116 



tion available if we are serious about protectinj:^ our environment. 

 Terminal dilution is the only safeguard for the environment for those 

 substances that the treatment processes do not remove, that go througii 

 the plant virtually unaffected. So much for my comments. I would 

 like to read my conclusions. 



Senator Tunney. Please do. 



Dr. Pearson. Conclusions and recommendations: 



Based upon the comments presented and the principles considoi-ed, 

 it is sti'ouijly reconnnended that this subcommittee consider seriously 

 the following : 



1. In areas such as southern California where open waste disposal 

 l^ractices are at a high level of technology and the ecological effects 

 of such practices have been studied, at least in a modest way, in the 

 words of the SCCWRP report (3), "the health and condition of the 

 southern California coastal waters and inhabitants are such that there 

 is little cause for serious concern." 



2. The blanket application of inland wastewater disposal policies 

 and practices to marine waste disposal such as in the southern Cali- 

 fornia Bight is technically unsound. 



3. Eegulatory ])olicies that involve complete bans on certain waste 

 disposal practices should be examined closely to insure that the 

 alternative practices may not create even more serious environmental 

 l^roblems. Such may be the case with attempts to ban completely the 

 disposal of digested sludge solids in the ocean. 



4. Regulatory agencies and policies should consider carefully ])lanket 

 or uniform waste treatment method requirements that do not consider 

 the size of the discharge, the characteristics of the waste, the condition 

 and uses of the receiving water, and the quantities of diluting water 

 available. 



5. Requirements for particular levels of w^astewater treatment 

 should consider the waste dilution system as part of the treatment and 

 disposal system and the dilution capabilities available should influence 

 both the degree of treatment required as well as the required fail-safe 

 characteristics of the design. 



6. Regulatory policies that do not promote or encourage the devel- 

 oprnent of regional Avastewater management systems should be ex- 

 amined critically for their merit. 



7. Appropriate agencies of the Federal Government should join 

 with local agencies and organizations and encourage scientifically and 

 technically sound ecological studies of the coastal shelves, particularly 

 in areas subject to significant waste discharges. A good example of a 

 modest start in this direction is the ecological study undertaken by 

 the local governmental agencies of southern California — the Southei-n 

 California Coastal Water Research Project. 



Thank you. 



Senator Tunney. Can you tell me how the "Water Quality Act of 

 1972 is being implemented in California or other parts of the country 

 to your knowledge, as it relates to disposal of eflluents in coastal 

 areas, and whether von feel that the implementation of tliat act by 

 the Environmental Protection Agency has been to date effective. 



Dr. Pearson. That is a complicated question but I will ti-y and 

 restrict my reinarks to my understanding of how it is o-oing"to ho 

 applied in California, how it is going to be applied elsewhere remains 

 to be iseen. 



