IV-202 



use of the Bay for waste assimilation 1s compatible with other uses 

 at the existing levels of waste treatment. 



The capability of the Bay to assimilate waste products is a valuable 

 economic asset. Its worth can be estimated either in terms of the 

 increased value of the system for other uses or in terms of increased 

 costs for waste treatment if the Bay could not be used for this 

 purpose. 



The only real economic damaqe to Bay resources by waste disposal 

 is the prohibition of shellfish harvesting in certain areas. This 

 is a damage to the commercial shellfish industry rather than to the 

 shellfish themselves since the closures are a matter of public health 

 considerations and not habitat damage. If the areas presently barred 

 to commercial shell fishing were opened, the value of the current 

 commercial crop might increase by as much as one million dollars, 

 assuming that there is this much additional economic demand for the 

 product. 



If the Bay could not be used for disposal of partly treated wastes it 

 would be necessary to dispose of them to the ocean or else provide 

 advanced waste treatment. Based on the alternative costs of these 

 two disposal methods, the waste assimilation capacity of Narrangansett 

 Bay has an annual economic value of six to eight million dollars. 



Total Economic Value of Narragansett Bay 



Table IV. 3. 16 summarizes annual economic activity caused by 

 Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. 



