[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 24]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR230.31]



[Page 267-268]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 230_SECTION 404(b)(1) GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFICATION OF DISPOSAL SITES 

FOR DREDGED OR FILL MATERIAL--Table of Contents

 

Subpart D_Potential Impacts on Biological Characteristics of the Aquatic 

                                Ecosystem

 

Sec.  230.31  Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic organisms 

in the food web.



    (a) Aquatic organisms in the food web include, but are not limited 

to, finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, annelids, planktonic 

organisms, and the plants and animals on which they feed and depend upon 

for their needs. All forms and life stages of an organism, throughout 

its geographic range, are included in this category.

    (b) Possible loss of values: The discharge of dredged or fill 

material can variously affect populations of fish, crustaceans, mollusks 

and other food web organisms through the release of contaminants which 

adversely affect adults, juveniles, larvae, or eggs, or result in the 

establishment or proliferation of an undesirable competitive species of 

plant or animal at the expense of the desired resident species. 

Suspended particulates settling on attached or buried eggs can smother 

the eggs by limiting or sealing off their exposure to oxygenated water. 

Discharge of dredged and fill material may result in the debilitation or 

death of sedentary organisms by smothering, exposure to chemical 

contaminants in dissolved or suspended form, exposure to high levels of 

suspended particulates, reduction in food supply, or alteration of the 

substrate upon which they are dependent. Mollusks are particularly



[[Page 268]]



sensitive to the discharge of material during periods of reproduction 

and growth and development due primarily to their limited mobility. They 

can be rendered unfit for human consumption by tainting, by production 

and accumulation of toxins, or by ingestion and retention of pathogenic 

organisms, viruses, heavy metals or persistent synthetic organic 

chemicals. The discharge of dredged or fill material can redirect, 

delay, or stop the reproductive and feeding movements of some species of 

fish and crustacea, thus preventing their aggregation in accustomed 

places such as spawning or nursery grounds and potentially leading to 

reduced populations. Reduction of detrital feeding species or other 

representatives of lower trophic levels can impair the flow of energy 

from primary consumers to higher trophic levels. The reduction or 

potential elimination of food chain organism populations decreases the 

overall productivity and nutrient export capability of the ecosystem.