests of existing chemicals.

                   .2. Test toxicity of any demulsifiers shown to be successful. Future plans

               should be developed after the results of the above tests become available.

                   Need

                   Measurement of Oil Slicks. Oil spilled on the ocean becomes a

               series of variable patches rather than a single concentrated mass. These

               patches differ in size and concentration. A means is needed to measure

               the amount of oil in a given slick so that cleanup operations may be

               directed toward slicks posing the greatest threat to environmentally or

               economically sensitive areas.

                                                 11-123
<pb n="148" />

                                                                                   tz

                    Present Activities

                    Electronic air surveillance monitoring equipment has been developed

               that can detect the presence of oil on the surface of the ocean under any

               weather conditions. The device, however, can only crudely estimate the

               amount of oil in a slick.

                   Analysis

                   1. State-of-the-art sensors from other applications should be tested

               in existing surveillance packages. Additional development should be undertaken

               only if these sensors fail to yield acceptable results.

                   Need

                   Definition of Harm. For enforcement purposes the harmful quantity

               of a polluting substance must be defined and must be readily measureable. The

               existing definition of a harmful quantity of oil is a visible sheen. This

               definition meets the above criteria. However, controversy exists about its

               validity. Better scientific bases for defining harmful quantities of oil

               and hazardous substances are needed.

                   Present Activities

                   Quantities of oil that may be harmful in territorial waters of the U.S.

               and the contiguous zone are defined as a visible sheen. No definition

               exists beyond the contiguous zone. An EPA notice of proposed rulemaking

               has designated package units as harmful quantities of hazardous substances.

                   Analysis

                   Research is needed to validate these criteria or to propose equally

               enforceable substitute definitions. The activity is crucial to the Federal

               enforcement program and should be given the highest priorities.

                                                    11-124
<pb n="149" />

                   Need

                   Oil Dispersant Effects. In defined situations, the Environmental

               Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard can authorize use of chemical dis-

               persants to remove spilled oil from water surfaces. There is a continuing

               controversy concerning the possible effects the use of dispersants might

               have on the environment. Research should be performed to resolve this

               matter and to develop effective chemical dispersants having lesser health

               and environmental side effects.

                   Present Activities

                   Limited joint industry-government (EPA and NOAA) programs are being

               conducted on the open ocean testing of dispersants. Results on environmental

               concerns have been inconclusive to date. Tests to develop operational

               procedures have been performed and have been successful in general.

                   Analysis

                   1. A joint industry-government effort should be initiated to define

               the questions that must be addressed to determine the possible side effects

               of utilizing dispersants. A program to obtain the data necessary to address

               the key issues should then be planned and implemented.

                   Need

                   Scientific Response. Although undesired, polluting incidents

               provide a unique opportunity to study the effects of a pollutant on the

               natural environment.  If the capability to marshall a competent, effective

               scientific team exists, much useful information can be gained regarding

               pollutant behavior and effects. Such information is also valuable to

               future risk analysis efforts.    Participating scientists would

               also be available to provide support to cleanup personnel on environmental

                                                 11-125
<pb n="150" />

               matters. The capability to mount effective scientific response to pol-

               luting incidents should be developed and maintained.

                   Present Activities.

                   The National Response Team of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances

               Contingency Plan calls for NOAA and EPA to designate personnel as Scientific

               Support Coordinators (SSCs) in the coastal and inland regions of the ten

               Federal regions. SSCs are responsible for coordinating post spill damage

               assessments and research at a spill of opportunity. They are also required

               to organize local scientists to provide scientific support to the Federal

               On-Scene Coordinators, the individuals responsible for insuring that prompt

               actions are taken to remove and/or mitigate the effects of the pollutants.

               To date several SSCs have been designated.

                   Analysis

                   1. The remaining SSCs should be designated and the local network of

               scientists established for each region of the country.

                   2. Funding for scientific support teams should be identified as a

               budget line item.

                   Need

                   Detection of Hazardous Materials Dumping. In recent years considerable

               illegal dumping of hazardous materials has taken place in coastal wetlands,

               and other remote areas. Surveillance techniques should be developed to

               detect these activities and dumpsites.

                   Present Activities

                   The Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA) and Resource Conservation and

               Reclamation Act (RCRA) form the framework of a mechanism for maintaining

               control over hazardous chemicals from the cradle to the grave. To date no

               regulations have been issued to implement these acts. Prototype in situ

                                                 11-126
<pb n="151" />

                sensors are also being developed to detect certain classes of chemicals.

                Aerial photography has-been successfully used to detect repositories for

                hazardous wastes. Some 300 chemicals have recently been designated as

                hazardous substances. The discharge of designated harmful quantities of

                these substances will be a violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control

                Act (FWPCA) effective in June, 1979. The Coast Guard and Environmental

                Protection Agency will maintain a system of surveillance on land, water,

                and air to enforce these regulations.

                     Analysis

                     1. Prompt enforcement will deter illegal dumping.

                     2. The development of in situ sensors should be continued. Their

                use is more likely to be to detect illegal discharges in remote locations

                where discharges frequently occur.

                     3. Continued and improved use of aerial surveillance to determine

                extent of damage is recommended.

                     Need

                     Development of Spill-Response Capability for Ice-Infested Regions.

                Offshore oil development has begun in Alaska and it is expected to increase

                substantially in the coming decade. There is also considerable oil transport

                through Alaskan and Northeastern U.S. waters when ice is present. There is

                a need to develop procedures and equipment to detect, control, and cleanup

                and/or abate oil pollution in ice-infested waters.

                    Present Activities

                    The Coast Guard has performed a comprehensive study of pollution response

                needs in ice-infested regions. They have performed initial investigations

                of oil detection and movement and modified some pollution response equipment

                                                 11-127
<pb n="152" />

              for active use. However, existing capability falls far short of near-

              term need. The Coast Guard work is coordinated with the Canadian Department

              of the Environment's Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Program which has similar

              goals.

                  Analysis

                  Develop procedures and equipment to detect, control and cleanup oil

              pollution in ice-infested waters of Alaska, the Northeast, and the Great

              Lakes.

                                                11-128
<pb n="153" />

                         D. IMPACT ON HEALTH, LIVING RESOURCES AND RECREATION

                    In carrying out the foregoing analysis of the Federal effort to address

               specific ocean pollution problems, it became apparent that ongoing and future

               research activities should be undertaken within a comprehensive, system-

               oriented research design. There are certain research and development and

               monitoring needs that are basic in nature, but are required in order to

               guarantee that suffucient scientific background is available to identify

               and solve problems and to recognize how research on specific problems fits

               into comprehensive protection of the marine environment. In looking at

               these needs, it was evident that they fall into three general categories

               that can be affected by pollution: human health, living resources and

               recreation.

               Human Health

                    Ocean pollution has direct and indirect impact on human health.

               Directly, health can be affected if humans are in physical contact with

               coastal waters that are contaminated with pathogens or toxins. Indirectly,

               health can be affected by bioaccumulation and concentration of these materials

               in the food chain from sea creatures to man. Many of man's ocean use act-

               ivities are sources of pollutants which are a threat. However, not all

               ocean pollution research, development and monitoring should be directed

               toward uses.. Some should be directed toward human health, but focus on

               the direct and indirect toxic effects of pollutants regardless of source.

                                                  11-129
<pb n="154" />

                    Needs in the human health area that have not been specified prev.iously

               include the following:

                    0 The need to determine the health effects of microorganisms, synthetic

               organics and other pollutants entering the food chain.

                    o The need to identify, evaluate and rank potential human health

               hazards resulting from ocean pollution,

                    o The need to determine the human health effects of di,rect contact

               with ocean pollutants.

               Living Resources

                    Oceans and estauries are the life-support systems of living marine

               resoiurces. Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, birds, and mammals

               serve human needs and desires related to food uses, industrial and medicinal

               uses, education, and aesthetics. World commercial landings (including

               production from aquaculture) of marine and anadromous fish, shellfish and

               plants increased from 33.6 million metric tons to 60.0 million metric tons

               in 1975.

                    Important recreational activities are also supported by living marine

               resources. In the United States in 1970, an estimated 715,000 metric tons

               of fish were taken by marine sport fishing alone. The number of marine

               sport anglers increased from 6.3 million in 1960 to 9.5 million by 1970,

               and their expenditures increased from $6.26 million in 1960 to an estimated

               $1.8 billion by 1975.

                    The Federal program should recognize the regional differences in

               living resources and supporting ecosystems and develop a coordinated approach

               comprosed of three study elements: (1) characterization of selected eco-

                                              11-130
<pb n="155" />

               systems and communities; (2) field and laboratory experiments on the effects

               of pollution in biota; and (3) ecosystem modeling.

                    Needs in the living resources areas that have not been specified

               previously include the following:

                    o The need to identify biological control factors within ecosystems

               that are particularly sensitive to pollution.

                    o The need to characterize changes which have occurred in natural

               areas as a result of pollution and to determine whether such changes can be

               reversed.

                  o the need to identify critical habitats for populations of marine

               animals, seabirds, an d marine endangered species that are most vulnerable

               to pollution threats.

               Recreation and Aesthetics

                    Recreation is one of the largest and fastest growing uses of the

               coastal zone. With 75 percent of our national population concentrated in

               30 coastal states, there is tremendous,demand for access to waterways and

               shoreline for recreational uses ranging from swimming, water skiing, boatong

               and diving to painting, wildlife observation, shell collecting, sun bathing,

               and simply e.njoying the landscape. Swimming, boating and fishing are the

               most popular recreational activities.

                      In 1975, 48.7 million Americans spent $4.8 billion while using

               9.7 million boats service by 5,995 marinas. Of this $4.8 billion, $1.8

               billion is direct economid impact of marine recreational fishing.

                                              11-131
<pb n="156" />

                   In estimating the potential damage from marine pollution, aesthetic

               values are often ignored because it is difficult to qualify the benefits.

               The quality of the ocean environment is an intangible asset that belongs

               to all mankind.

                   Needs in the recreation and aesthetics area that have not been specified

               previously include the following:

                   o The need to determine the availabliity of and demand for marine

               recreational resources and to estimate the value to those resources to

               society.

                   o The need to quantify the potential value loss to marine recreation

               from marine pollution, particularly petroleum and pathogens.

                   o The need to identify regional and national public goals and values

               for marine recreation as it relates to other marine resources uses.

                   o The need to identify and evaluate alternative multiple uses of

               coastal and ocean areas and potential conflicts between pollution activities

               and increased recreation.

                   o The need to develop regional marine pollution indices that effec-

               tively communicate the quality of the marine environment to the general

               public.

                   o The need to evaluate the importance of the aesthetic value of the

               marine environment, including the "contemplative" value of unspoiled natural

               habitats and potential loss to this value due to marine pollution.

                                              11-132
<pb n="157" />

                                            III. NATIONAL NEEDS

                    Analyses in the previous section have been rigorous in comparing

                the current Federal effort with needs to develop information of use to

                decision makers on pollutants, regional problems, and sources of pollution.

                During this evaluation, common needs became apparent that require a special

                organizational approach beyond that applicable to specific information

                needs. This section presents those common needs, whi ch much be considered

                high priority, for monitoring, measurement technology, quality assurance9

                and information dissemination. It then presents a priority ranking of

                the needs for regional impacts and sources of pollution developed in the

                previous section. (These preliminary designation of priorities were

                developed through consultations with involved agency representatives and

                through the public workshop at Tysons Corner, Va. All priorities are

                preliminary and subject to change.)

                                               A. Common Needs

                    The Federal Program for Ocean Pollution Research, Development, and

                Monitoring must satisfy a broad array of information needs. To accomplish

                this, effective coordination and management of the Federal effort is es-

                sential. In reviewing specific ocean pollution problems that need atten-

                tion and the existing Federal Program, it is apparent that there are common

                needs that will facilitate more effective management and systems ongoing

                and planned activities. These common needs are summarized below.

                1. MONITORING

                    One of the key sources of information about the health and safety of

                our coastal oceans and its resources comes from marine pollution monitoring

                activities. The basic, overriding purpose for monitoring marine pollution

                is to obtain time-series data sets that can be used to detect significant
<pb n="158" />

               change in the measured parameters, and to utilize this information to pro-

               vide timely warning and other advice to management so appropriate actions

               may be taken.

                  Marine pollution monitoring can be defined as systematic, time-series

               observations of predetermined pollutants or pertinent components of the

               marine ecosystem over a length of time that is sufficient to determine the

               (1) existing level, (2) trend, and (3) natural variations of the measured

               parameters in the water column, sediments, or biota.

                   Research and marine pollution monitoring are mutually supportive

               activities. Monitoring -- i.e., systematic, time-series observations of

               phenomena to determine their existing level, trend, and natural variations

               -- may be part of a research strategy. On the other hand, to initiate an

               actual, operational monitoring activity, research is needed to determine

               what components of the given ecosystem or what pollutants should be moni-

               tored, what should be the frequency of observations, how long a phenomenon

               should be observed and what area, and how the observations should be inter-

               preted. Pollution monitoring needs fall into four categories:

                  1. Surveillance of pollutant inputs, such as operational discharges

               of industrial and domestic effluents and ocean dumping. The purpose of

               this activity is to set guidelines and standards, to check compliance with

               regulations, and to ensure that pollutant dispersion characteristics and

               effects are within previously established limits.

                   2. Monitoring of the ecosystem (water body, sediments, and biota)

               to determine potential hazards to human health and marine biota, to assist

               in developing or refining of control strategies and environmental indica-

               tors, and to advance research and technology for the protection of human

               health and the marine ecosystem.

                                                  111-2
<pb n="159" />

                    3. Monitoring of food resources to determine their safety   for human

                consumption. These activities are routinely performed to check whether

                viral or bacteriological microorganisms, toxic metals, or pesticides are

                present in seafood at known harvesting areas subject to pollutant impacts.

                The results are used to protect the public from consumption of contaminated

                seafood and to regulate fishing and shellfishing areas.

                    4. Monitoring of spills, i.e., the existence, fate, and dispersion of

                hazardous substances, entering the ecosystem via accidents. Activities are

                usually short-term and concerned with the immediate ecological and human

                health impacts. Results are used to provide warning to local authorities

                and the public about expected impacts, and to guide containment and clean-

                up operations.

                    The key pollutants that need to be monitored include synthetic organics,

                chlorination produrts, artificial radionuclides, disease causing micro-

                organisms, trace metals, nutrients, and fossil fuel compounds.

                    Evaluation: Approximately $14.5 million, or 10 percent of the Federal

                Marine Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Program was spent

                on actual monitoring operations in FY 1978. of these funds $2.1 million

                (14 %) was used for surveillance of pollutants inputs, $8.5 million (58 %)

                for monitoring of the ecosystem, and $3.2 million (23 %) for monitoring

                of food resources. No funds were identified specifically in the Federal

                inventory for monitoring of spills -- these activities were financed by

                other operational activities of the Federal Agencies and form part of the

                funds listed the "other" or "support" category. It is estimated that

                approximately $3 million were spent on activities related to monitoring of

                spills, bringing the total marine pollution monitoring effort to $17.5 mil-

                lion, or roughly 12 percent of the total Federal Program.

