Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2005-0006-0012
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2005-11-18T05:00Z

1
Introductory
Script
(**
=
change
slide)

Slide
1
**
Slide
2:
"
This
survey
is
funded
by
the
United
States
Environmental
Protection
Agency,
or
EPA.
Its
purpose
is
to
determine
whether
people
like
you
would
support
new
policies
to
protect
fish
stocks
in
Northeast
US
waters.
Protecting
fish
is
only
one
of
many
important
issues
that
people
might
care
about.
As
the
government
considers
these
new
policies,
it
is
important
to
obtain
feedback
from
the
public."
**
Slide
3:
"
This
presentation
provides
background
information
that
may
be
useful
as
you
complete
the
survey.
This
information
highlights
the
pros
and
cons
of
the
proposed
policy
options,
so
that
you
can
make
more
informed
choices."
**
Slide
4:
"
Northeast
fresh
and
salt
waters
support
billions
of
fish."
**
Slide
5:
"
These
include
fish
that
are
used
for
recreational
and
commercial
fishing "
**
Slide
6:
"
as
well
as
other
fish
that
are
not
used
by
humans,
but
are
a
part
of
the
larger
ecological
system."
**
Slide
7:
"
Natural
factors
such
as
weather
have
always
influenced
fish
stocks
in
Northeast
waters."
**
Slide
8:
"
In
recent
years,
however,
human
activities
have
had
an
increasing
effect
on
fish
stocks.
These
activities
include
commercial
and
recreational
fishing,
pollution,
the
development
of
waterfront
areas,
the
loss
of
habitat,
and
the
use
of
cooling
water
in
commercial
facilities."
**
Slide
9:
"
Many
fish
stocks
have
been
declining
in
recent
decades.
These
declines
affect
natural
ecosystem
functions,
as
well
as
human
uses
of
these
ecosystems."
**
Slide
10:
"
This
survey
concerns
proposed
policies
that
would
reduce
fish
losses
caused
by
one
type
of
human
activity
 
the
use
of
cooling
water
by
commercial
facilities."
**
Slide
11:
"
Many
types
of
facilities
use
water
to
cool
equipment
and
machinery.
These
facilities
produce
products
and
services
that
we
use
every
day,
including
paper
products,
energy
and
power,
and
other
common
goods.
The
largest
amount
of
cooling
water
is
used
by
power
plants
that
produce
electricity."
**
Slide
12:
"
While
these
facilities
provide
valued
products
to
US
households,
they
also
use
large
amounts
of
water
in
their
cooling
systems.
This
water
is
usually
pumped
from
coastal
waters,
rivers,
and
lakes.
The
equipment
that
pumps
the
water
kills
small
fish
and
fish
eggs.
Larger
aquatic
organisms
may
also
be
pinned
against
screens
or
filters,
and
either
injured
or
killed."
**
Slide
13:
"
Facilities
that
use
cooling
water
are
located
in
all
Northeastern
States.
This
map
shows
the
locations
of
major
facilities
in
the
Northeast
that
withdraw
cooling
water
in
ways
that
harm
fish.
Common
sense
indicates
that
effects
on
fish
will
be
greater
in
areas
closer
to
these
2
facilities,
and
smaller
in
areas
that
are
further
away.
For
the
sake
of
simplicity,
this
presentation
discusses
average
effects
across
all
affected
water
bodies."
**
Slide
14:
"
Many
types
of
fresh
and
salt
water
fish
are
affected
by
cooling
water
use."
**
Slide
15:
"
About
1/
3
of
affected
fish
are
types
caught
by
commercial
and
recreational
fishermen.
These
include
such
species
as
striped
bass,
flounder,
Atlantic
cod,
weakfish,
freshwater
bass,
trout,
and
many
others."
**
Slide
16:
"
About
2/
3
of
affected
fish
are
fish
that
are
not
directly
used
by
humans.
These
include
killifish,
sticklebacks,
minnows,
shiners
and
many
others."
**
Slide
17:
"
There
are
many
billions
of
fish
that
are
not
directly
used
by
humans
in
Northeast
waters.
However,
the
exact
size
of
total
fish
stocks
for
these
species
is
not
known."
**
Slide
18:
"
Even
if
not
harmed
in
cooling
water
intakes,
only
a
small
portion
of
fish
eggs
and
larvae
survive
and
grow
into
adult
fish.
After
accounting
for
the
number
of
eggs
and
larvae
that
would
be
expected
to
survive
to
adulthood,
scientists
estimate
that
the
equivalent
of
about
1.8
billion
young
adult
fish
is
lost
each
year
in
the
Northeast
region."
**
Slide
19:
"
For
example,
about
1.8
million
striped
bass
are
lost
in
cooling
water
intakes
in
the
Northeast
region,
compared
to
an
annual
commercial
and
recreational
harvest
of
12.7
million
fish,
and
a
total
adult
stock
of
about
44
million
fish,
in
that
region.
In
another
example,
about
8.6
million
winter
flounder
are
lost
each
year
in
the
Northeast
region,
compared
to
an
annual
harvest
of
12.8
million
fish,
and
a
total
adult
stock
of
42
million
fish.
Information
is
also
known
about
losses
of
other
recreational
and
commercial
species,
and
about
losses
of
forage
fish
without
direct
human
uses.
However,
little
information
is
known
about
the
size
of
the
stocks
of
many
of
these
species."
[
NOTE:
Cells
marked
"
To
Be
Determined"
will
be
completed
when
modeling
data
is
available.]
**
Slide
20:
"
It
is
important
to
recognize
that
the
effects
of
fish
losses
from
cooling
water
use
are
usually
smaller
than
the
effects
of
commercial
fishing.
Even
though
cooling
water
use
is
not
the
largest
cause
of
fish
losses
in
many
areas,
it
has
contributed
to
a
measurable
decline
in
some
fish
stocks,
in
some
locations."
**
Slide
21:
"
The
government
is
considering
new
policies
that
would
reduce
fish
losses,
by
requiring
new
technologies
in
facilities
that
use
water
for
cooling.
The
example
on
this
slide
shows
a
cooling
water
intake
structure
with
a
screen
that
has
finely
spaced
openings
that
filter
out
adult
fish,
juveniles,
and
eggs.
The
pipe
has
an
airburst
system
that
is
used
to
clean
debris,
silt,
and
aquatic
organisms
off
the
screen."
**
Slide
22:
"
Different
levels
of
technology
could
be
required,
ranging
from
advanced
filters
to
closed­
cycle
cooling."
**
3
Slide
23:
"
Less
expensive
technologies
can
block
many
fish
from
entering
cooling
water
facilities.
Requiring
such
technologies
can
reduce
fish
losses
about
25%.
This
would
save
about
450
million
young
adult
fish
per
year."
**
Slide
24:
"
More
expensive
technologies
such
as
closed
cycle
cooling
towers
can
almost
eliminate
the
need
for
outside
cooling
water.
Requiring
these
technologies
could
reduce
fish
losses
by
up
to
98%.
This
translates
to
about
1.7
billion
young
adult
fish
that
would
be
saved,
per
year."
**
Slide
25:
"
Technologies
such
as
these
are
already
in
use
at
52%
of
facilities
that
use
cooling
water.
Scientists'
estimates
of
the
effects
of
the
proposed
policies
are
based
on
measurements
at
these
facilities.
The
proposed
policies
would
require
similar
technologies
at
all
facilities
that
use
cooling
water."
**
Slide
26:
"
While
these
policies
would
reduce
fish
losses,
they
would
also
increase
the
production
costs
of
commercial
facilities.
While
a
significant
proportion
of
these
costs
would
be
absorbed
by
the
facility
owners
and
investors,
it
is
unavoidable
that
some
would
be
passed
on
to
consumers.
This
would
increase
the
cost
of
living
for
all
Northeast
households,
including
yours.
**
Slide
27:
"
This
is
why
you
have
received
this
survey.
The
government
must
decide
whether
to
require
new
technology
to
protect
fish.
Before
moving
forward
with
these
regulations,
EPA
needs
to
know
whether
US
households
are
willing
to
pay
the
costs
that
would
be
required."
**
Slide
28:
"
By
answering
this
survey,
you
will
help
the
government
decide
which
policies
will
be
enacted,
if
any."
**
Slide
29:
"
This
survey
is
similar
to
a
public
vote.
It
asks
you
to
compare
policies
with
different
effects
on
fish
and
different
costs
to
your
household.
You
are
then
asked
to
vote
for
the
policies
you
prefer,
if
any."
**
Slide
30:
"
You
will
be
shown
different
policy
options
 
