739 



of the United States on fish and wildlife, on sport 

 and commercial fishing, on recreation, on water 

 supply and water power, and on other beneficial 

 purposes. Such studies shall also consider the effect 

 of demographic trends, the exploitation of mineral 

 resources and fossil fuels, land and industrial de- 

 velopment, navigation, fiood and erosion control, 

 and other uses of estuaries and estuarine zones 

 upon the pollution of the waters therein. 



(2) In conducting such studies, the Administrator 

 shall assemble, coordinate, and organize all existing 

 pertinent information on the Nation's estuaries and 

 estuarine zones; carry out a program of investiga- 

 tions and surveys to supplement existing informa- 

 tion in representative estuaries and estuarine zones; 

 and identify the problems and areas where further 

 research and study are required. 



(3) The Administrator shall submit to Congress, 

 from time to time, reports of the studies authorized 

 by this subsection but at least one such report 

 during any three year period. Copies of each such 

 report shall be made available to all interested 

 parties, public and private. 



(4> For the purpose of this subsection, the term 

 "estuarine zones" means an environmental system 

 consisting of an estuary and those transitional areas 

 which are consistently influenced or affected by 

 water from an estuary such as, but not limited to, 

 salt marshes, coastal and intertidal areas, bays, 

 harbors, lagoons, inshore waters, and channels, 

 and the term "estuary" means all or part of the 

 mouth of a river or stream or other body of water 

 having unimpaired natural connection with open sea 

 and within which the sea water is measurably di- 

 luted with fresh water derived from land drainage. 



(o) Methods of reducing total flow of sewage and 

 unneces.sary water consumption ; reports. 



( 1 ) The Administrator shall conduct research and 

 investigations on devices, systems, incentives, pricing 

 policy, and other methods of reducing the total flow 

 of sewage, including, but not limited to, unneces- 

 sary water consumption in order to reduce the 

 requirements for, and the costs of, sewage and waste 

 treatment services. Such research and investiga- 

 tions shall be directed to develop devices, systems, 

 policies, and methods capable of achieving the maxi- 

 mum reduction of unnecessary water consumption. 



(2) The Administrator shall report the prelimi- 

 nary results of such studies and investigations to 

 the Congress within one year after October 18. 

 1972, and annually thereafter in the report required 

 under subsection lai of section 1375 of this title. 

 Such report shall include recommendations for any 

 legislation that may be required to provide for the 

 adoption and use of devices, systems, policies, or 

 other methods of reducing water consumption and 

 reducing the total flow of sewage. Such report shall 

 include an estimate of the benefits to be derived 

 from adoption and use of such devices, systems, 

 policies, or other methods and also shall reflect esti- 

 mates of any increase in private, public, or other 

 cost that would be occasioned thereby. 



(p) Agricultural pollution. 



In carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) 



of this section the Administrator shall, in coopera- 

 tion with the Secretary of Agriculture, other Federal 

 agencies, and the States, carry out a comprehen- 

 sive study and research program to determine new 

 and improved methods and the better application 

 of existing methods of preventing, reducing, and 

 eliminating pollution from agriculture, including the 

 legal, economic, and other implications of the use 

 of such methods. 



(q) Sewage in rural areas. 



(1) The Administrator shall conduct a compre- 

 hensive program of research and investigation and 

 pilot project implementation into new and im- 

 proved methods of preventing, reducing, storing, 

 collecting, treating, or otherwise eliminating pol- 

 lution from sewage in rural and other areas where 

 collection of sewage in conventional, community- 

 wide sewage collection systems is impractical, un- 

 economical, or otherwise infeasible. or where soil 

 conditions or other factors preclude the use of septic 

 tank and drainage field systems. 



(2) The Administrator shall conduct a compre- 

 hensive program of research and investigation and 

 pilot project implementation into new and improved 

 methods for the collection and treatment of sewage 

 and other liquid wastes combined with the treat- 

 ment and disposal of solid wastes. 



(r) Re.search grants to colleges and universities. 



The Administrator is authorized to make grants 

 to colleges and universities to conduct basic research 

 into the structure and function of fresh water aqua- 

 tic ecosystems, and to improve understanding of the 

 ecological characteristics necessary to the mainte- 

 nance of the chemical, physical, and biological in- 

 tegrity of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. 



(s) River Study Centers. 



The Administrator is authorized to make grants 

 to one or more institutions of higher education 

 (regionally located and to be designated as "River 

 Study Centers") for the purpose of conducting and 

 reporting on interdisciplinary studies on the nature 

 of river systems, including hydrology, biology, ecol- 

 ogy, economics, the relationship between river uses 

 and land uses, and the effects of development within 

 river basins on river systems and on the value of 

 water resources and water related activities. No 

 such grant in any fiscal year shall exceed $1,000,000. 

 (t) Thermal discharges. 



The Administrator shall, in cooperation with State 

 and Federal agencies and public and private orga- 

 nizations, conduct continuing comprehensive studies 

 of the effects and methods of control of thermal dis- 

 charges. In evaluating alternative methods of con- 

 trol the studies shall consider ( 1 ) such data as are 

 available on the latest available technology, eco- 

 nomic feasibility including cost-effectiveness analy- 

 sis, and (2) the total impact on the environment, 

 considering not only water quality but also air qual- 

 ity, land use, and effective utilization and conserva- 

 tion of fresh water and other natural resources. Such 

 studies shall consider methods of minimizing adverse 

 effects and maximizing beneficial effects of thermal 

 discharges. The results of these studies shall be re- 

 ported by the Administrator as soon as practicable, 