                                                   111-3
<pb n="160" />

                                                                                             Y@

                     The distribution of the marine pollution monitoring efforts for     FY  1978

                by Federal Agencies is the following: EPA $7.3 million (50 %), HEW        $3.1

                million (21 %), DOI/BLM $2.7 million (19 %), DOI/FWS $0.8 million (6

                and NOAA $0.6 million (4        Again, it is estimated that EPA, NOAA, and

                DOT/CG spent another one million dollars each on monitoring of hazardous

                materials spills, which funds are part of the "support" category of the

                Federal inventory.

                     Operational Monitoring activities in the Great Lakes region total $4.5

                million (31 %), in the Northeast Atlantic coast $4.7 million (33 %), and

                Gulf of Mexico $2.7 million (19 %). The remaining $2.6 million (18 %) is

                roughly evenly distributed among all the coastal regions of the United States.

                     In FY 1978 EPA spent $4.4 million on the Great Lakes program, $0.4

                million on the Chesapeake Bay program, $1.5 million on Ocean Dumping moni-

                toring, $0.4 million on the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Sys-

                tem compliance, and it is estimated that $0.6 million out of a total of

                $11.3 million is the direct marine part of the State and inter-state agency

                monitoring activities support. Miscellaneous smaller programs received

                $0.04 million.

                     HEW's National Shellfish Sanitation program received $2.3 million, the

                pesticide and metals in fish program was funded at the $0.8 million level.

                     The DOI/FWS program efforts for FY.1978 were the following: National

                Pesticide Monitoring Network for Birds -- Wetland, $0.12 million; National

                Freshwater Fish Monitoring Network - Estuaries, $0.1 million; Trans-Alaska

                Pipeline - Port Valdez, $0.15 million; Great Lakes Surveillance, $0.06

                million; Sturgeon and Striped Bass in San Francisco Bay, $0.25 million;

                and miscellaneous programs, $0.06 million. DOI/BLM spent $2.7 million on

                monitoring related to OCS Environmental Studies.

                                                     111-4
<pb n="161" />

                    The DOC/NOAA FY 1978 monitoring programs included $0.08 million for

                Prince William Sound hydrocarbon monitoring, $0.06 million for Chesapeake

                Bay, $0.44 million for Northeast Coastal United States, and $0.05 million

                for miscellaneous small monitoring activities.

                    Conclusion: The review and analysis of the Federal monitoring efforts

                indicate that with the exception of an adequate concern for the long-term,

                chronic, sublethel effects of pollution of the Nation's coastal waters,

                the present monitoring efforts may be responsive to the most critical needs.

                The combined monitoring efforts of private industry, and local, State,

                and Federal governments are intended to assure that the general public is

                protected from health hazards caused by the consumption of contaminated seafood

                products and exposure to polluted swimming areas. The monitoring of hazardous

                materials spills in the coastal waters is adequately accomplished through

                an interagency effort primarily run by the Coast Guard., the EPA, and the

                NOAA.

                    Although there are programs for effluent monitoring, beach surveill-

                ance, shellfish monitoring, and monitoring of the dumping and spills of

                hazardous materials, most of these efforts are in areas where the problems

                already have been identified, and are oriented toward some specific local

                concerns. Many areas of the country that are not near to major urban and

                industrial centers are not being actively monitored for pollutants. Moni-

                toring in these areas usually ensues after a deleterious event or activity

                .has been identified. This is a crisis response philosophy; the approach

                should be one of prevention. A large part of prevention is, of course,

                source control, but a systematic, regional monitoring program of the coastal

                ecosystem should be able to alert State and Federal agencies to potentially

                dangerous pollution situations before these actually occur.

                                                  111-5
<pb n="162" />

                   It is essential to have private industry, local, State, and Federal

               agencies involved in a cooperative marine pollution monitoring program.

               Each have specific needs and concerns with varying perspectives. The key

               problem is that often their efforts are conducted without the knowledge of

               each other, and data and information are not readily available to share

               among potentially interested managers.

                   To remedy this situation allpertinent monitoring of industry,

               local, and State and Federal agencies should be coordinated as part of a

               National Ocean Pollution Monitoring Program. A Federal Agency should over-

               see that this coordination is established, that the pollution monitoring

               information is converted into "management - use" products, and that region-

               al pollution monitoring programs are implemented to take care of the long-

               term concerns of our coastal ecosystems.

                  The management and organizational needs that have to be accomplished

               are considered equal in importance to those of the scientffic needs: These

               are:.

                  o Establish federally funded and managed ocean pollution monitoring

               programs for each highly stressed coastal region of the United States

                  o Federal agencies, and states, should coordinate their monitoring

               programs for specific coastal regions and discrete bodies of water.

                  o Establish a management information system and a central data bank

               for all of the existing local, State, and Federal marine pollution monitor-

               ing programs, and their data.

                   o An Interagency Steering Committee be established to advise on the

               establishment and implementation of a National Ocean Pollution Monitoring

               Program.

                                                  111-6
<pb n="163" />

                    o Provide for the interpretation and synthesis of monitoring informa-

                tion and data products and-establish an effective transfer of these to

                managers and the public.

                    o Guidelines should be established for quality controls in monitoring

                data acquisition and analysis technology. Federal data and analysis tech-

                nology relevant to marine pollution should meet these guidelines. Federal

                support of relevant academic and industry research and monitoring should

                require adherence with the guidelines.

                    o Monitoring data acquisition format should be standardized. Monitor-

                ing and research efforts should be increased by the Federal agencies to

                develop, test, and adopt standard marine bioassay methods.

                    o An increased Federal effort should be directed toward advancing moni-

                toring instrumentation technology (sensor development) and analysis method-

                ology.

                    o Designate a lead Federal agency responsible for the coordination and

                management of the National Ocean Pollutlon Mon1toring Program, and provide

                staff for a management group.

                2.  MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

                    Measurement technology is an area of development that applies to almost

                all programs, for this reason it deserves.special recognition. It-is

                frequently the limiting factor in developing meaningful information for

                ocean pollution problems. Reliable field and laboratory measurement systems,

                accurate and repeatible testing techniques, and sample collection equipment

                which permits sampling consistency and does not alter or contaminate samples

                are all prerequisites essential for carrying out meaningful research and moni-

                toring. Present state of the art measurement of virtually all chemical and

                biological parameters is limited to laboratory techniques and not in-situ

                                                  111-7
<pb n="164" />

                measurements. Methods are not standardized and few laboratories have the

                capability of performing analyses with acceptable accuracy and precision.

                Methods are labor intensive, expensive and not easily automated or

                transferrable to the field.

                   Development in the measurement area is frequently underemphasized in the

                competition for scarce dollars, partially because development often requires

                substantial lead time and cannot produce immediate results. As a result,

                research and monitoring are performed, but data may be questionible, or

                worse yet, accepted as definitive, when in fact, measurement and sampling

                error may provide an information base inadequate for decisionmaking or

                comparative purposes.

                   A special emphasis is required in the measurement technology area

                since development will benefit all agencies in almost all areas of ocean

                pollution, research, and monitoring. Some interagency collaboration is

                already underway; such efforts should be expanded.

                   Needs

                   Develop standardized and automated laboratory procedures and tech-

                niques for analyses of trace metals, toxic materials, and nutrients to

                allow comparison of data from different sources.

                   Develop reliable accurate in-situ sensors and portable systems for

                measuring trace metals, toxic substances and nutrients. Such systems are

                needed in situations where laboratory analysis of individually collected

                samples is not efficient or adequate such as (1) unattended monitoring

                from buoys or structures, (2) obtaining ground truth for remote measurement

                systems, (3) monitoring compliance for pollutant discharge limits, (4) con-

                trolling pollutant levels in controlled ecosystem experiments, and.

                (5) where expected pollutant and biological activity is patchy requiring

                large quantities of data for study.
                                                  111-8
<pb n="165" />

                    Develop standardized and automated sampling systems for collection of

                uncontaminated water, sediment and organism samples.

                   ..Develop bioassay techniques and associated equipment for evaluating

                response of benthic and free swimming organisms to complex mixes of pollu-

                tants in the laboratory and in the field. Explore the feasibility of

                using biological organisms as*indicators of pollution and as concentra-

                tion mechanisms for low level pollutants in the marine environment.

                    Develop standardized procedures and equipment for evaluating the sublethel

                effects of pollutants on organisms and their behavior.

                    Assess the relative roles of remote sensing, in-situ and laboratory

                measurements for use in ocean pollution research and monitoring taking

                into account the spatial coverage, accuracy and capabilities of various

                types of measurement techniques and platforms. Measurement strategies

                should include the use of cost-effective mixes of measurement techniques

                and platforms.

                    In 1978 $7.5 million was spent for development of measurement systems

                to support ocean pollution research and monitoring programs. Largest

                emphasis in the area, more than half, was placed on development of remote

                measurement systems. The greatest portion of this, $2.1 million, was

                used primarily by the Coast Guard for surveillance equipment; $1 million

                was used by other agencies for development of additional remote sensing

                capabilities. Less than $700,000 was used for development of other types

                of sensors and detection systems. The other half of the measurement develop-

                ment program, $3.7 million, was used for development of chemical and biological

                methods and systems, for measurement and testing related to ocean pollutants.

                One million eight hundred thousand dollars was directed at chemical methods

                for petroleum, pesticides and water quality parameters; an additional $1.8

                                                   111-9
<pb n="166" />

               million was directed toward biological measurements. Biological programs

               were funded almost entirely by EPA, primarily for development of (1) bioassay

               techniques, (2) methods for detecting pollutants in organisms, (3) organisms

               as indicators of pollution, (4) ecosystem toxicity testing techniques, and

               (5) equipment for organism and ecosystem toxicity testing.

                                                 III-10
<pb n="167" />

                                                                                          rJ

                3. QUALITY ASSURANCE

                    Quality assurance cuts across all aspects of the Federal ocean pollution

                research, development, and monitoring program; it is a necessary element

                for accountability in regulatory and enforcement programs and could be a

                major means of achieving increased efficiency and cost reduction in research

                and monitoring programs.

                    In order for the information developed through the Federal Program to pro-

                vide adequate information upon which to base policymaking for use of the

                Nation's oceans, and to serve as a basis for regulatory and adjudicatory

                decisions, quality assurance is of paramount importance in its development

                and dissemination. Unfortunately, allocation of resources,to quality as-

                surance programs is usually done with great reluctance, and although many

                programs claim to have quality control, external signs of quality assurance

                are seldom visible.

                    Quality assurance involves insuring the maximum reliability

                for each measurement. Reliability is maintained through the use of

                standardized techniques, instrumentation and methodology along with ade-

                quate auditing procedures throughout all stages of sampling, measure-

                ment and recording in both the field and laboratory. It is essential that

                information be reported on measurement uncertainty, including errors

                inherent in sampling, instrumentation, and analytical techniques, and that

                this information be retained with the original data to be made avail-

                able to secondary users. Key needs for quality assurance are:

                    'o Develop "tools" for use in quality assurance programs. (1) Handbooks

                of standard methodology for sampling, analysis and reporting; (2) standards

                (traceable to national and internationally accepted standards) for cali-

                bration of equipment and measurement systems; (3) stable reference samples
<pb n="168" />

               for intercalibration programs; and (4) standard procedures for test, evalua-

               tion and calibration of field instrumentation and performance requirements

               for design.

                   o Establish adequate surveillance programs including a continuing inter-

               facility measurement comparison program.

                   o Establish requirements for periodic certification of analytical

               laboratories.

                   o Maintain a listing of accredited private, academic and Federal

               facilities with capabilities for testing, calibration and performance

               of ocean pollution research and development and monitoring activities.

                   Evaluation: Less than 1 percent of the current Federal program

               ($856,000) was spent on quality assurance programs in 1978, by EPA,

               NOAA, and DOE. Both the Coast Guard and BLM plan to initiate small pro-

               grams in 1979. In 1978, 38 percent ($330,000) of the. quality assurance

               program was spent on the development of reference samples and chemical

               methods comparisons. An additional 27 percent ($235,000) was spent

               developing tools and standards for instrument calibration and comparisons.

               Only $65,000 was directed to the calibration of operational field instrU7

               mentation. The remaining $227,000 in the program was for interlaboratory

               comparison of bioassay procedures and toxicity testing.

               4. DATA AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

                   In order to assure that the maximum benefit is obtained from ocean

               pollution research, development, and monitoring activities, adequate

               consideration must be given to establishing a mechanism for dissemi-

               nation of information derived from these activities. Two very important

               concerns are that the information be available in a timely manner and in

               a useful form. It will be of little use to decisionmakers if the neces-

                                                111-12
<pb n="169" />

               sary base of information lags years behind today's problems. Likewise,

               to be of maximum use the information, when available, must be in a form

               which is easily understandable to the average individual.

                   Particular concern must be given to see that the resulting monitoring

               phases of the program are delivered to users in the shortest possible time.

               Large amounts of data are likely to be collected, stored, and retrieved

               during monitoring operations.

                   In evaluating the national needs for marine pollution related infor-

               mation, there are two levels of information needs. The first level,

               management information, is required in order to assure that projects are

               properly run, goals and objectives are being met, and results are avail-

               able in the shortest possible time. This type of system would normally

               require that the particular agency funding the project submit the project

               information at the earliest possible stage in the planning process. If

               possible, the information should be updated during the operational phase.

                   Management information on completed and ongoing work related to type

               of research activity, geographical area of investigation, funding agency,

               performing agency, principal investigation and*project goals should be

               included in this type of system.

                   The second level of information needs includes data and information

               generated as a result of the work itself. Significant gains in the

               utility of Federal ocean pollution research, development and monitoring

               programs can be achieved through centralized storage of these types of

               information. The intent of this centralized accumulation of information

               is twofold. Initially, the usefulness will be to assure that all results

               and findings will be obtainable by contacting one source. An additional

               benefit will be achieved by utilizing the information in the system to

                                                  111-13
<pb n="170" />

               determine whether or not additional research, development, and monitoring

               projects should be supported.

                   Evaluation: Present data and information systems and programs can be

               classified according to the following categories of information systems:

                   0 "Hard data systems, which contain alphanumeric records of actual

                      measurements or observations.

                   0 Data referral systems, which index or inventory data collections

                      and contain only descriptions of data files.

                   0  Bibliographical information systems, which contain citations to

                      books, journal narticles, technical reports, and other publications.

                   0  Document distribution systems, which disseminate copies of technical

                      reports and other publications.

                   0  Management information systems, which contain information about

                      scientific projects: project name, sponsoring organization, name

                      of principal investigation, source of funding, and personnel

                      information.

                   Agencies of the Federal Government are responsible for the dissemination

               of information relevant to their own programs. Many of the government's

               systems, while being large and comprehensive, are not directly related

               to, or in support of, ocean pollution, research, and development and

               monitoring activities.

