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Nahant, which are most directly affected by the existing 

 discharges. As demonstrated by multiple environmental studies, 

 the outfall will effectively eliminate these near-shore impacts 

 with minimal impact on the Bay. 



Study after study has found that the Boston Harbor project 

 will produce great improvements in water quality, not only in the 

 Harbor but in Massachusetts Bay as well. After all, there is no 

 wall between the Harbor and the Bay — the pollutants which now 

 flow into the Harbor are carried into the Bay on the outgoing 

 tide. We are pleased that the recent biological opinion issued 

 by the National Marine Fisheries Service corroborates the 

 conclusions of these earlier reviews, in particular the 

 conclusion that the outfall is not likely to jeopardize 

 endangered or threatened species. 



The Harbor project has already produced noticable benefits. 

 New pumping facilities at Deer Island have reduced discharges 

 from combined sewer overflows. The discharge of sewage scum into 

 the Harbor ended in 1988, and the discharge of sludge was 

 terminated in 1991. Further improvements will come as the new 

 Deer Island treatment plant begins to come on line, starting with 

 the first half of the primary treatment next summer. 



It is important to understand EPA's role in this process. 

 As a plaintiff in the Clean Water Act enforcement case against 

 the MWRA and the Commonwealth, and as a federal regulatory 

 agency, EPA's role is to ensure compliance with the nation's 

 environmental laws. It is our responsibility to make sure that 



