VI-24b 



or release of nutrients including trace elements, altera- 

 tions of the benthos, silting of harbors, and erosion of 

 beaches. 



RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING 

 BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS 



Current waste disposal practices have often resulted in obvious 

 deterioration of certain estuarine and coastal marine environments. 

 Adequate techniques are not at hand for definitive assessment of 

 all of the important impacts of wastes (including domestic and 

 industrial effluents) imposed on coastal waters. Nevertheless, 

 there is a strong sense of urgency to adduce now whatever useful 

 information can be obtained with existing methods. Four areas 

 urgently need increased attention. 



(1) Studies should be made immediately of existing out- 

 falls and disposal areas of a variety of magnitudes in 

 several distinct marine biogeographic provinces. These 

 studies and relationships derived from them must serve as 

 an interim basis for improved evaluation of the accepta- 

 bility of new disposal facilities and sites. They must 

 include at least the following: 



(a) Quantitative floral and faunal surveys in the 

 immediate vicinity of discharge, within the measura- 

 ble zones of influence and at reference sites. 



(b) Sludge fields (when present) 