                   Although most of these activities are single purpose,.they do serve

               the overall needs of marine pollution activities in some respects.

               These include the DOA, DOC, DOD, DOE, HEW, DOI, DOT, and EPA.

                   Problems which have handicapped the dissemination of marine pollution

               data have been the inherent multidisciplinary nature of these types of

               data. Traditionally, Government agencies have not distinguished pollution

                                                  111-14
<pb n="171" />

                data and information from normal data and information efforts. For

                example, the National Technical Information Service of the Department of

                Commerce is the central point in the United States for the public sale

                of Government-funded research and development reports and other analyses

                prepared by Federal agencies, their contractors, or grantees. This

                collection exceeds one million titles. However, only a fraction of these

                are related to marine pollution. A similar case is with the Notice of

                Research Project file of the Smithsonian Institution. This activity

                maintains a file of all current research activities -- whether or not

                they are pollution related.

                    Conclusions: A complete data and information service system is needed

                to support ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring

                activities including planning and data management through delivery of

                published results. The establishment of an Ocean Pollution Data and

                Information Network is recommended to meet those needs. The main purpose

                of this system would be to serve the needs of the general public and

                be responsive to the needs of secondary data users, those who use

                environmental data and information subsequent to the use for which the

                data were originally intended. the proposed system includes components

                that have three basic functions:

                    (1) The Subject Area Data/Information Center -- where numeric and

                         textual environmental data are available, generally covering

                         one subject area or discipline.

                    (2)  The Depository -- where textual information is available.

                    (3)  The Central Coordination and Referral Office -- where inventories

                         of environmental data and information, and management information

                         about ocean pollution programs, can be obtained.

                                                 111-15
<pb n="172" />

                    An effective data and information operation needs a substantial

                commitment in money and people from agency management. A percentage of

                the funds appropriated for ocean pollution research, development, and

                monitoring programs should be allocated to support the data and information

                systems program. Experience has shown that a 3- to 4-percent surcharge

                on data collecting activities is adequate to maintain such a system.

                    Implementation: Section 8 of PL 95-273 designates NOAA as the lead

                Federal agency responsible for the dissemination of information relevant

                to ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring. Consistent

                with that is the recommendation that NOAA be designated as the Central

                Coordination and Referral Office within the proposed Ocean Pollution

                Data and Information Network.

                    The Central Coordination and Referral Office plays a major role in

                the implementation of the data and information system. This office

                provides a single stop service to assist the public and others in their

                search for data and information concerning, or resulting from, ocean

                pollution research, development, and monitoring programs. Two primary_

                functions of this office are:

                Referral:   A central referral point is needed where the public can

                    be supplied or receive direction about its ocean pollution data

                    and information needs.

                Management: A management role is required to direct the subordinate

                    data and information activities, and to analyze the overall Federal

                    efforts.

                    The Central Coordination and Referral Office, because it is the most

                visible and the most important component of the proposed data and

                information system, should receive priority consideration in the

                                                  111-16
<pb n="173" />

               implementation of P.L. 95-273. The activities of this office to a certain

               degree exist today.

                                                 111-17
<pb n="174" />

                                                                            DRAFT

               SUMMARY OF COMMON NEEDS

               MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

               1. Standardized and Automated Procedures. Develop standardized and automated

               procedures and techniques for analysis of trace metals, toxic materials and

               nutrients to facilitate comparison of data from different sources.

               2. In-Situ Sensors and Portable-SZstems. Develop reliable, accurate in-situ

               sensors and portable systems for measuring trace metals., toxic substances and

               nutrients.

               3. Automated Sampling Systems. Develop standardized and automated sampling

               systems for collection of uncontaminated water, sediment and organism samples.

               4. Bioassay Techniqui@s. Develop bioassay techniques and associated equip-

               ment for evaluation of response of benthic and free-swimming organisms to

               complex mixes of pollutants in the laboratory and in the field; explore

               the feasibility of using organisms as indicators of pollution and as

               concentration mechanisms for low-level pollutants in the marine environment.

               5. Integrated Measurement Sysytems. Assess the relative roles of remote

               aircraft.and satellite sensing, in-situ sensing and shore based laboratory

               measurements for comprising cost effective, integrated measurement schemes

               for use in ocean pollution research and monitoring taking into account the spatial

               coverage, accuracy and capabilities of the various types of measurement

               techniques and platforms.
<pb n="175" />

                                                                               DRAFT

                QUALITY ASSURANCE

                1. Laboratory Certification. Establish requirements for periodic cert-

                ification of analytical laboratories.

                2. Listing of Accreditied Facilities. Maintain a listing of accredited

                private, academic, and Federal facili.ties with capabilities for testing,

                calibration and performance of ocean pollution research, develop ment and

                monitoring activities.

                3. Quality Assurance "Tools". Develop "tools" for use in quality assurance

                programs including: (1) handbooks of standard methodology for sampling,

                analysis and reporting; (2) standards (traceable to national and inter-

                nationally accepted standards) for calibration of equipment and measure-

                ment systems; (3) stable reference samples for intercalibration-programs;

                and (4) standard procedures for test, evaluation, and calibrat ion of

                field instrumentation and performance requirements for design.

                4. Auditing. Establish adequate audit programs including a continuing

                interfacility measurement comparison program.

                5. Quality Assurance Guidelines. Establish guidelines for quality control

                in monitoring, data aquisition and analysis technology to be met by all

                relevant federal and federally supported academic and industrial research

                and monitoring programs.

                                               111-19
<pb n="176" />

                                                                            DRAFT
               HUMAN HEALTH

               1. Health Effects From Food Chain Accumulation. Undertake selected studies

               to determine the human health effects of microorganisms, synthetic organics,

               and other pollutants entering the marine food chain.

               2. Risk Analyses of Health Hazards. Perform risk analyses to identify,

               evaluate, and rank potential human health hazards resulting from ocean

               pollution.

               3. Health Effects of Direct Contact. Determine the human health effects

               of direct contact with ocean pollutants.

               LIVING RESOURCES

               1. Ecosystem Sensitivity. Identify biological control factors within

               ecosystems that are particularly sensitive to pollution.

               2. Lessons from Impacted Areas. Use impacted areas to identify effects

               of pollution by characterizing changes in natural areas and recovery rates

               of impacted areas.

               3. Critical Habitats. Identify critical habitats for populations of

               marine animals, sea birds, and marine endangered species that are most

               vulnerable to pollution threats.

               RECREATION AND AESTHETICS

               1. Regional Surveys of Recreational Resources. Perform regional surveys

               of the availability of, and demand for, marine recreational resources including

                                              111-20
<pb n="177" />

                                                                            DRAFT

               estimates of the value to society of such resources.

               2. Value Loss. Estimate the potential value loss to marine recreation

               from marine pollution, particularly petroleum and pathogens.

               3. Goals and Values. Identify regional and national public  goals and

               values for marine recreation as it relates to other marine resource uses.

               4. Alternative Ocean Uses..- Identify and evaluate alternative

               uses of coastal and ocean areas and potential conflicts of pollution

               activities with increased recreation.

               5. Regional Indices. Develop regional indices of marine pollution levels

               that effectively communicate to the general public the "environmental

               quality" of the oceans.

               6. Aesthetic Value. Evalute the importance of the aesthetic value of

               the marine environment to society including the "contemplative" value

               of unspoiled natural marine habitats and the potential loss to this value

               due to marine pollution.

                                            111-21
<pb n="178" />

                                                                            DRAFT

              RECREATION

              (L) 1. Po  llution Generated by Recreation. Determine the amounts and kinds

              of pollution resulting from marine recreation, their importance, and what,

              if anything, need be done.

              (L) 2. Habitat Disruption. Determine the impact of recreational activities

              that disrupt habitats, including the development of objective assessments of

              ecosystem impacts, extent of damage, and cost and benefits to support management

              of recreational resources at the state and federal regulatory level.

              (L) 3. Marina Design. Develop criteria for marina design so that flushing

              characteristics can be-maximized and alteration of circulation patterns can

              minimized in local environments.

              (L) 4. Need for Marine Sanitation Devices on Recreational Craft. Determine

               whether chlorinated domestic wastes from small recreational boats are more

              or less harmful than untreated wastes and whether wastes can be pumped directly

              overboard fr'om small craft into coastal and estuarine waters.

              LIVING RESOURCES

              (L) 1. Fish and Shellfish Processing Wastes. Document the kinds of pollutant

              problems caused by fish and shellfish processing wastes and evaluate their

                                          111-22
<pb n="179" />

                                                                           DRAFT

              ecologic significance. The extent to which these wastes are facility location

              or treatment problems should be examined.

              (L) 2. Hatchery and Aquaculature Wastes. Evaluate wastes from hatchery and

              aquaculture facilities for pollution consequences so that the need for waste

              treatment can be determined.

              (L) 3. Disease Transmission. Determine the potential for fisheries processing

              wastes serving as a vehicle for transmission of human and fish pathogens and

              evaluate the risk from such transmission.

                                         111-23
<pb n="180" />

                                                                                          DRAFT

                                             B. REGIONAL PRIORITIES

                   In this section preliminary priorities have been assigned within regions;
                                        high (H), medium (M) and low (L)
                   North Atlantic Region

              (H) 1. Georges Bank Oil and Gas Exploration. Assess and monitor the

                   probable effects of impending oil and gas exploration and possible

                   development on Georges Bank, especially on local ecosystems and highly

                   productive fisheries.

              (m)  2. Spill Damage Assessment. Assess the damage from probable oil and

                   hazardous materials spills to determine the need for protection of high

                   value recreational areas and rare and endangered species habitats.

              (m), 3. Powerplant-and Oil Refinery Sitings. Assess proposed coastal power-

                   plant and oil refinery sitings, include surveys, research on effects,

                   and conceptual and numerical models.

              (H)  4. Waste Disposal. Assess the environmental impacts of waste disposal

                   near major coastal urban centers.

                   Middle Atlantic Region

              (H)' 1. New York Bight Area. Develop a comprehensive, coordinated scientific

                   program to obtain environmental, economic, and social information upon

                   which to base future environmental, resource, and waste-management decisions

                   in the New York Bight area.

                                            111-24
<pb n="181" />

                                                                               DRAFT

              (H) 2. Chesapeake Bay Assessment. Carry out a comprehensive assessment on

                  the effects of agricultural and urban runoff, sedimentation, nutrients,

                  and sewage on the biota of Chesapeake Bay, particularly on its aquatic

                  vegetation, in order to determine the long term viability and sustenance

                  of this system.

              (H) 3. Environmental Monitoring. Develop a system for monitoring not only

                  the water quality but the long term fate and effects of pollution in this

                  coastal region, particularly around the New York Bight and Chesapeake Bay.

              (M) 4. OCS Oil and Gas Development. Determine the impact of outer continental

                  shelf oil and gas development; including surveys, research, monitoring,

                  and modeling of the offshore and coastal systems.

              (M) 5. Evaluation of Post Long Island Sound Studies. Evaluate past studies

                  in Long Island Sound to determine long term trends (on the order of 50

                  years) of the impact of human activities on this body of water. High

                  priority should be given to evaluating the extent to which sewage and
                  other materials can be disposed of in open water and @he consequences

                  of these actions on the living resources.

              (H) 6. Assessment of Fish and Shellfish Stocks. Assess and monitor the stocks

                  of fish and shellfish of the area in order to protect the public from

                  contaminated seafood.

                                               111-25
<pb n="182" />

                                                                               DRAFT

                 South Atlantic Region

             (H) 1. Estuarine Ecosystems. Develop an understanding of estuarine ecosystems,

                 and their links with oceanic fishes, through a comprehensive research

                 program including laboratory and field studies and modeling, in order

                 to determine to what extent habitats can be stressed before altering

                 the balance within the ecosystem.

             (M) 2, Nonpoint Source of Pollution. Carry out comprehensive studies to

                 determine the fates and effects of nonpoint source inputs of pollutants

                 in selected estuarine systems such as those around Savannah, Ga., and

                 Charleston, S.C., and within the barrier island system.

             (M) 3. OCS Oil and Gas Development. Determine the potential impacts of OCS

                 oil and gas development in this region, with particular concern for the

                 effects of OCS activities on estuarine dependent fisheries and offshore

                 shellfish beds.

             (M) 4. Oil Spills and Discharges off Southern.Florida. Carry out selected

                 impact and recovery studies for potential oil spills and operational

                 discharges on coral reefs, mangrove habitats, and recreational resources

                 off sourthern Florida.

             (M) 5. Sand Dredging near St. Thomas, V.I. Assess the environmental implica-

                 tions of offshores and dredging near St. Thomas and determine the effect

                 this may have on the near shore biota.

                                             111-26
<pb n="183" />

                                                                                Us"'RAFT

             (L) 6. Pharmaceutical Waste Dumping near Puerto Rico. Determine the fate

                 and effects of the dumping of pharmaceutical wastes at oceanic disposal

                 sites near Puerto Rico.

             (H) 7. Habitat Preservation of-Endangered Species. Perform a comprehensive

                 study of the degree of habitat preservation (by such means as designation

                 of refuge areas, limited access areas, etc.) required for the p ropagation

                 of endangered marine species, especially ocean turtles and manatees, two

                 species particularly suffering from coastal development.

                 Gulf of Mexico Region

             (H) 1. Nonpoint Source Pollutants from the Mississippi River. Determine the

                 effects and fates of nonpoint source pollutants carried by the Mississippi

                 River into the Northern Gulf,

             (M) 2. Long Term Effects of Petroleum Development. Determine the long term

                 (longer than 25 years) effects of petroleum development on living resources

                 and offshore and nearshore environments in order to facilitate historical

                 ecological comparisons.

             (M) 3. Louisiana Wetland and Estuarine Assessment. Assess the effects of

                 wetland and estuarine modifications along the coast of Louisiana-including

                 the effects of channeling, dredging, filling, and spoiling and the extent

                 to which physical alteration can be continued before productivity of the

                 ecosystem is permanently lost,

                                            111-27
<pb n="184" />

             (L) 4. Petrochemical Industrialization on Galveston Bay and the Texas Coast.

                 Determine the long term effects of increasing petr.ochemical and industrializa-

                 tion on Galveston Bay and the Texas coast in order to develop means to

                 protect the aquatic environment and public heatlh.

             (H) 5. Development in West Florida Coastal Embayments. Determine the long

                 range effects of increasing coastal development on the West Florida coastal

                 embayments in order to establish to what extent an area, such as Tampa Bay,

                 can assimilate the impacts of urbanization and industrialization.

             (M) 6. Disposal of Brine from Salt Dome Storage Sites. Monitor and study the

                 dispersion of brine disposal from salt dome storage sites for the Strategic

                 Petroleum Reserve.

             (m) 7. Drilling Mud Discharges on the Flower Gardens Banks. ilonitor and assess

                 the effects from drilling mud discharges and other OCS-related activities on

                 the Flower Garden Banks.

                 Pacific Southwest Region

             (M) 1. Petroleum and Mineral Development. Assess the impacts of pollutants

                 associated with marine petroleum and mineral development and transport.

