Project Design 



While some aspects of design become fixed early in the design process, 

 causing the sponsor to be reluctant to change, others remain adaptable 

 after the permit application is filed. Consequently, assessors have more 

 opportunity to suggest modifications of project design than modifications 

 of project location. 



Because waterfront development has high potential for disturbance , 

 maximum care must be taken in its design. Solutions include provisions 

 for: (1) maintaining the natural shoreline; (2) minimizing dredging; 

 (3) arranging proper disposal of spoil; (4) avoiding wetlands; (5) reducing 

 problems of runoff discharge through proper watershed management; and (6) 

 provision of buffer strips. 



Project Construction 



Work on the land, particularly preparation and development of the 

 site, can cause a number of serious effects on coastal waters. These can 

 be ameliorated through: (1) minimizing the alteration of water systems; 

 (2) preventing the erosion of soil; and (3) eliminating the discharge of 

 toxic or deleterious substances. Immediate revegetation of disturbed 

 areas can be accomplished to reduce erosion; excavation and filling of 

 areas near wetlands can be done so that sediments do not degrade wetlands. 



Project Operation and Maintenance 



Latitude for modification of operations is normally limited only by 

 inflexibilities of equipment and process set in the design stage. There- 

 fore, it 1s important to consider operation-related disturbances in 

 the assessment even though placement and construction are the major 

 topics of the application, because permit review may be the last 

 opportunity to incorporate basic changes to alleviate future adverse 

 operational effects . (The major operational problems of many OCS 

 projects will be in meeting pollutant discharge standards on waste 

 disposal and runoff water required by Federal and state pollution 

 controls. ) 



2.3.5" Make Preliminary Recommendation (Step 5) 



At this stage, the question of scale becomes central. How much eco- 

 logical alteration of any kind is acceptable and how much is not? The 

 answer must ordinarily come from judgment, not rule. Therefore the 



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