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debris getting into the water; water leaching through these dumps 

 has a pollutional Impact on the estuarlne water. Spoil disposal 

 from dredging activities is another form of solid waste material 

 that contributes to estuarlne degradation, and solid materials 

 entering the estuary 1n the form of debris from storm runoff can 

 be significant 1n terms of damaging beneficial uses. 



Waste disposal 1s a highly significant and universal use of the 

 estuarlne resource and it 1s likely to remain so. Along with the 

 many other socioeconomic uses of the estuarine environment, it must 

 be managed so that it does not damage the biophysical environment. 



Exploitation of Mineral Resources 



Minerals within the water, on the bottom, and under the bottom are 

 a valuable part of the estuarine resource and are being exploited 

 widely. 



Sub-bottom mining operations are limited to the recovery of sulfur, 

 petroleum, and natural gas, with the major operations occurring in 

 Louisiana, Texas, California, and Alaska. These operations exist 

 both 1n the estuaries and out on the continental shelves with the 

 governing criterion for locating being the location of reserves. 



Recovery of minerals from submerged estuarine zone bottoms by sur- 

 face mining, i.e., dredging, is primarily directed toward sand, 

 gravel, and oyster shell production. Sand and gravel operations are 