             (M) 2. Nonpoint Source Impacts. Determine the effects of nonpoint source

                 pollutants on coastal ecosystems and evaluate the contributions from

                 agricultural chemicals, runoff, aerial fallout, and vessel wastes.

                                            111-28
<pb n="185" />

                                                                              DRAFT

             (H) 3. Point Source Ocean Outfalls. Continue investigation of the ecological

                 implications of waste disposal at point source ocean outfalls in Souther n

                 California.

             (H) 4. Impacts of Geohazards on OCS Petroleum Development. Examine the potential

                 impacts of geohazards on OCS petroleum development.

             (H) 5. Impacts of OCS Petroleum Development on Critical Habitats. Assess the

                 potential impacts of OCS petroleum development on offshore critical habitats,

                 particularly the ChannelIslands, Santa Barbara Channel, and Tanner/Cortes

                 Bank areas.

                 Pacific Northwest Region

             (H) 1. Effects of multiple-Source Pollutants on Sensitive Habitats. Identify

                 and assess the impact of multiple-source pollutants on sensitive habitats

                 of migratory marine species (birds, mammals, and anadromous fish).

             (M) 2. Effects of Effluents on Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay. Identify and

                 characterize the major marine components and processes which are involved

                 in critical environmental problems related to industrial and municipal

                 effluents in Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay.

             (L) 3. Petroleum Development. Examine the potential impact of OCS petroleum

                 development and transhipment on sensitive coastal habitats and identify the

                 potential geological hazards.

                                        111-29
<pb n="186" />

                                                                           DRAFT

             (L) 4. Monitoring the Farallon Islands Low-Level Radiation Disposal Sites.

                 Continue monitoring of the low-level radiation disposal site near the

                 Farallon Islands to assess the dispersion, accumulation in the biota,

                 and possible transfer to man of these pollutants.

             (M) 5. San Francisco Bay Dredge and Fill Activities. Provide a study of

                 the historical, current, and planned dredge and fill activities in

                 San Francisco Bay and describe the ecosystem impact of these coastal

                 alterations.

                 Alaska Region

             (H) 1. Ice Damage in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Determine the potential

                 of 'ice shoving, beach overriding, and ocean floor gouging to damage near-

                 shore structures and pipelines in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.

             (M) 2. Clean-Up of Oil Spills in Ice"Covered Regions. Develop new technology,

                 including biodegradation, to control and clean-up pil spills in ice-covered

                 regions.

             (L) 3. Sand and Gravel Removal on the Beaufort Sea Coast. Determine and

                 assess the impact of removal of sand and gravel for construction in the

                 Beaufort Sea coastal zone.

             (L) 4. Petroleum Degradation by Microorganisms. Determine the role   of

                 Microorganisms in degradation of petroleum in Arctic coastal environments.

                                            111-30
<pb n="187" />

                                                                            uRAFT

             (M) 5. Petroleum Development Effects on the Bowhead Whale. Evaluate the

                  threat of petroleum development to the bowhead whale and the reproduction,

                  migratory routes, and overwintering range of these animals.

             (H)  6. Pollutants Effects on Sensitive Habitats. Assess and predict the

                  potential effects of pollutants on sensitive habitats, for example, the

                  ice edge, which has been shown to be biologically important and the

                  environmentally fragile Pribilof Islands.

             (L) 7. Logging, Pulp Mill, and Fish Processing Effluents. Determine the

                  effects of logging, pulp mill, and fish processing effluents on water

                  quality and ecosystems.

             (H)  8. Geological and Physical Hazards. Study the effects of geological and

                  physical hazards on shipping, structures, and pipelines, particularly on

                  Book Inlet, Prince William Sound, and the Beaufort Sea.

                  Hawaii and Pacific Islands Region

             (H) 1. Seabed Mineral Extraction and Processing. Assess the impacts of

                  pollutants associated with potential development of deep seabed mineral

                  extraction and processing.

             (L) 2. Radionuclides in Areas of Former Weapons Testing. Assess the fate

                  and effect of radionuclides in areas of former weapons testing.

                                           111-31
<pb n="188" />

                                                                            DRAFT

                 Great Lakes Region

                 1. Multiple I puts of Pollutants. Monitor and analyze the multiple

                 inputs of pollutants to the Great Lakes paying special attention to the

                 nonuniformity of discharge from whole watersheds and even subbasins.

            (H)  2. Diagnostic Management models of Pollutant Fates and Effects. Develop

                 diagnostic management models of the fates and effects of pollutants entering

                 the Great Lakes.

            (H)  3. Fates and Effects of Pollutants from Diffuse Sources. Monitor the

                 fates and effects of the pollutant inputs to the Great Lakes from diffuse

                 sources with particular emphasis on transformation products, remobilization

                 products, and synergistic effect!@.

                                                111-32
<pb n="189" />

                                                                           DRAFT

                                           C. SOURCE PRIORITIES

              In this section preliminary priorities have been assigned to major source
              categories. In addition, priorities within categories have been indicated
              as high (H), medium (M) and low (L).

              HIGH PRIORITY

              COASTAL LAND USE PRACTICES

              (H) 1. Inventory of Upstream Sources of Ocean Pollution. Develop and

              maintain a regional inventory of upstream sources of ocean pollution,

              including municipal and industrial outfalls, agricultural and urban runoff,

              dredging and dredged material disposal operations, port operations and

              recreation.

              (H) 2. Estaurine Pollutant Levels. Determine existing levels of critical

              ocean pollutants in estauries on a regional bdsis.

              (H) 3. Models of Regional Coastal Pollutant Flux. Develop general models

              for input and flux of pollutants through the narrow coastal region (wetlands

              and bays to three miles offshore).

              (H) 4. Coastal Facility Site Selection Guidelines. Develop use-specific

              guidelines for coastal facility site selection which take into account

              environmental, safety, and socio-economic impacts.

              (H) 5. Impact of Multiple Facilities. Develop mehtods for adequately

              assessing the overall impact of multiple facilities.in specific geographic

              regions and carry out these assessments in selected areas.

                                               111-33
<pb n="190" />

                                                                          DRAF-7

              (H) 6. Coastal Zone Dredging and Channelization. Determine the physical

              and biological effects of dredging and channelization in the coastal zone

              on a site specific basis.

              (M) 7. Reductions in Aquatic Vegetation. Determine the effects of reductions

              in aquatic vegetation (marshes, swamps, mangrove forrests, seagrasses, etc.),

              on productivity and survivability of marine living resources.

              MUNICIPLE SEWAGE OUTFALLS

              (H) 1. Pollutant Movement and Alteration. Determine the chemical and

              physical processes which disperse, concentrate, and cycle municipal waste

              pollutants in the ocean to improve the scope, accuracy, and precision of

              predictive evaluation of discharge permit applications.

              (H) 2. Synthetic Organic Pollutants. Identify sources, distribution

              persistence, and bioaccumulation of synthetic hazardous chemicals in the

              marine environment, including food web transfers and possible pathways

              to man.

              (H) 3. Outfall Monitoring. Determine the degree and rate of recovery of

              outfall polluted environments after sewage treatment is applied or discharges

              are stopped.

              (H) 4. Sediments. Develop standard methods and criteria for evaluating the

              pollution content of sediment quality so that suitable treatment technologies

              and strategies can be chosen.

                                            111-34
<pb n="191" />

                                                                              DRAFT

               (M) 5. Biostimulant Research. Evaluate nutrient characteristics of

               particular inshore marine ecosystems, separating natural from manmade

               variations and accurately determining the degree and persistence of change

               that any proposed municipal discharge is likely to produce in order to

               improve the ability to choose waste water treatment and outfall sites.

               This is of high priority in the Great Lakes area.

               (H) 6. Microbial Pollutants. Determine the risks of introducing microorganisms

               into the marine environment, including studies on sources, identification

               of dangerous species, persistence, transformation, measurement, diagnosis of

               health and ecological effects, development of risk protocols, prevention

               of microbial contamination, and costs and benefits of abatement and prevention

               technologies.

               (H) 7. Municipal Waste Treatment Technolgoy Improvement. Develop alternative

               waste treatment technologies, particularly for geographic areas of immediate

               hazard such as connecting channels of the Great Lakes and the broad continental

               shelf zone of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Technological, ecological, and

               economic costs and benefits of such technologies should be determined at the

               pilot feasibility stage or before.

               (H) 8. Monitoring Strategies. Develop new monitoring strategies which in-

               clude consideration of the individual and cumulative effects of outfalls upon

               large water masses and the ecosystems within them.

                                             111-35
<pb n="192" />

                                                                              DRAFT

              INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISPOSAL

              (H) 1. Synthetic Organic Pollutants, Metals, and Inorganic Chemicals.

              Determine the sources, distribution, persistence, and bioaccumulation

              of synthetic materials, metals and inorganic chemicals in the marine

              environment, including food web transfers and possible pathways for

              human exposure.

              (H) 2. Industrial Bioactive Compounds. Identify the ecological and

              economic effects of nutrient-rich industrial wastes in areas where they

              are significant, such as Puerto Rico, and also determine the costs and

              benefits of abatement technologies, both existing and under development.

              Information derived in these research and development activities should

              be included in predictive risk assessment methods which are under concurrent

              development.

              (H) 3. Monitoring Industrially Polluted Environments. Conduct both

              ecological and economic analyses of degree and speed of recovery of

              industrially polluted ocean environments.

              RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

              (M) 1. Dumpsite Monitoring. Perform ecosystem recovery studies at

              phased-out dumpsites to determine time and degree of recovery and residual

              radionuclide abundance, distribution, and ecological effects.

                                          111-36
<pb n="193" />

                                                                                        -I&amp; C

              (H) 2. High-Level Radioative Wastes. Evaluate methods for emplacement

              and for determining potential consequences of disposal of high level radioactive

              waste in the oceans.

              STEAM ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

              (H) 1. Geological Hazards. Assess the geological hazards in the vicinity

              of operating and proposed coastal nuclear power plants in order to estimate the

              risk of large-scale radionuclide release as a result of seismic activity.

              (M) 2. Ecological Impact of Cooling Water. Evaluate to what extent damage

              to the young of commerically, recreationally, and ecologically important

              marine species affects the abundance and distribution of the adults. The

              impact of low-level chronic thermal stress in combination with effluent

              chemical pollutants from coastal and offshore power pl ants should also be

              evaluated.

              (M) 3. Transport of Pollutants from Power Plants.     Characterize the

              physical, chemical, and geological conditions tha t influence pollutant

              transport and behavior in thevicinity of coastal and offshore power

              plants on a site specific basis prior to powerplant siting.

              (L) 4. Habit Modification Resulting from Power Plant Construction.

              Evaluate alterations to sediment transport, current patterns, and ecosystem

              structure resulting from construction of offshore power plants.

                                          111-37
<pb n="194" />

                                                                            L)    PA

              (L) 5. Entrainment and Impingement. Investigate the ecosystem impacts of

              biological losses resulting from entrainment and impingement of organisms

              in cooling water systems on a site specific basis.

              OIL AND GAS

              (H) 1. Geological Hazards. Determine the geological hazards that effect the

              siting of platforms and other offshore structures paying special attention to

              sediment instabilities and seismicity. Special problems associated with develop-

              ment in the Arctic, such as the effects of ice gouging and permafrost require

              additional concern.

              (H) 2. Biochemical Effects of Oil. Determine the effects of spi.lled oil on

              marine ecosystems and the ability of such systems to recover from spills,

              especially under Arctic conditions. The effects of long-term chronic discharges

              of oil must be evaluated in order to predict impact of fisheries.

              (H) 3. Detection and Effects of Oil Spilled Under Ice. Develop means to

              detect the presence of spilled oil under ice and its dispersion as it accumulates

              in leads and brine ponds, and its effects on migrating marine mammals and

              birds.

              (H) 4. Evaluation of Drilling Technology. Develop the capability for

              independent evaluation of drilling technology.

                                            111-38
<pb n="195" />

              (H) 5. Blowouts-Under Ice. Assess the probability, likely effects, and

              severity of blowouts under Arctic ice and develop methods for control of

              pollution from such incidents.

              (H) 6. Oil Spill Damage Assessment. Develop methods to convert losses

              of natural resources due to oil spills into equitable monetary values in

              order to provide answers to questions needed for authorization of reimburse-

              ment from the oil spill compensation fund.

              (M) 7. Transshipment of Oil and Gas. Evaluate the impact on, and dis-

              ruption of, biological communities by pipeline construction across beaches

              and wetlands.

              (M) 8. Preventive and Safey Technology for Platforms and Pipelines. Develop

              techniques and equipment, including unmanned remote controlled equipment, to

              improve the non-distructive testing and inspection of platforms and pipelines

              and to detect promptly, smaller discharges from pipelines.

              (M) 9. Discharges from Drilling and Production Operations. Determine the

              physical transport and ecological effects of drilling muds and cuttings

              particularly on sensitive marine areas such as coral reefs, fish and shell-

              fish spawning and nursey areas, and bottom communities in the vicinity of

              drilling platforms. A variety of overboard discharge methods for operational

              drilling platform wastes should be investigated and, based on this information,

              protocols should be established for composition and disposal of discharges

              of concern.

                                              111-39
<pb n="196" />

                                                                           DRAFT

              (M) 10. Oil Spill Trajectory Analyses. Improve techniques for presenting

              the results of oil spill trajectory analyses in easily understandable forms

              so that important differences between alternatives can be highlighted.

              (L) 11. Biological Characterization for the OCS Leasing Process. Identify

              important living marine resources and their habitats that may be impacted by

              OCS oil and gas development so that appropriate protective measures can be

              developed.

              TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

              (H) 1. Assessment of Risk. Obtain better information on general traffic

              routes for hazardous chemicals, trends in quantities transported, and the
              hazards of new chemi"Cal products.

              NAVIGATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS

              (H) 1. Personnel Error. Analyze past pollution incidents to determine ways

              to avoid placing operating personnel in situations that lead to human error.

              (M) 2. Redundant Equipment on Vessels. Carry out additional research on the

              relative reliability among various safety systems on vessels.

                                                111-40
<pb n="197" />

                                                                            DRAF7

              (M) 3. Vessel Design Research. Determine methods for optimizing the location

              of strategically placed segregated ballast.

              (L) 4. Emergency Cargo Transfer Systems. Determine the utility of requiring

              emergency cargo transfer systems on tank vessels.

              OIL TRANSPORTATION

              (M) 1. Pollution Threat from Lightering. Evaluate the threat of pollution

              from lightering operations off the coast of the United States.

              (M) 2. Development of an Oily Water Discharge Monitor for Vessels. Develop

              an oily water monitor for installation on vessels that will indicate and re-

              cord, when ballast or bilges are discharged and whether the oil content of

              these discharges exceeds the internationallly agreed limit.

              (L) 3. Hazards of Nuclear Propulsion Vessels. Continue evaluation of

              the risks of pollution posed to the marine environment from large-scale

              use of nuclear propulsion vessels.

