185 



DONALD J. BENSON 



The conclusions that planktonic activity 

 is reduced near these outfalls is not supported by pre- 

 vious v>ork where other methods for observing these 

 phenomena were used 



The methods and analyses used for reaching 

 conclusions about the effect of the mills on phytoplankton 

 activity are open to serious question. The available 

 information about Puget Sound in general and Port Gardner 

 in particular does not lead to a conclusion that concen- 

 trations of spent sulfite liquor cause a meaningful problem 

 for planktonic activity. Mr. Charles S. Yentsch of the 

 Vi/oods Hole Oceanographic Institute, an internationally 

 recognized specialist on biological oceanography, par- 

 ticularly in the areas of phytoplankton, chlorophyll and 

 productivity^will discuss this later in this conference. 

 Mr. Yentsch studied at the University of Washiagton and 

 also published original research on phytoplankton in 

 Puget Sound. 



It is our position that the foregoing com- 

 ments and questions^ supported by the expert testimony to 

 follow regarding the studies of oyster larvae and English 

 sole egg bioassay, adult oysters and plankton activity, 

 refute the conclusions of the FWPCA report regarding spent 

 sulfite liquor standards. 



