44 



5 

 sewage into Massachusetts Bay and the Corps issuance of a permit 

 for construction of the 9.5 mile sewage outfall tunnel. 



Under a Federal court order, the MWRA is scheduled to begin 

 discharging primary-treated sewage through the outfall tunnel at 

 the new location in Massachusetts Bay late in 1995. Secondary 

 treatment will be phased in over the subsequent four-year period 

 so that all effluent receives secondary treatment by 1999. 



EPA prepared a biological assessment on the impact of the 

 proposed MWRA outfall on listed species and submitted it to NMFS 

 in April 1993. EPA determined that the project was not likely to 

 adversely affect listed species. In developing its biological 

 opinion, NMFS reviewed the EPA biological assessment as well as 

 extensive additional information provided by other sources (e.g., 

 "Stop the Outfall Pipe," Center for Coastal Studies, New England 

 Aquarium, MWRA, U.S. Geological Survey, Barnstable County). 



NMFS assessed the potential effects of the proposed discharge of 

 primary- and secondary-treated sewage on all listed and proposed 

 endangered and threatened species and critical habitat in 

 Massachusetts and Cape Cod bays. However, the opinion focused on 

 right, humpback, and fin whales, harbor porpoise, and proposed 

 right whale critical habitat. 