              RISK ANALYSIS

              (H) 1. Risk Analysis Techniques. Develop risk analysis techniques which

              include social and economic factors and potential for human error for

              use in decision making relative to marine pollution.

              (H) 2. Methods for Evaluation of Losses. Establish standard methods

              for evaluating losses of value and natural resources resulting from

              incidents of accidental discharge, for liability determinations.

                                          111-41
<pb n="198" />

                                                                           DRAFT

               (H) 3. Mathematical Models for Risk Analysis. Develop improved

               models which include mixing processes and toxicity effects in order

               to perform risk analyses and to assist personnel involved in

               planning clean up and mitigation strategies during response

               actions.

               SPILL CLEANUP AND RESPONSE

               (H) 1. Protection of Birds. Develop refined methods to keep birds from

               landing in waters affected by acute discharges of oil or hazardous

               materials.

               (H) 2. Shoreline Vulnerability Classification. Classify coastal

               habitats according to their vulnerability and incorporate this information

               in contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents in selected

               critical areas.

               (M) 3. Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Systems. Develop oil

               containment and recovery systems that are deployable and will

               function in high sea states.

               (H) 4. Spill Response Chemicals. Develop nontoxic chemicals that

               can be sprayed on beaches jeopardized by spills in order to

               protect organisms by making sand less permeable and rocks less prone to

               oil coating.

                                               111-42
<pb n="199" />

                                                                        DRAFT

              (H) 5. Hazardous Chemical Spill Response Equipment. Develop better

              equipment and techniques to clean up and mitigate damage from hazardous

              chemical spills.

              (M) 6. Oil/Water Separator. Develop a means to separate oil from the

              oil/water mixture that is obtained during clean up in order to reduce the

              logistic difficulties of such operations.

              (M)  7. Measurement of Oil Slicks. Develop a means to measure the

              amount of oil in a given slick so that cleanup operations may .

              be directed toward slicks posing the greatest threat to environmentally

              or economically sensitive areas.

              (H) 8. Definition of Harm. Develop a definition of a harmful quantity of

              pollution arising from a spill and also means to measure this quantity easily

              to meet enforcement needs.

              (H) 9. Oil Dispersant Effects. Determine the environmental effects of

              chemical dispersants presently used in certain defined situations to

              remove spilled oil from surfaces in coastal areas. Research

              should also be performed to develop more effective chemical dispersants that

              have reduced health and environmental side effects.

              (H) 10. Scientific Response. Develop and maintain the capability to mount

              effective scientific response to polluting incidents in order to take

                                             111-43
<pb n="200" />

                                                                                  A F 7

              advantage of these incidents to gain useful information regarding pollutant

              behavior and effects.

              (M) 11. Detection of Hazardous Materials Dumping. Develop surveillance

              techniques to permit the detection of illegal dumping of hazardous

              material, particularly that which takes place in unpopulated wetland areas.

                                        111-44
<pb n="201" />

                                                                             uRA..'r].

                 MEDIUM PRIORITY

               SEWAGE SLUDGE DUMPING

               (M)  1. Pollution Identification. Complete the chemical identification of

              sludge pollutants at existing sludge dumpsites.

               (M)  2. Pollutant Transport and Fate. Complete oceanographic studies of

               fractionization, dispersion, and distribution of sludge pollutants within

               the water column and bottom sediments.

               (M) 3. Metals and Synthetic Organic Pollutants. Complete studies of

                 bioaccumulation of heavy metal and synthetic organic pollutants attributable

                 to sl udge dumps.

                 (M) 4. Dumpsite Monitoring. Perform ecosystem recovery studies

                 at representative phased-out dumpsites to determine time and degree of

                 recovery and residual pollutant abundance, distribution and ecological

                 effects.

                 (L) 5. Risk to Human Health. Evaluate risks to human health resulting

                 from sludge dumping at sea so th at risk analyses for sea disposal can be

                 compared with risk analyses for land disposal.

                                          111-45
<pb n="202" />

                                                                               D RAFT

               DREDGED MATERIALS DUMPING

               (H) 1., Prevention Technology. Develop means of dredging and dredge

               material emplacement to minimize resuspension of materials and to contain

               (M) 2. Ecolo2ical Impact. Describe the ecological impact of disposal of

               dredged materials in the coastal environment.

               or isolate materials during disposal operations.

               (M) 3. Disposal Site MonitorLng. Determine the ecological effects of

               dredge material disposal on both short and long term bases, based on the

               data obtained during the monitoring of existing and new ocean disposal

               sites as mandated by ocean dumping regulations.

               DEEP SEABED MINING

               (M) 1. Characterization of Discharges. Characterize the particle size

               range, chemical composition, and physical integrity of deep seabed mining

               particulate discharges.

               (M) 2. Fates and Effects of Surface Discharges. Determine the distribution

               and fate of sediments discharged at the surface and examine the extent to

               which these discharges stimulate or inhibit plankton populations and whether

               or not dissolved and particulate discharged material enters the marine food

               web. This information should be used to evaluate the necessity and practicality

               of requirements for discharge below the thermocline.

                                             111-46
<pb n="203" />

                                                                                 R, AA F 7

               (M) 3. Effects on Deepsea Life. Inventory the species disturded by the mining

               dredge and describe the effects of the mining process on deepsea -life (e.g.,

               masceration, etc.). The rate of recolonization of disrupted areas should also

               be investigated.

               (M) 4. Processing and Production. Determine the chemical and physical

               properties of wastes arising from shipboard processing of nodules and evaluate

               the effects of alternative disposal and processing shemes.

               SAND, GRAVEL, AND SHELL MINING

               (L) 1. Technology Development. Develop mining technology that minimizes

               the production of a blanket of fine sediment around the mine site. Silt

               containment and pattern mining to match hydrologic features of the area

               should be considered.

               (L) 2. Long Term Ecological Effects. Determine the long term effects

               on benthic organisms, as well as fisheries, of substrate alterations caused

               by the fine sedimefitary particles that result from mining operations and

               eventually blanket the seafloor over large areas and also determine the

               effects, on both fisheries and coastal erosion, of excavations in the

               seafloor caused by the removal of sand and gravel on a site specific

               basis.

               (L) 3. Short Term Hazards. Determine the.short term effects on the

               metabolism and survival of organisms confronted with high concentrations

               of suspended fine sediments in the vicinity of mining activites.

                                               111-47
<pb n="204" />

               LOW PRIORITY

               OCEAN INCINERATION

               (M)   1. Evaluation of Concept. Evaluate environmental and economic

               consequences of ocean incineration as an alternative to land-base disposal

               of hazardous materials.

               OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC

               (L) 1. Water Movement Effects. Evaluate the effects of water movements

               associated with OTEC systems on deep-water animals (mostly fishes),and

               surface dwelling planktonic and larger species. Entrainment, impingement,

               entrapment, temperature and presure effects, and nutrient enrichment of

               surface waters require evaluation for significance and duration.

               (L) 2. OTEC Chemical Discharge_Effects. Assess the certainties, probabilities,

               and risks of all possible hazardous chemical releases as'sociated with OTEC

               systems and chemicals that may be produced when offshore chemical production

               plants are integIreated with OTEC facilities.

               (L) 3. Electrical Transmission Problems in the Ocean. Evaluate potential

               pollution and ecological impacts of underwater or buried sea floor

               transmission' devices associated with OTEC.systems and also the hazards

               arising from accidently serered transmission cables.

                                              111-48
<pb n="205" />

                                                                           DRAFT

               OTHER ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

               (L) 1. Geothemal Energy*Systems. Evaluate the pollution potential of coastal

               geothermal energy systems including assessment of the polluting potential of

               produced brine, thermal discharges, and trace contaminants.

               (L) 2. Biomass Fueled Systems. Evaluate the ecological consequences of

               artifical upwelling of large volumes of nutrient-rich bottom waters for

               commerical scale kelp farming.

               (L) 3 Kinetic Energy Systems . Evaluate the effects on climate and

               ecology of large scale marine kinetic energy systems which extract wind,

               tidal, current, and wave energy.

               M 4. Satellite Power Systems. Evaluate the effects on climate and

               ecology of ocean located satellite power system receiving antennae.

               BRINE PRODUCTING ACTIVITIES

               (L) 1. Brine Disposal. Describe the dispersion of brine and assess the

               effects of its disposal on marine organisms and ecosystems in affected areas.

                                              111-49
<pb n="206" />

                                               APPENDIX A

                                  THE ACT AND THE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE

                   As a preliminary step in developing the Plan, the Act required that

               an inventory be made of Federal ocean pollution research and development

               and monitoring programs and of Federal personnel, facilities, and,

               vessels used in the programs. As asecond step it required that a state-

               ment of national needs and problems relating to ocean pollution research,

               development, and monitoring be developed and used to evaluate the adequacy

               of current Federal programs. The 5-year Plan is the result of the inventory

               and the analysis of national needs and problems in the light of present

               Federal ocean pollution research and development and monitoring efforts.

               It recommends changes in program goals, suggests increases and decreases

               in program funding levels, proposes measures to improve interagency coop-

               eration, and identifies legislative changes to better satisfy priority

               research, development and monitoring needs in the Federal sector.

                   The Act requires that the 5-year Plan be reviewed and updated every 2

               years. It also requires that the budgetary process be continually reviewed

               to ensure interagency coordination and cooperation and to eliminate

               duplication of efforts in the Federal program.

                   The Act names the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

               (NOAA) as the lead agency to develop and implement the 5-year planning

               process, and further instructs the Administrator of NOAA to establish a

               comprehensive, coordinated, and effective ocean pollution research and

               development and monitoring program that will be responsive to the Plan

               within the Agency. To assist in meeting Plan priorities, not otherwise

               addressable under present Federal programs, the Act provides funds for

                                                    A-1
<pb n="207" />

               financial assistance. These funds are to be used to address priority

               needs and can be made available to Federal, State, and local government

               activities, or to private institutions as appropriate.

                    Section 8 of the Act addresses the problem of information dissemination

               and the need to make the results of federally funded ocean pollution

               research and development and monitoring available for use by both Federal

               and private users in the decisionmaking processs relating to development

               and use of ocean resources.

               1. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION

                    The President's Science Advisor and the Administrator of NOAA recognized

               that full interagency cooperation at the policymaking level was

               necessary to respond properly to the mandate of the Act. Accordingly,

               the Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution Research and Development

               and Monitoring (COPRDM) was created in June 1978 under the auspices of

               the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technoilogy.

               NOAA's Deputy Administrator serves as chairman of COPRDM. The Environmental

               Protection Agency's Assistant Administrator for Research and Development

               is the Vice Chairman. Federal departments or agencies having significant

               involvement in ocean pollution research and development and monitoring

               are representedon the Committee. These are:

                    Department of Agriculture

                    Department of Commerce

                    Department of Defense

                    Department of Energy

                    Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

                    Department of the Interior

                    Department of Transportation

                                                     A-2
<pb n="208" />

                   Environmental Protection Agency

                   National Aeronautics and Space Administration

                   National Science Foundation

                   Nuclear Regulatory Commission

                   Council on Environmental Quality

                   Office of Management and Budget

                   The Interagency Committee formed four working subcommittees to develop

               specific portions of the 5-year Federal Plan required by Section

               4 of the Act. The subcommittees are:

               National Needs and Problems, chaired by the principal representative of

                 the Environme ntal Protection Agency, with responsibility for developing

                 a statement of national needs and problems related to ocean pollution

                 research and development and monitoring, based on input from Federal

                 program managers, scientists, industry, public interest groups, State

                 and local government planning agencies, and groups involved in adjudi-

                 cation of environmental issues.

               Research and Development, chaired by the principal representative of the

                 National Science Foundation, responsible for assessing the adequacy of

                 present Federal efforts in ocean pollution research and development and

                 making recommendations to the parent committee on necessary changes to

                 the program.

               Monitoring, chaired by the principal representative of the Commerce

                 Department, responsible for assessing the adequacy of present Federal

                 efforts in ocean pollution monitoring and making recommendations'to the

                 parent committee on necessary changes to the program.

                                                    A-3
<pb n="209" />

              Data Collection, Storage, and Distribution, chaired by the principal

                representative of the Department of the Interior, responsible for assess-

                ing the adequacy of present Federal efforts in this area and making

                recommendations to the parent committee on design of a system to make

                better use of the results of Federal ocean pollution research and devel-

                opment and monitoring in decisionmaking processes relating to the

                development and use of ocean resources.

                  In addition to these working subcommittees, a Federal Plan Task Force

              office has been established with Task Force members representing each of

              the COPRDM members. The Federal Plan Task Force office is responsible

              for developing this document (as well as the catalog of Federal programs)

              based upon the reports of the subcommittees.

                                                    A-4
<pb n="210" />

                                                 APPENDIX B

                                     SUMMARY OF FEDERAL AGENCY PROGRAMS

                    The Federal Program for ocean pollution research and development

                and monitoring spent $154,645,000 in fiscal year 1978. Projections for

                FY 1979 are $145,695,000 and for FY 1980, $157,752,000. There are

                11 Federal agencies involved in the Federal Program. In the order of

                their funding levels in FY 1978, the agencies are:

                        Department of the Interior
                        Environmental Protection Agency
                        Department of Commerce
                        Department of Energy
                        National Science Foundation
                        Department of Defense
                        Department of Transportation
                        Department of Health, Education., and Welfare
                        National Aeronautics and Space Administration
                        Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                        Department of Agriculture

                Of the Federal Program total budget, 75% was funded for four missiorr-oriented

                agencies: Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection

                Agency (EPA), Department of Commerce (DOC), and Department of Energy

                (DOE). Agency funding levels for FY 1978, 79, and 80 are given in

                table 1.

                    Agency summaries describe budgeted ocearr-pollutiorr-related programs

                and activities. Major applicable statutory authorities - legislative

                acts, Executive orders, reorganization plans, and Office of Management

                and Budget determinations -- that are the mandates for the activities are

                identified. Agency summaries are arranged by funding levels.

                                                      B-1
<pb n="211" />

                                                   Ocean Pollution

                                 Research, Development, and Monitoring Programs

                                                    for 1978        1980

                 Department of the Interior                             $44,932K      $41,884K       $58,431K

                 Environmental Protection Agency                        369481K       2831364K       28,364K

                 Department of Commerce                                 17,538K       22$765K        24,04OK

                 Department of Energy                                   15,514K       16,804K        15$168K

                 National Science Foundation                            15,534K       15,006K        13,655K

                 Department of Defense,                                  89577K          7,066K       6,445K

                 Department of Transportation                            8,809K         8,448K        5,991K

                 Department of Health, Education, &amp;
                      Welfare                                            4,,113K         3,718K       3,583K

                 National Aeronautics &amp; Space
                      Administration                                     IJ175OK           531K       131050K

                 Nuclear Regulatory Commission                           1$245K            955K          885K

                 Department of Agriculture                                  152K           154K           140K

                                                                      $154,645K      $145,695K     $157,752K

                                                             B-2
<pb n="212" />

                1. Department of the Interior

                    The Department of the Interior accounted for nearly 31% of the

                total Federal Budget with $44,932,000 spent in FY 1978. This is expected

                to increase to $58,431,000 by FY 1980. A summary of the DOI budget for FY

                1978-80 is presented below.

