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Re\'iew of ^« National Marine Fisheries Senice (NMFS) Biological Opinion on tiw 

 Operation oftlie W^'RA Outtall Tunnel. 



Reviewed by: 



Craig D. Taylor 



Associate Scientist 



Woods Hole Oceanograpliic Institution 



10 October 1993 



The NMFS's Biological Opinion has by-and-large supported the concluiions of the EPA 

 Biological Assessment by their finding of "no jeopard>'," that some of the endangered species 

 under consideration may be affected by the proposed outfeU and its effluents, but that it is not 

 likelv that the existence or recovery of tltese species will be jeopardized. Available information in 

 support of this conclusion is reasonable and tliis reviewer in general concurs, as he did with the 

 overall conclusions oftlie EPA Biological Assessment. 



Tlie preparers of the NMFS Biological Opinion have recognized tliat the scientific 

 infonnation available in some topic areas is incomplete and proceeding with tiw outfall entails 

 some environmental risk, albeit an acceptable risk at this stage of tiie game, given tiie extremely 

 narrow range of possible altematixes. Given that some risk does exist, howes'er. the preparers 

 have also incorporated into their report a recommended series of snidies and monitoring nctiviries. 

 tiia! if properl> evecuted \\ould not interfere witli progression of the outfall, but with appropriate 

 legal suppoii. could sen e a cnicial role in protecting the en\ironment and it's endangered species. 

 should an unforeseen difficulrv anse. A "back-up" plan of this son is just plain smart, m the 

 opinion of this re\iewer. Tlie preparers ha\e made recommendations in three areas a) additional 

 smdies on cnicial topics wiiere scientific int'ormation is lacking, b) fomiulation of a plan for 

 inonitonna potential eftects oftlie proposed outfall, and c) development of a conTineenc>' plan 

 should results of the previous tvvo activmes indicate that endangered species are being placed in 

 jeopardv by the outtall. 



.Additional snidies proposed for completion prior to discharge primarily im'olve tlie 

 continuation or application of predictive modeling in areas where tliis information is presently 



