|
<br />'to an enlarged lUlderstanding and ap-
<br />preciation of the natural world 85 the
<br />ha:bltat of man,
<br />B. Size and measure (wide variation
<br />depending on characteristics of particu- .
<br />lar animal or plant) :
<br />(1) Total land and surface acreage
<br />and shorel1ne mileage:
<br />(a) Land acreage. (forest, woodland,
<br />grassla.nd, etc,) ;
<br />(b) Water surface acreage and shore-
<br />line mileage; .
<br />(c) Marshland acreage and shoreline
<br />mileage.
<br />(2) Population estimates and charac-
<br />teristics of fish. and wildlife to include as
<br />nea.rly as poss1ble:
<br />(a) Age and size classes;
<br />(b) Sex ratios;
<br />(c) Distribution (density).
<br />b. A descriptive-qualitative interpre-
<br />tation, including an evaluation of the
<br />effects of a plan on the designated or
<br />.affected biological resource or resources.
<br />c. Educational:
<br />(1) General;
<br />(2) Special and sclelllttfic,
<br />d. Improvements:
<br />(1) Aooesslbll1tY (public roads and
<br />trails; ea.sements:
<br />(.2) Habitat enhancement or site
<br />improvement:
<br />(a) Sanitatlon:
<br />(b) stab1l1zation:
<br />(0) Incri>a.sIng edges:
<br />(d) :Harvestlng- (to maintain balance
<br />with environmental food, supply) ;
<br />(e) Cover planting (specieS, including
<br />number or a.creage) ;
<br />(f) StDck1ng;
<br />(l) Wlldl1!e (species and number);
<br />(1) Fish (species and number) ;
<br />(3) Other (specify or describe) :
<br />e. Protect:l.on and preservation:
<br />(1) PhysioaJ:
<br />(2) Lega,l (dedication, other);
<br />(3)' 8poo1al,
<br />4. Geological resources. When of out-
<br />standing geolOgic or geomorphologic
<br />significance, preservat:lon of these re-
<br />sources oontributes to man's knowledge
<br />and appreciation 'of his physIcal
<br />environment.
<br />B. Size a.nd measure:
<br />(1) Surf'8Ceacreage;
<br />(2). SubsUrface acreage' (estimated);
<br />(3) Quantity (estJImated In appro-
<br />priate unit5) .
<br />b, A descriptive-qualitative Inwrpreta-
<br />tlon, including an evaJuatl.on of the
<br />e:ffects of a plan on the des1gnated or
<br />affected geolOgical resources.
<br />c. Educational:
<br />(I) General education;
<br />(2) Specla.l and soIentl11c.
<br />d; Improvements:
<br />(1) Access1bllity (public roads and
<br />trails; easements) :
<br />(2) Interpretation and monwnenta-
<br />tJ.on;
<br />(3) Other (spe<:i!y and describe),
<br />. e. Protection and preservation:
<br />(I) Physical;
<br />(2) Legal (dedication; other) ;
<br />(2) Special.
<br />Conversely, and In a generally parallel
<br />matmer, adverse effects result from the
<br />
<br />NOTICES
<br />
<br />inundation, deterioration, or disruption
<br />of like kinds of resources.
<br />5. Ecological systems. Apart from the
<br />contributions which. Use or the natural
<br />resource base makes to man's basic needs
<br />for food, shelter, clothing, and employ-
<br />ment opportunities, covered elsewhere.,
<br />the environmental objective embraces
<br />the concept and appreciation of the
<br />values inherent in preservation of eco-
<br />logical systems per se.
<br />Each natural area, such as a water-
<br />shed, a vegetation and soil type, a tidal
<br />salt marsh, a swamp, a lake, or a stream
<br />complex, represents an ecosystem, an
<br />interdependent physical and biotic en-
<br />vironment that functions as a continu-
<br />ing dynamtc unit, possessing not only in-
<br />trinsic values but also contributing to
<br />the enrichment of the general quality of
<br />life in a variety of subtle ways. Con-
<br />versely, when such natural areas are lost
<br />or otherwise diminished in size or Qual-
<br />ity, there. are corresponding adverse
<br />enviromnental effects borne by society.
<br />Beneficial ellects resulting from pres':'
<br />ervation of ecolog1eal systems include:
<br />1. The maintenance of a Il&tural envi-
<br />ronment in a state of equilibrium as an
<br />intrinsic value to society; .
<br />2. The provision of the purest form of
<br />aesthetic contact with nature;
<br />3. Contributions to the development,-
<br />apprecia.tion. and integration of a "land
<br />ethic" or environmental conscience as a
<br />part of man's culture; and
<br />4. SCientiflc understanding derived
<br />from the preservation and 6tudy of natu-
<br />ral ecological systems which contributes
<br />to the conservation or natural resources
<br />in geneI'lal. the most important practical
<br />application of ecology.
