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coastal recreational waters. However, we believe that actions 

 underway or planned under new and existing authorities will 

 accomplish the bill's objectives as explained within my 

 testimony. 



Continuing problems of closed shellfish beds and restricted 

 recreational areas require increased efforts to improve coastal 

 water quality. Thirty-seven percent of the Nation's waters 

 classified for shellfishing had some form of harvest restriction 

 during 1990, an increase of 5 percent over 1985. Runoff from 

 land use activities in upland areas can contribute pathogens, 

 nutrients and toxic chemicals to coastal waters. These nonpoint 

 source pollutants present threats to both human health and living 

 marine resources. Harmful point source discharges and combined 

 sewer overflows, which can discharge a mixture of raw sewage, 

 stormwater and toxins into aquatic habitats, are also 

 continuously degrading our coastal areas. 



With coastal county population densities already more than 10 

 times the national average and growing at a faster rate than 

 inland areas, coastal pollution sources will continue to 

 increase. For example, by the year 2000, NOAA estimates that 

 sewage will increase 18 percent over 1980 levels, trash will 

 increase 19 percent over 1980 levels, and there will be 7 million 

 more houses (an increase of 23 percent) and 11 million more cars 

 (a 27 percent increase) in coastal counties. 



