IV-542 



chemical complexity and sophistication, used cooling water with 

 its thermal load, and storm runoff. These wastes affect the 

 estuarine environment in different ways and can eliminate other 

 uses. 



Liquid wastes are not the only concern. The use of the estuarine 

 shoreline for refuse dumps and land fills results in considerable 

 debris getting into the water; water leaching through these dumps 

 has a pollutional impact on the estuarine water. Spoil disposal 

 from dredging activities is another form of solid waste material 

 that contributes to estuarine degradation, and solid materials 

 entering the estuary in the form of debris from storm runoff can 

 be significant in terms of damaging beneficial uses. 



Waste disposal is a highly significant and universal use of the 

 estuarine resource and it is 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 environ- 

 ment. 



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 