<br />Conversely, adverse effects are the re-
<br />duction or loss of opportunity to society
<br />as 8 result of a plan.
<br />C. Beneficial effects resulting from the
<br />enhancement of selected quality aspects
<br />of water, land, and air by control of
<br />pollution.
<br />1. Water quality. The beneficial effects
<br />of water quality improvements will be
<br />reflected in increased value to water
<br />users and will be recorded under the na-
<br />tional economic development or regional
<br />development objectives. For example, in-
<br />creaoses in the value of the N8Ition's out-
<br />put of goods and services from improve-
<br />ments in water quality will be accom-
<br />modated Wlder the national economic
<br />development objective. A great deal of
<br />improvement is needed. in the methods
<br />or measuring these values.
<br />There will be other water quality bene-
<br />ficial effects, however, that cannot be
<br />measured in monetary terms but are
<br />nonetheless of value to the Nation. Ex-
<br />amples of such benefits are usually in
<br />the aesthetic and ecological areas so
<br />important to mankind. Beneficial effects
<br />from these kinds of improvemen ts are
<br />contributions to the environmental ob-
<br />Jective and are identifled, measured, and
<br />described in nonmonetaQ"l terms.
<br />Beneficial effects to the envt.Tonmental
<br />objective from water quality control may
<br />be deflned in relation to the Sta.te stand-
<br />ards establIshed under the Water Quality
<br />Act of 1965. Reservoir storage and flow
<br />
<br />M161
<br />
<br />regulation for water quality may be
<br />utilized where it is the least-cost way of
<br />meeting these standards.
<br />Consistent with water quality stand-
<br />ards established for the affected planning
<br />area, water quality control beneficial ef-
<br />fects are identified, measured. and de-
<br />scribed by methods and terms such as:
<br />a. Physical and chemical tests includ-
<br />ing but not limited to:
<br />(1) Dissolved oxygen;
<br />(2) Dissolved solids;
<br />(3) Temperature;
<br />(4) Acidity/alkalinity:
<br />(5) Nutrients.
<br />b. Biological indicators including but
<br />not limited to:
<br />(1) Coliform;
<br />(2) Macro and micro organisms:
<br />(3) Algae,
<br />c. Description: By a descriptive-quali-
<br />tative interpretation, including an. evalu-
<br />ation of the ellects of a plan on the
<br />aquatic community as a whole.
<br />Conversely, adverse effects will be re-
<br />flected as departures from the established
<br />water quality standards, including re-
<br />lated damages, as a result of a plan.
<br />2. Air quality. Air pollution is primar-
<br />Uy a regional problem stemming princi-
<br />pallY from urban centers containing
<br />concentrations of people, industry, and
<br />transportation. In addition to its dlverse
<br />soc1al impacts, air pollution causes direct
<br />injury to natural environments, includ-
<br />ing gronnd cover, trees, and wildlife. In
<br />Its purely physical dImensions. air pollu-
<br />tion is accommodated within the en-
<br />vironmental objective.
<br />Beneficial ellects to the environmental
<br />objective from air quality control may
<br />be. defined in relation to regional air
<br />quality standards established under the
<br />Air Quality Aot of 1967,
<br />Consistent with air quality standards
<br />established for the affected planning
<br />area, air quality control beneficial effects
<br />are identified, measured, and described
<br />by:
<br />a. The amount and uSe of open space
<br />between sources of air pollution and con-
<br />centrations of people to assist in the proc-
<br />ess of atmospheric dispersion and
<br />dilution.
<br />b. Reductions in the use of fossil fuels.
<br />c. Reductions in damages to:
<br />(I) Wlldl1fe:
<br />(a) Species:
<br />(b) Number or density;
<br />(c) DIstribution;
<br />(d) A descriptive-qualitative interpre-
<br />tation and evaluation of effects as
<br />appropriate.
<br />(2) Ground cover:
<br />(a) Species;
<br />(b) Acreage and density;
<br />(c) Distribution;
<br />(d) A descriptive-Qualitative interpre-
<br />tation and evaluation of effects as
<br />appropriate. .
<br />(3) Forests:
<br />(a) Species or types;
<br />(b) Acreage;
<br />(c) Growth raws;
<br />(d) D1strtbutlon;
<br />(e) A descriptive-qualitative Interpre-
<br />tation and evaluation of e1fects as
<br />appropriate.
<br />
<br />~
<br />f
<br />I
<br />
<br />~ i:
<br />n
<br />.'
<br />
<br />I,
<br />
<br />FEDERAl REGISTER, VOL. 36, NO. 245-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1971
<br />
|