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A. Characteristics and composition of the matter 



1. Total amount and average composition of matter dumped (e.g. 

 per year). 



2. Form, e.g. solid, sludge, liquid, or gaseous. 



3. Properties: physical (e.g. solubility and density), chemical and 

 biochemical (e.g. oxygen demand, nutrients) and biological (e.g. pres- 

 ence of viruses, bacteria, yeases, parasites) . 



4. Toxicity. 



5. Persistence : physical, chemical and biological. 



6. Accumulation and biotransformation in biological materials or 

 sediments. 



7. Susceptibility to physical, chemical and biochemical changes and 

 interaction in the aquatic environment with other dissolved organic 

 and inorganic materials. 



8. Probability of production of taints or other changes reducing 

 marketability or resources (fish, shellfish, etc.) . 



B. Characteristics of dumping site and method of deposit 



1. Location (e.g. co-ordinates of the dumping area, depth and dis- 

 tance from the coast), location in relation to other areas (e.g. amenity 

 areas, spawning, nursery and fishing areas and exploitable resources). 



2. Eate of disposal per specific period (e.g. quantity per day, per 

 week, per month) . 



3. Methods of packaging and containment, if any. 



4. Initial dilution achieved by proposed method of release. 



5. Dispersal characteristics (e.g. effects of currents, tides and wind 

 on horizontal transport and vertical mixing) . 



6. Water characteristics (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity, stratifica- 

 tion, oxygen indices of pollution-dissolved oxygen (DO) , chemical ox- 

 ygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — nitro- 

 gen present in organic and mineral form including ammonia, sus- 

 pended matter, other nutrients and productivity). 



7. Bottom characteristics (e.g. topography, geochemical and geologi- 

 cal characteristics and biological productivity) . 



8. Existence and effects of other dumpings which have been made 

 in the dumping area (e.g. heavy metal background reading and or- 

 ganic carbon content) . 



9. In issuing a permit for dumping, Contracting Parties should con- 

 sider whether an adequate scientific basis exists for assessing the con- 

 sequences of such dumping, as outlined in this Annex, taking into ac- 

 count seasonal variations. 



C. General considerations and conditions 



1. Possible effects on amenities (e.g. presence of floating or stranded 

 material, turbidity, objectionable odour discolouration and foaming). 



2. Possible effects on marine life, fish and shellfish culture, fish 

 stocks and fisheries, seaweed harvesting and culture. 



3. Possible effects on other uses of the sea (e.g. impairment of water 

 quality for industrial use, underwater corrosion of structures, inter- 

 ference with ship operations from floating materials, interference with 

 fishing or navigation through deposit of waste or solid objects on the 

 sea floor and protection of areas of special importance for scientific or 

 conservation purposes). 



4. The practical availability of alternative land-based methods of 

 treatment, disposal or elimination, or of treatment to render the 

 matter less harmful for dumping at sea. 



