user groups are currently functioning for each of the PSEP 
Urban Bay Toxics Action Programs. It is recognized that 
without citizen support for the program, critical political, 
legislative and funding support would not be forthcoming. 
All participating agencies are considered partners in PSEP. 
However, the EPA and the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority 
are developing a special relationship. The Authority, created 
by the Governor of Washington State in 1985, has been assigned 
the mission of developing a comprehensive management plan for 
Puget Sound. This plan provides a framework for the studies 
being conducted by PSEP. To ensure that resources are not 
wasted through duplication of effort, and that studies provide 
information that can benefit both programs, representatives of 
PSEP and PSWQA have signed a formal memorandum of agreement. 
The agreement binds both PSEP and PSWQA to coordinating and 
cooperating on issues involving the management of Puget Sound. 
As a result of the agreement, PSEP and PSWQA are sponsoring a 
number of jointly funded studies, including the Puget Sound 
Environmental Atlas and the Puget Sound Monitoring Program. 
In addition to improved interagency coordination, a number of 
PSEP efforts have resulted in significant progress in the area 
of improved interagency consistency. The most visible of these 
efforts have addressed standardization of protocols, 
development of comprehensive environmental monitoring programs, 
and techniques for evaluating sediment contamination. 
Developed jointly with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 
PSEP Protocols Manual is nearing completion. This manual 
details recommended techniques for sampling and analysis of 
physical, chemical, and biological variables in Puget Sound. A 
number of protocols have already been issued, and several are 
undergoing final technical review. It is anticipated that use 
of consistent protocols by all agencies will result in the 
generation of data that is not only of consistently high 
quality, but is also exchangeable and comparable. 
In cooperation with PSWQA, PSEP is developing an integrated 
monitoring program for Puget Sound. The program, which builds 
on and augments existing monitoring programs at the federal, 
state, and local level, represents an attempt to begin 
evaluating conditions and trends in Puget Sound in a 
coordinated and consistent manner. The comprehensive 
monitoring program, which is currently in draft form, will 
include ambient monitoring of physical, chemical, and 
biological conditions, monitoring conducted in conjunction with 
permitted discharges, and intensive surveys. 
PSEP efforts to develop tools for evaluating the extent and 
significance of sediment contamination in the Sound began in 
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