173Conducting the Environmental Impact Analysis and Assessment
must the discharge be in order to avoid enriching the river and nearshore
system?
This situation reects a meaningful comparison of alternatives and ulti-
mately a decision centered on the major issues, as discussed in Section 4.5.
Both alternatives (advanced treatment with nearshore discharge or extended
efuent discharge) met the purpose and need of eliminating failing septic
systems and the associated degradation of the estuarine environment while
not exacerbating and in fact, potentially improving conditions resulting from
nutrient and organic loading. So the comparison of alternatives was based on
cost, reliability of treatment, construction impacts, and other benets assoc ...