studies of the impact of the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Station on 

 Card Sound and South Biscayne Bay have been directed by scientists 

 at the University of Miami, This research formerly emphasized the 

 effect of thermal effluents on resident biological communities, 

 circulation patterns within the Sound and Bay confines, and the 

 cycling of trace metals within these ecosystems. Because thermal 

 effluents are no longer being discharged, present studies emphasize 

 research on the rates of recovery of both aquatic plants and benthic 

 organisms. Another AEC-funded research project is being conducted 

 at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Station, still under construction 

 on Chesapeake Bay. Preoperational aquatic studies on the 

 distribution and productivity of phytoplankton, zooplankton, 

 meroplankton, and benthic organisms have been in progress for 2 

 years. The results of these studies will be compared with those of 

 similar studies conducted after the nuclear power station becomes 

 operative in early 1975 to determine whether biota in the vicinity of 

 the plant are affected adversely by thermal discharges. 



In another environmental preservation project, marine 

 sanctuaries will be designated and operated by the Department of 

 Commerce in ocean waters for the purpose of conserving or restoring 

 such areas for their recreational, ecological, or esthetic values. 

 Estuarine sanctuaries may be established in cooperation with State 

 governments for the purposes of creating natural field laboratories 

 to gather data and studying the natural and human processes 

 occurring within the estuaries of the coastal zone. The actual 

 acquisition, development, and operation of estuarine sanctuaries 

 will be by individual States, which may receive matching Federal 

 grants of up to 50 percent of their costs. 



Detection and Response 



Because of the potential severity as well as the cumulative effect of 

 pollution by oil and other hazardous materials transported in bulk 

 shipments, Congress included in the Federal Water Pollution Control 

 Act special provisions for cleanup operations and other actions in 

 response to discharge incidents involving these materials. 



The act further authorized the President to prepare and publish a 

 National Contingency Plan for the removal of oil and hazardous 

 substances including but not limited to containment, dispersal, and 

 removal. The National Oil and Hazardous Substance Contingency 

 Plan has been prepared to coordinate the actions of Federal agencies. 

 Other regional contingency plans, to be implemented by mobile 

 response teams, have been prepared by EPA Regional Offices, 

 States, localities, and port authorities. These plans spell out what 

 can and should be done for many types of discharges. The act also 

 contains authority for issuance of regulations to contain discharges 



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