action, (d) the relationship between local short-term uses of man's environment and the 

 maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and (e) any irreversible and 

 irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed action 

 should it be implemented. 



The intent of these statements is to present to the reviewing authorities information with 

 which to evaluate the probable effects of each project on the environment to the end that 

 the nation may: (a) fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee of the 

 environment for succeeding generations, (b) ensure for all Americans safe, healthful, 

 productive, and esthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings, (c) attain the widest range 

 of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other 

 undesirable and unintended consequences, (d) preserve important historic, cultural, and 

 natural aspects of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an environment 

 which supports diversity and variety of individual choice, (e) achieve a balance between 

 population and resource use that will permit high standards of hving and a wide sharing of 

 life's amenities, and (f) enhance the quahty of renewable resources and approach the 

 maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources. Not only must the effects on living 

 creatures be considered, but in wooded areas, limitations may be placed on clearing-out 

 trees and shrubs, and on rocky coasts, tlie alteration of scenic landscapes. 



The excavation of an entrance channel through a beach or the placement of rock and 

 earthfill on the offshore bottom may affect the habitat of bottom-hving creatures and 

 perhaps some of the creatures themselves, such as shellfish and worms. During construction, 

 some adverse effect may prevail; however, in many cases the constructed or completed 

 works greatly enhance the habitat and existence of bottom-Uving creatures. The runoff from 

 a dredge-fill placed on land areas normally carries large volumes of suspended fines that 

 ultimately settle out on the bottom in the quiet waters of the effluent-runoff basin. It is 

 becoming a common and required practice to implement techniques and means of 

 controlling the runoff effluent to meet water quality standards. Construction practices and 

 procedures must be followed during the design and planning stages so that compliance with 

 environmental standards wUl be met. 



In coastal estuaries, the tidal flats are usually teeming with lower-life species upon which 

 many aquatic birds and fish depend for their existence. Tidal flats are also spawning grounds 

 for many species of fish. Considerable pressure by environmental protection groups is now 

 being exerted to prevent the further encroachment of harbor construction into these areas; 

 legislative action has been instituted in many areas to convert them into permanent 

 preserves. The ultimate solution in such cases may be to locate the harbor offshore. Where 

 protective structures such as rubble breakwaters and jetties must be built, an important 

 marine biological factor concerning their construction may be found in the excellent habitat 

 they provide for fish life. The small fish are able to swim into the interstices in the 

 stonework, which provides protection against predators. Also, in seawater, marine growth 

 on the stones soon supports a wide variety of shellfish and marine planthfe. 



42 