                                                      FY 1978     FY 1979      FY 1980

                Bureau of Land Management             379737K     35,04OK       51,570K

                Geological Survey                      4,833K      4,899K        4,835K

                Fish and Wildlife Service              2,362K      1,945K        2,026K

                          TOTAL                       44,932K     41,884K       58,431K

                    Within the Department of the Interior (DOI) three agencies carry out

                ocean pollution research and development and monitoring activities -- the

                Bureau of Land Management (Division of Marine Minerals Management Assess-

                ment), Geological Survey, and Fish and Wildlife Service. Statutory

                authorities for DOI's activities include the Outer Continental Shelf

                (OCS) Lands Act of 1953 (which established Federal jurisdiction over

                submerged lands of the continental shelf seaward of States boundaries),

                the OCS Lands Act Amendments of 1970 and 1978, and such other authorities

                requiring mandatory compliance as the National Environmental Policy Act

                (NEPA) of 1.969, Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, Federal Water Pollu-

                tion Control Act of 1972, Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries

                Act of 1973, and Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

                    The Bureau of Land Manage ment (B11-1) is the administrative agency for

                leasing submerged Federal lands. In this role, BUM is directed to provide

                                                     B-3
<pb n="213" />

               for orderly development of OCS oil and gas resources to meet the energy

               needs of the Nation, and to provide for protection of the environment

               concomitant with development of mineral resources, which also include

               hard minerals such as sand and gravel. BLM-funded research accounted for

               85% of the FY 1978 DOI budget of $44,932,000. Protection of the

               marine and coastal environment is a direct outgrowth of NEPA. The OCS

               Lands Act Amendments of 1970 imposed the need for Environmental Impact

               Statements and led to BLM's Environmental Studies Program, to provide

               information needed to predict, assess, and manage any Outer Continental

               Shelf and nearshore development that might affect the human, marine, and

               coastal environments.

                   The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves Federal, State, and local

               governments, and the public, by colecting, analyzing, and publishing

               detailed information about the Nation's energy, mineral, land, and water

               resources. Although created in 1879 to study geologic structure and

               mineral resources, Congressional and Executive direction have expanded

               the Survey's authorities and responsibilities to include topographic

               mapping, chemical and physical research, stream gaging and water supply

               assessments, supervision of mineral exploration and development activities

               on Federal and Indian lands, engineering supervision of waterpower

               permits, and administration of a minerals exploration program. Ocean7

               pollution related research and development and monitoring programs are

               carried out by the Geologic Division, water Resources Division, and

               Conservation Division.

                   The Geologic Division conducts geologic research and investigation

               programs as a background for many economic and social decisions, and to

               better understand.natural processes that influence our lives. Geologic

                                                   B-4
<pb n="214" />

                programs involve four main fields of activity: Land Resource Surveys,

                Mineral Resource Surveys, Energy Resource Surveys, and Offshore Geologic

                Surveys. Offshore surveys assess the potential mineral and energy

                resources of the continental margins and include studies to determine the

                geological and environmental hazards that may affect offshore development,

                including the siting of offshore drill rigs, production platforms, and

                pipelines.

                    The Water Resources Division of the USGS has the principal responsi-

                bility at the Federal level for appraising water resources, for providing

                hydrologic data on surface and ground water, and for providing water

                information needs at all levels of government. The Division's Federal-

                State Cooperative Program includes 597 State and local agencies which

                provide financial support and services, matching funds appropriated by

                the Congress. It keeps the Federal Government aware of State and local

                problems and contributes to a valuable exchange of information through a

                network of offices in all 50 States, and in Puerto Rico and Guam. In 1964

                the USGS was designated the lead agency for coordinating water-data-

                acquisition activities of all Federal agencies, including information on

                streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and ground water. This has

                minimized duplication among Federal agencies, and has improved the data

                base and its accessibility.

                    The Conservation Division performs regulatory functions under laws

                governing leasing, mining, and use of mineral and water resources on

                Federal and Indian lands. It supervises operations associated with the

                exploration, development, and production of minerals from leased Federal,

                Indian, and Outer Continental Shelf lands, including the collection of

                royalties and certain rentals which result from mineral production.

                                                    B-5
<pb n="215" />

               Regulation of OCS oil and gas activities is a continuing process, requires

               constant review of program components and objectives, and can become

               more complex as production activities are undertaken in hostile new

               environments.

                   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is involved in environmental

               research and operational activities under mandates of the National

               Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,

               and other Federal legislation. Three interrelated FWS programs deal with

               environmental issues. The Land and Water Resource Development Program,,

               managed through the Division of Ecological Services, provides ecological

               input to field-level planning related to specific river basin studies and

               projects to be constructed by Federal agencies, assisted with Federal

               funds, or constructed by norr-Federal entities under a Federal license or

               permit. It assures FWS compliance with NEPA.

                   The Environmental Contaminant Evaluation Program conducts research,

               monitors contaminants, and makes field appraisals to ascertain the effects

               of pesticides, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and pollutants on fish

               and wildlife and their habitats. It manages and reviews all FWS uses of

               pesticides and is directed toward determining relationships between the

               application of pesticides and damage to fish and wildlife.

                   The Biological Services Program was created to assess impacts of new

               land and water development more rapidly and keep abreast of projects

               related to energy, impairment of wetlands, and proposed changes in land

               and water use. This program is the coordinating link between FWS field

               operations and research and management activities. It supports research

               and studies on critical environmental problems, prepares guidelines and

               manuals, and provides technical assistance to help FWS participate in the

                                                    B-6
<pb n="216" />

                decisionmaking process for major resource development projects. Through

                the program FWS advises BI14 and the USGS on ecological problems associated

                with development of oil and gas resources on the outer continental shelf,

                including the least damaging ways to bring oil and gas ashore and the

                best locations for shore-based facilities. FWS is identifying critical

                zones that should not be developed and is analyzing alternatives to

                preserve critical areas while projects are in an early planning stage and

                options are still available.

                2. Environmental Protection Agency

                    The second largest portion of the Federal Program is accounted for by

                EPA, which funds nearly 23% of the total program. EPA's FY 1978

                budget was $36,481,000 and is expected to be $28,364,000 by FY 1980.

                A summary of the EPA budget for FY 1978-80 is presented below.

                                                               FY78       FY79        FY80

                Health Effects (HERL/Cincinnati)                 511K       401K       365K
                Pollutant Transport (ERL/Athens)                   6K          6K         OK
                Oil and Hazardous Materials Prevention
                  and Cleanup Research (IERL/Cincinnati)      2,279K      2,370K     1,292K
                Great Lakes (ERL/Duluth)                      2,032K        878K       453K
                Marine Ecology (ERL/Corvallis)                1,433K      1,347K       630K
                Marine Ecology (ERL/Gulf Breeze)              4,504K      3,477K     2,895K
                Marine Ecology (ERL/Narragansett)             3,309K      2,721K     2,316K
                Chesapeake Bay Studies                        5,969K      5,969K     5,969K
                EPA Energy/Environment Inter-
                  agency Program                              3,715K      3,687K     3,687K
                Basic Water Quality Monitoring                6,950K      1,450K     1,450K
                  Program
                Evaluation of Radioactive Waste                  545K       830K       900K
                  Dumpsites (ORP)
                Ocean Dumpsite Evaluation Program             1,500K      1,500K     1,700K
                  (OWHM)
                Great Lakes National Program                  3,728K      3,728K     3,200K
                Unobligated funds                                0          0        3,507K

                           TOTAL                              36,481K    28,364K     28,364K

                                                      B-7
<pb n="217" />

                   The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) involvement in ocean use

               policy and management derives from the Federal Water Pollution Control

               Act as amended by the Clean Water Act, the Marine Protection, Research,

               and Sanc@uaries Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Rivers

               and Harbors Act., and U.S. legislation implementing international treaties

               and agreements. EPA uses a variety of regulatory strategies to implement

               these mandates including water quality criteria, Federal Discharge

               criteria, guidelines for private and governmental ocean use activities,

               and permits for certain activities, such.as point-source waste discharges.

                   EPA regulations are prepared by program offices and reviewed by an

               Agency Steering Committee composed of all program offices: Office of

               Water and Hazardous Materials, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of

               Enforcement, Office of General Counsel., and Office of Research and

               Development. The review considers such aspects as scientific validity,

               legality, enforceability, and consequences with respect to economic

               policy. Regulatory activities include classifying compounds or materials

               as hazardous substances, which, when spilled or discharged into marine

               waters, require specific cleanup actions, and can result in penalties on

               the discharger.

                   EPA permit activities are concerned with coastal development and

               recreation, especially the siting of powerplants and refineries, dredging

               and filling activities, and recreational water quality. EPA-issued

               permits can stipulate special requirements, such as review of waste

               treatment plans and schedules and monitoring at disposal sites.

                   Waste disposal activities are a primary responsibility of EPA. They

               include ocean dumping, incineration at sea, ocean outfalls, and riverine

                                                    B-8
<pb n="218" />

               pollution. Main types of waste are sewage sludge and other municipal

               waste, industrial waste, radioactive waste, atmospheric and land nonpoint-

               source waste, and dredged material.

                   EPA shares some regulatory responsibilities with other Federal agencies

               such as the Corps of Engineers, which issues permits for disposal of

               dredged materials in navigable waters in accordance with EPA prepared

               guidelines. It also acts in an advisory capacity to the Bureau of Land

               Management in leasing arrangements on the outer continental shelf. An

               operational function of EPA's regulatory responsibilities is to review

               permits and to advise and assist States and municipalities in establishing

               and maintaining coastal and marine management programs. Through such

               functions as the Municipal Construction Grants Program, EPA can influence

               specific activities, such as the degree of treatment required for municipal

               sewage discharged by outfalls.

                   Enforcement responsibilities generally are left to the States. Federal

               intervention usually occurs only when the States fail to enforce, when

               they request assistance, or when a problem has implications across State

               boundaries. EPA maintains enforcement officers in its 10 Regional Offices,

               but some enforcement actions are handled by the Headquarters enforcement

               component.

                   EPA's R &amp; D program addresses all major ocean use activities within

               EPA's purview. It provides the scientific basis for its regulatory and

               enforcement processes through (1) information used to develop and update

               criteria and guidelines and establish policy relating to the environment,

               and (2) a cadre of resident experts who participate in enforcement

               proceedings and rulemaking hearings in which EPA is involved.

                                                    B-9
<pb n="219" />

                3. Department of Commerce

                    The major ocean pollution research, development and monitoring

                activities of the Department of Commerce are those of the National

                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additional programs are

                carried out from time to time by NBS and MARAD. In FY 1978, NOAA had

                the third largest agency budget for ocean pollutiorr-related work, with a

                total of approximately $17,538,000 or 11% of the total Federal Program.

                This funding is expected to increase to over $24 million      in FY 1980.

                                                                     FY78       FY79         FY80

                NOAA
                  Marine Ecosystems Analysis Program (MESA)        6,157K      79438K      44713K
                  Fisheries Habitat Investigation Program          1,902K      2,20OK      2,20OK
                  Fisheries Microconstituent Program               3,519K      3,495K      5,311K
                  Great Lakes Environmental Research Program       2,512K      2,512K      2,512K
                  Sea Grant Program                                2,36OK      2,712K      2,712K
                  Ocean Engineering Program                           398K        398K        398K
                  Other Projects                                      135K        135K        135K
                  BLM Support                                          64K         64K         64K
                  Long-Term Effects Program                             0      2,785K      4,790K

                Maritime Administration                                 0          0            0

                National Bureau of Standards                            0          0            0

                             Total:                                17,538K     22,765K     24,040K

                    Additional NOAA effort is supported through the interagency transfer of

                funds from other Federal agencies. The Outer Continental Shelf Environmental

                Assessment Program (OCSEAP) is funded entirely ($21.9 million) by the Bureau

                of Land Management to study environmental conditions and potential impacts

                of oil and gas development in Alaska. EPA transfer funds supported NOAA's

                pollution research efforts in FY 1978 at the $2.7 million level.

                                                      B-10
<pb n="220" />

                  Thus, when interagency transfers of funds are considered, NOAA ranks

               first in the direct conduct or management of Federal expenditures on ocean

               pollution research, development, and monitoring. A summary of the NOAA

               base budget for FY 1978-80 is provided below.

                  NOAA's responsibility for planning and coordination of Federal ocean

               pollution research and development and monitoring is mandated in P.L.

               95-273, the National Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitor-

               ing Planning Act of 1978. NOAA's mission in marine research is defined

               by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 and in numerous legislative acts

               including:

                  * The Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972

                     (P.L. 92-532)

                  * The Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-265

                  * Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956

                  * Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-461)

                  NOAA is the lead civilian agency for dealing with the oceans as a multiple

               use resource that both must be exploited and conserved, while still preserving

               the unique, renewable characteristics of the ocean environment. Major NOAA

               funded activities in Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring

               include the Marine Ecosystem Analysis program (MESA), the National Marine

               Fisheries Services Habitat Investigation and Microconstituent program, the

               Great Lakes environmental research program, the Sea Grant Program, the Ocean

               Dumping and Monitoring Program, the Long-Term Effects Program, and the office

               of Ocean Engineering.

                  The Marine Ecosystems Analysis (MESA) program is composed of a series of

               projects established to determine the "state-of-health" of regional marine

                                                   B-11
<pb n="221" />

               coastal ecosystems where significant management and environmental quality

               problems exist or are anticipated.

                   The MESA program is a focus for organizing and coordinating studies and

               evaluations of the effects of pollution and other manrinduced changes in

               ocean ecosystems, and the effects of major disasters (natural or marr-induced)

               on the marine environment.

                   The Fisheries Habitat Investigations program examines the effects of

               maTr-induced and natural changes on the abundance, distribution and function7-

               ing of living marine resources of commerical and recreational importance.

                   The Fisheries Microconstitu ent research program is composed of two

               complementary but distinct research areas: (1) qualitative assessment of

               the impact of contaminants on the fishery resources and their habitat,

               and (2) assessment of the impact of contaminants on the utilization of

               fishery resources from a public health standpoint.

                   The Ocean Dumping Program exists in response to Section 201 of P.L. 92-

               532. The Program designs, supports, and manages marine research and moni-

               toring projects that aply to industrial, municipal, and dredged material

               waste dumping sites.

                   The Office of Sea Grant awards grants for research and development,

               education and training, and advisory services in all fields related to the

               development and utilization of marine resources and the marine environment.

                   The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) was established

               to develop environmental information on the Great Lakes region that is use--

               ful to decisionmakers.

                   The program is multidisciplinary in scope, ensuring the best possible

               utilization of the region's resources.

                                                   B-12
<pb n="222" />

                   The Long-Term Effects program assesses the possible long-range effects

               of ocean pollution and other man7induced stresses on the marine ecosystem.

