The Energy/ 

 Environment RS-D 

 Decision Series 



Some of the most basic problems 

 facing our society today Involve the use 

 of our energy resources and the effects 

 of this usage on our environment. 

 These problems affect everyone, and 

 everyone has an interest in their resolu- 

 tion. But the technical aspects of these 

 problems make it difficult for a major 

 portion of the Interested public to 

 understand and participate in the 

 decision-making process. This volume 

 contributes to the bridging of this infor- 

 mation gap. 



The Energy/ Environment R&D 

 Decision Series was inaugurated late In 

 1976. The series presents, in an easily 

 understood and informative manner, 

 selected key issues and findings of the 

 Federal Interagency Energy/ Environment 

 Research and Development Program, 

 which was initiated in fiscal year 1975. 

 Planned and coordinated by the 

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 

 the Interagency Program sponsors 

 more than 1 ,000 research projects 

 ranging from the analysis of health and 

 environmental effects of energy 

 systems to the development of pollu- 

 tion control technologies. 



If you have any comments, please 

 write to Editor, RD-681, US EPA, 

 Washington, D.C. 20460. This docu- 

 ment is available through the National 

 Technical Information Service, Spring- 

 field, Virginia 22161. Mention of trade 

 names and commercial products herein 

 does not constitute EPA endorsement 

 or recommendation for use. 



DOCUMENT 

 LIBRARY 



Woods Hole Oceanographic 

 Institution 



Editor: Francine Sakin Jacoff 

 Text: Dr. William Conner 

 Technical Review: 



Dr. Paul Lefcourt, Environmental 

 Protection Agency 

 Dr. Donald Rhoads, Yale University 

 Dr. Howard Sanders, Woods Hole 

 Oceanographic Institution 

 Graphics: Craig R. Keith; 

 Vincent Maiello 



