364 Environmental Impact Analysis
Preparation of the EIS for DCR management on the Great Lakes presented an
opportunity not typically encountered in an environmental impact analysis. The
practice of virtually uncontrolled DCR discharge within the major Great Lakes
shipping lanes had occurred for over a century, which created the possibility of
actually measuring rather than predicting the impacts resulting from the dis-
charge. Since the degree of impact was generally proportionate to the mass of
the DCR discharged, alternatives that reduced the discharge could be assumed
to have lesser impact scaled to the anticipated reduction in DCR discharge.
The DCR environmental impact analysis focused on the physical, bio-
logical, and chemical ...