               The major thrust of the program is to identify and, where necessary,. recommend

               corrective action with respect to potentially serious problems in the

               oceans before they reach a crisis stage or become uncontrollable.

                   The Office of Ocean Engineering conducts a comprehensive ocean engineer-

               ing program that provides for the advancement of technology to develop

               oceanographic instruments and systems for measurements required in both

               national and NOAA ocean programs; the development and advancement of

               engineering capabilities and technologies necessary to support NOAA activities

               in ocean and coastal zone management, climate research and monitoring, and

               environmental protection.

                   Three other DOC components have ocearr-pollutioir-related activities,

               but no funding was reported for FY78: the Maritine Administration (MarAd)

               under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as part of its

               commercial vessel operations and pollution abatement responsibilities;

               the National Bureau of Standards, which is responsible for establishing

               standards of measurement and related analytical methodology; and the National

               Technical Information Service (NTIS), which was created by the Congress

               in 1950 (Title 15, U.S.C. 1151-1157) as a clearing house of U.S. and

               Foreign government-sponsored research, development, and engineering reports

               and for other analyses prepared by national and local government agencies,

               their contractors or grantees, or,special technology groups.

                                                    B-13
<pb n="223" />

                4. Department of Energy

                    In FY 1978, the Department of Energy (DOE) spent $15.5 million on

                ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring, nearly 10% of

                the total Federal Program. This funding level is expected to remain

                approximately level through FY 1980. A summary of the DOE budget for FY

                1978-80 is presented below:

                                                                   FY78        FY79        FY80

                Regional Programs                                 6,543K      4,891K      4,747K

                Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)            1,359K      2,038K      2,772K

                Strategic Petroleum Reserve Office (SPRO)         4,513K      6,726K      4,50OK

                Other Programs                                    3,099K      3,149K      3,149K

                         Total:                                   15,514K@    16,804K     15,168K

                    The Department of Energy (DOE) was established in 1977 from the former

                Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and several other

                government entities. Its mandates relate to development and use of energy

                sources and effects of energy technlogies, including nuclear power -- a

                mandate passed to ERDA in 1975 from the former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

                Programs involving marine pollution include: administration of the

                Strategic Petroleum Reserve within restrictions of the National Environmental

                Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, particularly disposal of brines in the Gulf

                Coast regions of Louisiana and Texas; development of marine-related energy

                conversion technology, such as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC),

                waves, tides, currents., and salinity gradients; and management of R&amp;D (by

                                                       B-14
<pb n="224" />

                the Office of Health and Environmental Research) on the environmental

                effects of energy-related pollutants - including their release, transport,

                and fate in the coastal zone, pathways and fates from different sources

                into physical and biological systems, and the resilience of biological

                systems to disturbance by energy activities. Research work is conducted

                by university contractors and within DOE facilities. Regional ocean

                areas under study include the Northwest Atlantic by the Brookhaven

                National Laboratory, South Atlantic Bight by Skidaway Institute of

                Oceanography, California Coastal Areas by Scripps Institution of

                Oceanography, and the Pacific Northwest Coast by University of Washington.

                Research includes movement of trace metals and radionuclides in rivers,

                estuaries, and coastal waters., resulting concentrations in marine life,

                and effects of oil spills and heated water release.

                5.' National Science Foundation

                    The National Science Foundation spent $15,134,000 in FY 1978, approxi-

                mately 10 percent of the total Federal Program. This is expected to remain

                level or increase slightly by FY 1980; actual level of support will

                depend upon unsolicited proposals.

                    The National Science Foundation QNSF) supports, but does not itself

                conduct, research on basic oceanographic questions relevant to ocean

                pollution problems through its division of Ocean Science and the Inter-

                national Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE) program. Most research is

                conducted at academic institutions, but industrial-academic projects are

                possible. Many of NSF's sponsored studies are of value in predicting

                the movement and fate of pollutants and assessing the response of indi-

                vidual species and biological communities to stresses that could lead to

                irreparable damage. The IDOE program of the 1970s supported international

                                                    B-15
<pb n="225" />

                research teams and globally planned and coordinated studies. IDOE's

                Environmental Quality Program, which was designed to provide information

                on the quality ofthe marine environment and to assess and predict man's

                impact on the ocean, included four major investigations: Geochemical

                Ocean Sections Study (GEOSECS), Pollutant Transfer Program, Biological

                Effects Program, and Controlled Ecosystem Pollution Experiment (CEPEX).

                6. Department of Defense

                    Research funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) amounted to

                $8,577,000 in FY 1980. This is expected to decrease to $6,445,000 by FY

                1980. A summary of the DOD budget is provided below.

                                                                  FY78        FY79       FY80

                Army Corps of Engineers                           2,14OK     1,857K      1,967K
                Navy                                             -6 437K     5,209K    _42478K

                        Total:                                    8,577K     7,b66K      6,445K

                    Department of Defense (DOD) ocean pollution research and development

                and monitoring activities primarily are those of the Department of the

                Navy and Army Corps of Engineers. Most U.S. Navy environmental research

                is in response to its special operational needs and environmental quality

                standards established by other regulatory agencies. It relates to problems

                of sewage and solid waste disposal, polluting effects of antifouling

                technology, oil/water separator systems, ballast wastewaters., water

                monitoring for ordnance compounds, and toxic waste reduction and treatment.

                The Army Corps of Engineers has a major national-role in civil works

                programs and specific responsibilities in waterways management. It

                studies effects of waste disposal at operr-water sites, effects of dredging,

                                                     B-16
<pb n="226" />

                 use of dredged material, habitat development, assessment of marsh and

                 estuarine environments, prediction and control of erosion and sedimentation,

                 benthic population dynamics, beach and shore stability, and the interaction

                 of environmental and socioeconomic forces affecting coastal development.

                 7. Department of Transportation

                     The U.S. Coast Guard funds DOT's contribution to the Federal Program

                 for Ocean Pollution research, Development, and Monitoring. In FY 1978,

                 the DOT budget amounted to $8,809,000 and is expected to be approximately

                 $6,000,000 in FY 1980. A summary of the FY 1978-80 budget is provided below:

                                                                    FY78       FY79        FY80

                 Coast Guard:

                   Marine Environmental Protection                  8,405K      8,223K     5,999K
                   Commercial Vessel                                  284K        225K         QK
                   Port Safety                                        120K          OK         OK

                          Total:                                    8,809K      8,448K     5,999K

                     In the  Department of Transportation (DOT), the Coast Guard has primary

                 responsi bility for the safe movement of vessels in marine transportation

                 and for the quality of the marine environment with regard to the transport

                 of oil and hazardous chemicals within the ports and on the waterways of

                 the United States. Statutory authorities for these responsibilities

                 derive in part from the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, Port and Tanker

                 Safety Act, Tank Vessel Act, Federal Water Pollution-Control Act, and

                 Dangerous Cargo Act. To accomplish these tasks, the Coast Guard regulates

                 and enforces minimum standards of design, construction, alteration,

                 repair, maintenance, and operations of vessels; controls or supervises

                                                       B-17
<pb n="227" />

               operations along the waterfront and vessel traffic; and regulates and

               enforces the handling, storage, and carriage on vessels of all dangerous

               and hazardous materials, such as explosives, flammable liquids and solids,

               oxidizing materials, corrosive liquids, compressed gases, and poisonous

               articles. Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Coast

               Guard also has responsibility for preventing oil and hazardous substances

               pollution from vessels and transportation-related facilities and

               mitigating discharges of oil and hazardous substances from any sources in

               coastal zone, ports, harbors, Great Lakes or resulting from activities

               on the Outer Continental Shelf and for pollution that can affect natural

               resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive management

               authority of the United States, including resources under the Fishery

               Conservation and Management Act of 1976. Further, the service works to

               improve safety and prevent pollution at sea in its role as the coordinating

               U.S. representative in the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization

               (IMCO) of the United Nations.

                  An active research, development, monitoring program is carried out to

               support the Coast Guard's marine environmental protection, commercial

               vessel safety, and jport safety programs. Much of the work in the latter

               two program areas is performed, primarily to enhance safety and protect life

               property. While almost all of these efforts result in a reduction in the

               potential for pollution only those that are specifically intended to detect

               or reduce pollution are included in this plan. Operating programs such as

               the facility and vessel inspection programs and pollution surveillance programs

               are also not included.

                  Most research, development and monitoring efforts in support of the

               above named programs are performed within the commercial sector. The missions

                                                   B-18
<pb n="228" />

                 are also supported, however, through the Coast Guard's Research and

                 Development Center and Shipboard Fire and Safety Testing Facility.

                 8. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

                     The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) budget for FY

                 1978 was $4,113,000; this is expected to remain approximately level

       S,        through FY 1980. A summary of the FY 78-80 budget is provided below.

                                                                   FY78        FY79         FY80

                 National Institutes of Health                     1,278K      1,148K       1,013K

                 Food and Drug Administration                      2.L835K     2_2810K      _21810K

                          Total                                    4,113K      3,958K       3,823K

                     In the Department of Health, Education,       and Welfare (HEW)   two  components

                 of the Public Health Service -- the National Institutes of Health          (NIH)

                 and Food and Dr@g Administration (FDA) -- conduct and support research

                 and manage programs relating to ocean pollutants and their effects on

                 human health. NIH, with responsibilties for prevention and treatment of

                 disease and promotion and protection of human health, conducts studies

                 through its Institute of Environmental Health Services on biological

                 effects of environmental contaminants. FDA, which is responsible for the

                 purity and quality of foods in interstate commerce, inspects canned and

                 processed seafoods and administers the National Shellfish Sanitary Program

                 (NSSP) -- a Federal-State--industry program for sanitary control of the

                 shellfish industry. Only oysters, clams, and mussels are included in

                 this program, which FDA coordinates at the Federal level without regulatory,

                 licensing, or enforcement authority. State agencies manage program

                 operations and monitor, classify, and control approximately 14.1 million

                                                         B-19
<pb n="229" />

              acres of shellfish waters -- State territorial waters out to 3 miles.

              Approximately 600 square miles of sludge dumping sites off New York

              Harbor and Delaware Bay are monitored, in cooperation with EPA, NOAA, and

              Coast Guard, for sea clam growing waters and sediments. Research on

              contaminants includes viral and bacteriological microorganisms, toxic

              metals, radionuclides, and naturally occurring marine toxins.

              9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

                  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration spent $1,750,000

              on ocean pollution development work in FY 1978. The funding is expected

              to be $531,000 in FY 1979 and $1,050,000 in FY 1980.

                  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established

              by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-568). The Act

              specifies that activities in space are to contribute to the most effective

              use of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States --

              through close cooperation with interested Federal agencies and authorization

              of NASA to enter into agreements with any State, political subdivision,

              or public and private agencies. Although NASA does not have a direct

              statutory responsibility for any monitoring activity, the Congress has

              directed other agencies to seek NASA's assistance and has directed emphasis

              of NASA projects through specific actions. The Federal Water Pollution

              Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-500) charges the Administrator of EPA to

              use the resources of NASA and other agencies in establishing, equiping,

              and maintaining a water-quality surveillance system. NASA Authorization

              and Appropriations actions for 1978 identify support for the application

              of space technology in detecting and monitoring oil spills in U.S. waters

              and controlling other pollution problems.

                                                   B-20
<pb n="230" />

                   NASA's marine pollution activities include analysis and interpretation

               of remotely sensed data relating to Great Lakes water quality, investigations

               of ocean dumping and environmental baseline monitoring in the coastal

               zone, study of red tide and coastal zone water quality characteristics,

               and use of electrochemical methoas to detect and monitor coliforms in

               coastal waters. Much microwave sensor work relates to methods and systems

               to remotely observe and model oceanic phenomena.

               10. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

                   The FY 1978 budget for ocean pollution research, development, and

               monitoring for NRC was $i,245,000. This funding level is expected to

               decrease to $955,000 in FY 1979 and $875,000 in FY 1980.

                   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is directed by the Energy

               Reorganization Act of 1974 to perform research to confirm specific problems

               encountered during the nuclear regulatory process. NRC performs little

               direct research or monitoring. It stimulates monitoring programs by

               applicants for licenses and by those who are granted licenses. These

               include: baseline studies prior to submitting applications, preoperational

               studies that focus on problems identified during baseline studies, and

               postoperational monitoring to assure compliance with license conditions.

               Baseline studies provide information needed by NRC to prepare the Safety

               Analysis Report and the Environmental Impact Statement. Operational

              .monitoring programs by licensees focus on potential radionuclide pathways

               to man. NRC provides guidelines on radiological environmental monitoring

               for-routine operations of nuclear facilities, including measuring, evalu-

               ating, and reporting radioactivity in solid wastes and releases of radio-

               active material in liquid and gaseous effluents from light water cooled

               nuclear powerplants. NRC's Office of Inspection and Enforcement contracts

                                                   B-21
<pb n="231" />

              with 16 States to perform "spot check" monitoring for quality assurance,

              and maintains an irr-house capability for radiological monitoring in

              response to specific incidents and as part of the NRC emergency pre--

              paredness program. In January 1979 monitoring programs were being

              conducted at 23 sites of proposed or operating nuclear facilities in

              the coastal zone.

              11. Department of Agriculture

                  The Department of Agriculture spent $152,000 in FY 1978 for ocean

              pollution research, development, and monitoring. This funding level is

              expected to be maintained at $154,000 for FY 1979 and $140,000 for FY 1980.

                  Most Department of Agriculture (DOA) ocean pollution research and

              development and monitoring efforts are directed to reducing detrimental

              effects of agricultural practices on the quality of the environment --

              the problems caused by runoff and waste disposal, offsite and downstream

              effects of sediments, nutrients, and pesticides, transport and transformation

              of pollutants, and their effects on different organisms and ecosystems.

              Emphasis is on management and use of the Nation's soil, water, and air,

              and on reducing pollutants in receiving estuarine, lake, and ocean waters.

              Research is accomplished through inhouse efforts, cooperation with State

              and other universities, and by contracts and grants. Statutory authorities

              for research include the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862 (5

              U.S.C. 511), Research and Marketing Act of 1946 as amended (70 S.C. 427,

              4271), National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act

              of 1977 (P.L. 91-113). and other Congressional mandates.

