184 



BARNSTABLE COUNTY ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES 



In the Year Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three 



Resolution 93-13 



To commi'nl on Uie liiologkiil Assessment of (he potenliul eflccts of the MWRA oulfall on 

 endanjjercd species prepared by llie Environnienlal Proleclion Agency. 



WHEREAS, a Science Advisory Panel (ihe Panel) was csiablishcd by the Bamsiablc Couniy Commissioners; 



WHEREAS, ihc Panel is composed of scientists having exemplary scientific credentials and who are specialists in 

 various aspects of oceanography penineni lo the Biological Assessment; 



WHEREAS, the Panel determined tliai it was difficult to complete an unambiguous Assessment; 



WHEREAS, liic Panel has found tliai there is a lack of critical data on chronic, low-lcvcl nuU-ient input to partially 

 enclosed coastal embaymenLs; 



WHEREAS, the Panel has found that there is a lack of critical data on dose-response relationships for complex 

 mixtures of contaminants (including nutrients and toxins) in shallow coastal ecosystems; 



WHEREAS, the Panel has found a lack of numerical modeling results anticipated for the Assessment, due to 

 ongoing development of the modeling techniques; and 



WHEREAS, the Panel has found a paucity of field data on some critical aspects of the phyioplankion dynamics in 

 Massachusetts and Cape Cod bays. 



NOW THEREFORE, 



BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, Ihe Bamsiablc County Assembly of Delegates: 



Strongly recommends that NOAA/NMFS consider a finding of jeopardy in the Biological Opinion 

 based on the lack of critical data and the need for a comprehensive committee review of the 

 potential effects of the outfall on endangered species and their habitat in Massachusetts and Cape 

 Cod bays. 



Requests that NOAA/NMFS consider initiation of a thorough scientific review of this issue, 

 through an organization such as the National Academy of Sciences to obtain a scientific consensus 

 on this high!)' sensitive issue and area. 



Requests that NOAA/NMFS carefully review the monitoring plan for the outfall, should it be 

 pcrmiiied, to assure that a well-defined and defensible strategy is in place to detect outfall-related 

 changes in the environment, including but not limited to effects from low-level, continuous input 

 of nutrients and heavy metals. 



