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significant long-term effects on Massachusetts Bay. Because the 

 effects of the outfall would be limited to a small area around 

 the diff users, far removed from the preferred habitat of 

 endangered species, EPA concluded that such species would not be 

 impacted. The record of decision for the final Environmental 

 Impact Statement was issued in 1988, and construction of the 

 outfall began in 1991. 



In late 1991, EPA began to draft a discharge permit for the 

 new outfall. The permitting process triggered requirements for a 

 new Endangered Species Act review. At the same time, residents 

 of Cape Cod began to raise questions about the potential impacts 

 of the outfall, and various parties requested that EPA undertake 

 a comprehensive biological assessment under section 7 of the 

 Endangered Species Act. Given the level of public concern, as 

 well as the availability of updated scientific information about 

 endangered whales, EPA decided that it would be appropriate to 

 prepare a new assessment. 



The development of the biological assessment was not an easy 

 task. The marine environment is a complex system, and our 

 evaluation of the potential impacts of the outfall required 

 expertise in diverse -scientific fields. We relied on experts 

 both inside and outside the agency to assemble and evaluate a 

 large body of scientific evidence. The deadline for completion 

 of the assessment had to be extended twice because of the 

 magnitude of the task. 



