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<br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />Effects Upon the Environment <br /> <br />The environmental statements prepared for each of the four regions have <br />presented detailed discussions of many of the projected regional envil-onmental <br />impacts. To a considerable extent. the statements undel.take the discussion <br />of alternative plans that generally meet'more modest population growth ' <br />proJections. ' <br /> <br />The framework studies were fundamentally structured to lltress development <br />to meet needs. However ,thi,s approach. of itself. does not endorse the concept <br />that continued rapid expansion of the populatiOn and water. land and energy <br />use is inevitable. <br /> <br />Expansion of the, urban communities in the Pacific Southwest will cOl'\tribute <br />significant environmental impacts. The urban al'eas located along the PaCific <br />coast will increasingly 'contribute wastes to the waterways . bays . estuaries i <br />and the ocean with effects onwater quality., fisheries. and other aquatic life. <br />The inlal'\d communities will encroach upon agricultural land . 'In some areas, <br />the manner of urban encroachment \\fill result in the 1055 of attractive and <br />irreplaceable open space features and other amenities that complement and <br />enhance urban communities. Tnnsportation between theenlarl,Jing Cities will <br />require more highways andairports--features that require large amounts of <br />land and the use of which contributes to air pollution ~ <br /> <br />Generation and conveyal'lce of electrical energy in the quantities projected will <br />greatly impact the al'ea. Coal- and on-burning powel'plants in increasing <br />numbel'swill produce air pollutants that will need to be kepHo tolenble <br />levels. The projected inc,rease of coal-pul'ning plants in the Upper Colorado <br />Region will introduce an industrial quality to an area heretofore donlinated by <br />grazing, lumber production. agricultul'e and mining. Mining of the area's <br />extensive coal deposits to ,fire the coal-burning plantfi also will greatly affect <br />the environmental qualities of the al"ea.' <br /> <br />CommerCial navigation to the area's west coast ports is predicted to increase. <br />requiring faCilities to meet greater volumes of shipping and changes in the <br />technology of shipping. The e:l>."jJansiori and deepening of \;,aterways and filling <br />o!.1and areas will impact estuarine and shore life . Construction, and maintenance <br />of some waterwa}'s could affect water quality. Use of largesupf:lrtankers equId <br />increase the scale of accidental oil spills and environmental damage. <br /> <br />The envil'onmCl'\taUmpactof the projected plan in regard to water quality in . <br />the Colorado River is to retard the rate of dcteriol'ation. The measures <br />projected will reduce emanatiOns horn salt "prin'gs, irrigation . and industrial <br />U$e, and are expected to keep the salinity in the lower reaches of the river at <br />a little above the present concimtration:for the 50 Yf:lars projected. <br /> <br />6 <br />