                                                  B-22
<pb n="232" />

                                                                               APPENDIX C

                                      92 STAT. 228                       PUBLIC LAW 95-273-MAY 8, 1978

                                                         Public Law 95-273
                                                         95th Congress
                                                                                            An Act
                                       May 8, 1978       To establish a program of ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring,
                                         [S. 1617]                                   and for other purposes.
                                                           Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Me
                                      National Ocean     United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may
                                      Pollution          be cited as the "National Ocean Pollution Research arid Development
                                      Research and       and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978".
                                      Development and
                                      Monitoring         SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
                                      Planning Act of      (a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds and declares the following:
                                      1978.
                                      33 USC 1701                 (1) Man's activities in the marine environment can have a pro-
                                      note.                   found short-term and long-term impact on such environment and
                                      33 USC 1701.            greatly affect ocean and coastal resources therein.
                                                                  (2) There is a need to establish a comprehensive Federal plan
                                                              for ocean pollution research and development arid monitoring
                                                              with particular attention being given to the inputs, fates, arid
                                                              effectsof pollutants in the marine environment.
                                                                  (3) Man will increasingly be forced to rely on ocean and coastal
                                                              resources as other resources are depleted. Our ability to protect,
                                                              preserve. develop, and utitilize these ocean arid coastal resources is
                                                              directly related to our understanding of the effects which ocean
                                                              pollution has upon such resources.
                                                                  (4) Numerous departments. agencies. and inStrumentalitieS Of
                                                              the Federal Government sponsor, support. or fund activities relat-
                                                              ing to ocean pollution research and development and monitoring.
                                                              However. such activities are often uncoordinated arid call result
                                                              in unnecessary duplication.
                                                                  (5) Better planning and more effective use of available funds,
                                                              personel. vessels. facilities. and equipment is the key to effective
                                                              Federal action regarding ocean pollution research arid develop-
                                                              ment. and monitoring.
                                                           (b) PURPOSES--It is therefore the purpose of the Congress in this
                                                         Act-
                                                                  (1) to establish a comprehensive 5-year plan for Federal ocean
                                                              pollution research and development and monitoring programs
                                                              in order to provide planning for. coordination of, and dissemina-
                                                              tion of information with respect to such programs within the
                                                              Federal Government;
                                                                  (2) to develop the necessary, base of information          to support,
                                                              arid to provide for. the ratinal. efficient, and equitable utilization.
                                                              conservation, and development of ocean and coastal resources,
                                                              and
                                                                  (3) to designate the National 0ceanic and Atmospheric Adniin-
                                                              istration as the lead Federal agencY for preparing the plan
                                                              refered to in paragraph ( 1) mid to require the Administration
                                                              to carry out a comprehensive proram of ocean pollution research
                                                              and development and monitoring under the plan.
                                      33 USC 1702.       SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
                                                           As used in this Act. unless the context otherwise requires-
                                                                  (1) The term "Administration" means the National Oceanic
                                                              and Atmospheric Administration.

                                                                                      C-1
<pb n="233" />

                                                     PUBLIC LAW 95-273-MAY 8, 1978                                   92 STAT. 229

                                           (2) The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the
                                       Administration.
                                           (3) The term "Director" means the Director of the Office of
                                       Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the
                                       President.
                                           (4) The term "marine environment" means the coastal zone (as
                                       defined in section 304(l) of the Coastal Zone 'Management Act
                                       of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(1))) ; the seabed, subsoil, and waters of
                                       the territorial sea of the. United States; the waters of any zone
                                       over which the United States asserts exclusive fishery nianage-
                                       nient authority; the waters of the high seas; and the seabed and
                                       subsoil of and beyond the Outer Continental Shelf.
                                           (5) The term "ocean and coastal resource" has the same mean-
                                       in- as is given such term in section 203(7) of the National Sea
                                       Grant Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122 (7)
                                           (6) The term "ocean pollution" mean, any short-term or long-
                                       term change in the marine environment.
                                   SEC. 4. COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL PLAN RELATING To  33 USC 1703.
                                                OCEAN POLLUTION.
                                     (a) LEAD AGENCY FOR PLAN-The Administrator, in consultation               Responsibility.
                                   with the Director and other appropriate Federal officials having
                                   authority over ocean pollution research and development and monitor-
                                   ing programs, sliall prepare, in accordance with this section, a compre-
                                   hensive 5-year plan (hereinafter in this Act referred to as tile "Plan*)
                                   for the overall Federal effort in ocean pollution research and develop-
                                   ment and monitoring. The Plan shall be prepared and submitted to               Submittal to
                                   Congress and the President on or before February 15, 1979, and a               President and
                                   revision of tile Plan sliall be prepared and so submitted by February 15          Congress.
                                   of each odd-numbered year occurring after 1979.
                                     (b) CONTENT OF PLAN-The Plan shall contain, but need not be
                                   limited to, the following elements:
                                           (1) ASSESSMENT AND ORDERING OF NATIONAL NEEDS AND PROB-               National
                                       LEMS-The Plan shall-                                                     priorities.
                                                (A) identify those national needs and problems. which
                                             relate to specific aspects of ocean pollution (including, but
                                             not limited to, the effects of ocean pollution on the economic,
                                             social, and environmental values of ocean and coastal
                                             resources), which exist and will arise during the Plan period:
                                                (B) establish the priority, based upon the Value and cost
                                             of information which can be obtained from specific ocean
                                             pollution research and development and monitoring programs
                                             and projects. in which such needs should be met. and such
                                             problems should be solved. during the Plan period, and
                                                (C) contain. if pursuant to the preparation of any revi-
                                             sion of the Plan required under subsection (a) it is deter-
                                             mined that any national need or problem or priority set
                                             forth in the preceding version of the Plan Should be changed,
                                             a detailed explanation of the reasons for the change.
                                           (2) EXISTING FEDERAL CAPABILITY-The Plan shall contain-             Existing Federal
                                                (A) a detailed listing of all existing Federal programs           Capability.
                                             relating to ocean pollution research and development and
                                             Monitoring (including. but not limited to. general research on
                                             marine ecosystems), which listing shall include, with respect
                                             to each such program-
                                                     (i) a catalogue of tile Federal personnel, facilities., ves-
                                                  sels and other equipment currently assigned to, or used
                                                  for, the program, and

                                                                                   C-2
<pb n="234" />

                                   92 STAT. 230                        PUBLIC LAW 95-273-MAY 8, 1978

                                                                         (ii) a detailed description of the exsting goals and
                                                                      costs of the program. including, but not limited to, a
                                                                      categorical breakdown of the funds currently being
                                                                      expended, and planned to be expended. to conduct the
                                                                      program; and
                                                                    (B) an analysis of the extent to which each such program,
                                                                 if continued on the basis and at the funding level described
                                                                 pursuant to subparagrap                       in meeting the
                                                                                        h (A) (ii),will assist
                                                                 priorities set forth pursuent to paragraph (1)(B)during the
                                                                 Plan period.
                                                               (3) POLICY REC0MMENDATI0NS.-If it is determined, as a result
                                                            of the analysis required to be made under paragraph (2) (B),
                                                            that the priorities set forth pursuant to paragraph (1) (B) will
                                                            not be adequately met during the Plan period using the existing
                                                            Federal capability described pursuant to paragraph (2) (A), the
                                                            Plan shall contain those recommendations for changes in the
                                                            overall Federal effort in ocean pollution research and develop-
                                                            ment and monitoring which would ensure that those priorities are
                                                            adequately met during the Plan period. Such recommendations
                                                            may include, but need not be limited to.--
                                                                    (A) changes in the goals to be achieved under various exist-
                                                                 ing Federal ocean pollution research and development and
                                                                 monitoring programs;
                                                                    (B) suggested increases and decreases in the funding for
                                                                                                      ith the extent to
                                                                 any such existing program consistentw
                                                                 which such program contributes to the meeting of such
                                                                 priorities;
                                                                    (C) specific proposals for interagency cooperation in cases
                                                                                                                        deral
                                                                 in which the pooling of the resources of two or more Fe
                                                                 departments. agencies, or instrumentalities under existing
                                                                 programs could further efforts to meet such priorities or
                                                                 would eliminate duplication of effort:and
                                                                    (D) suggested legislation to establish new Federal pro-
                                                                 grams considered to be necessary if such priorities are to be
                                                                 met.
                                                              (4) BUDGET REVIEW-The Plan shall contain a description of
                                                            actions taken bv the Administrator and the Director to coordinate
                                                            the budget review process for the purpose of ensuring interagency
                                                            coordination and cooperation in (A) tile carrying out of Federal
                                                            ocean pollution research and development and monitoring pro-
                                                            grams; and (B) eliminating unnecessary duplication of effort
                                                            among such programs.
                                                          (c) For purposes of this section, the term "Plan period" means-
                                                               (1) with respect to the Plan as required to be submitted on
                                                            February 15, 1979, the period of 5 fiscal years be
                                                            October 1, l978; and                              ginning on
                                                               (2) with respect to each revision of the Plan. the period of 5
                                                            fiscal years beginning on October 1 of the year before the vear in
                                                                           sion is required to be prepared under sub
                                                            which the revi                                          section (a).
                                     33 USC 1704.      SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE OCEAN POLLUTION PROGRAM
                                                                    IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
                                     Establishment         (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM--The Administrator shall estab-
                                                       lish within the Administration a comprehensive, coordinated, and
                                                       effective ocean pollution research and development and monitoring
                                                       program. The Administrator shall carry out all projects and activities
                                                       under the program in a mnnner consistent with the Plan.

                                                                                    C-3
<pb n="235" />

                                                  PUBLIC LAW 95-273-MAY 8, 1978                               92 STAT. 231

                                   (b) CONTENT IF THE PROGRAM.--The program required to be estab-
                                  lished under subsection (a) shall includ, but not be, limited to-
                                        (1) all projects and activities relating to ocean pollution
                                      research and development and moniting for which the Admin-
                                      istrator has responsibility under provisions of law (including,
                                      but not limited to, title, If of the Marine Protection, Research, and
                                      Sanctuaries Act of 19T2 (33 U.S.C. 1441-1444) ) other than para-
                                      graph (2) ;
                                       (2) such projects and activities addressed to the priorities set
                                      forth in the Plan pursuant, to section 4(b) (1) (B) that can be
                                      appropriately conducted within the Administration;. and
                                        (3) the provision of financial assistance tinder section 6.
                                  SEC. 6. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE                                                 33 USC 1705.
                                    (a) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS-The Administrator may provide                     Grants and
                                  financial assistance in the form of grants or contracts for research and     contracts
                                  development and monitoring projects or activities which are needed
                                  to meet priorities set forth in the Plan pursuant to section 4(b) (1) (B),
                                  if such priorities are not being adequately addressed by any, Federal
                                  department agency, or instrumentality.
                                    (b) APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE-Any person including, institu-
                                  tion of higher education and departments. agencies,and instrumen-
                                  talities of the Federal Government or of anv State or political
                                  subdivision thereof, may apply for financial assistance under this sec-
                                  tion for the conduct of projects and activities described in subsection
                                  (a), and. in addition, specific proposals may be invited. Each applica-
                                  tion for financial assistance shall be made in writing in such form and
                                  manner, and contain such information. as the Administrator may
                                  require. The Administrator may enter into contracts under this section        Contract
                                  without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United          authority.
                                  States (41 U.S.C. 5).
                                    (C) EXISTING PROGRAMS-The projects and activities supported by
                                  grants or contracts made or entered into tinder this section shall, to the
                                  maximum extent practicable, be administered through existing, Fed-
                                  eral programs (including, but not limited to, the National Sea Grant
                                  Program) concerned with ocean pollution research and development
                                  and monitoring.
                                    (d) ACTION BY ADMINISTRATOR.-The Administrator shall act upon
                                  each application for a grant or contract tinder this. section within six
                                  month-, after the date on which all required information is received
                                  by the Administrator from the applicant. Each grant made or con-
                                  tract entered into tinder this section shall be subject to such terms and
                                  conditions as the Secretary deems necessary in order to protect the
                                  interests of the United States. The total amount paid pursuant, to any
                                  such grant or contract may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be
                                  lip to 100 percent of the total cost of the project. or activity involved.
                                    (e) RECORDS.--Each recipient of financial assistance under this sec-        Recordkeeping.
                                  tion shall keep such records as the Administrator shall prescribe,
                                  including records which fullY disclose the amount and disposition by
                                  such recipient of the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of the
                                  project or activity in connection with which such assistance was given
                                  or used, the amount of that portion of the cost of the project or activity
                                  which was supplied by other sources, and such other records as will
                                  facilitate an effective audit. Such records shall be maintained for three
                                  years after the completion of such project or activity. The Adminis-          Accessibility.
                                  trator and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of
                                  their duly authorized representatives, shall have access, for the pur-
                                  pose of audit and examination, to anv books, documents, papers, and

                                                                             c-4
<pb n="236" />

                                 90-7 STAT. 232                    PUBLIC LAW 95-273-MAY 8, 1978
                                                     records of receipts which, in the opinion of the Administrator or of
                                                     the Comptroller General, may be related or pertinent to such financial
                                                     assistanep-
                                   33 USC 1706.      SEC. 7. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.
                                                       Me head of each department, agency, or other instmimentality of
                                                     the Federal Government which is engagmd in or concerned with, or
                                                     which has authority over, programs relating to occan pollution
                                                     research arid development and monitoring-          M ..
                                                            (1) shall cooperate with the Administrator in carrying out the
                                                         purposes of this Act;
                                                            (2) may, upon written rNuest from the Administrator or
                                                         Director, make available to the Administrator or Director, on a,
                                                         reimbursable basis or otherwise, such personnel (with their con-
                                                         sent and without prejudice to their position ,in(] rating), services,
                                                         or facilities as may be necessary to assist the Administrator or the
                                                         Director to achieve the purposes of this Act; and
                                                            (3) shall. upon a written requost from the Administrator or
                                                         Director, furnish such data or other information as the Adminis-
                                                         trator or Director deems necessary to fulfill the purposes of this
                                                         Act.
                                   33 USC 1707.      SEC. S. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.
                                                       TheAdministrator shall ensure that the results, findings, and infor-
                                                     mation regarding ocean pollution rescarch and development and
                                                     monitoring programs conducted or sponsored by the Federal Govern-
                                                     ment be disseminated in a tiniely inanner, and in useful forms, to
                                                     relevant departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal
                                                                                 e -nons hav
                                               -     Government, and to other p r            in,, an interest in ocean pollution
                                                     research and development and inonitoring.
                                   33 USC 1708.      SEC. 9. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
                                                       Nothing in this Act shall be conqtrued to ajnen@, restrict, or other-
                                                     wise alter the autherity of any Federal department, azency, or instru-
                                                     mentality, under any law, to undertake research and (Ievel@pment and
                                                     monitoring relating to ocean pollution.
                                                                      I Z:.
                                   33 USC 1709.      SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
                                                       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration for
                                                     the purposes of carrying 6ut this Act not to exceed $5,000,000 for the
                                                     fiscal year ending September 30,1979.
                                                       Approved May 8, 1978.

                                                     LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
                                                     HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-626 pt. 1 (Comm. on Science and Technology) and 95-626
                                                                        L 2 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries).
                                                     CONGRESSIONAL GCORD:
                                                            Vol. 123 (1977): Aug. 3, considered and passed Senate.
                                                            Vol. 124 (1978): Feb. 28, considered and pass@cd House, amended.
                                                                           Apr. 24, Senate agreed to House amendment-
                                                                                         0

                                                                                C-5
<pb n="237" />

                                                                                                            DATE DUE

                                                                                        GAYLORDINo. 2333              1                   PRINTED IN U.S.A.

                                                                                                   3 6668 14107 2811
</text>
</doc>