with
different
effects
on
fish.
This
is
because
scientists
are
still
working
to
determine
what
the
exact
effect
on
fish
will
be,
so
it
is
important
to
know
how
you
would
react
to
a
wide
range
of
possible
outcomes.
Common
sense
indicates
that
preventing
the
loss
of
fish
eggs
and
young
fish
will
mean
more
adult
fish
in
future
years,
but
at
this
point
there
is
still
significant
uncertainty
regarding
the
exact
size
of
these
future
effects."
**
Slide
31:
"
You
may
choose
policies
that
are
more
expensive,
but
save
more
fish
 
or
policies
that
save
fewer
fish,
but
are
less
expensive.
You
may
also
choose
to
reject
all
the
proposed
policies
 
and
maintain
the
status
quo."
**
Slide
32:
"
There
are
no
wrong
answers
to
these
questions
 
it
all
comes
down
to
the
tradeoffs
that
you
are
willing
to
make."
**
Slide
33:
"
The
survey
describes
policies
based
on
the
expected
reduction
in
annual
fish
losses,"
**
4
Slide
34:
"
long
term
effects
on
fish
populations,"
**
Slide
35:
"
anticipated
effect
on
recreational
and
commercial
fishing,
and "
**
Slide
36:
"
the
estimated
cost
to
your
household."
**
Slide
37:
"
The
survey
uses
a
0
to
100
scale
to
show
expected
long­
term
effects
on
fish
populations.
This
is
the
best
estimate
as
to
what
will
happen
to
average
fish
stocks,
across
all
species,
after
3­
5
years
of
new
policies."
**
Slide
38:
"
A
100
on
this
scale
represents
maximum
historical
fish
levels.
It
is
the
maximum
possible
population
of
fish
that
may
be
supported
by
waters
in
the
Northeast."
**
Slide
39:
"
A
score
of
0
would
represent
an
ecosystem
with
no
fish
at
all."
**
Slide
40:
"
For
purposes
of
this
survey,
please
assume
that
current
fish
populations
are
at
60%
on
this
scale.
This
is
the
status
quo
of
fish
stocks
with
no
policy
changes,
and
is
the
result
of
a
wide
range
of
past
human
activities
that
have
caused
fish
stocks
to
decline
over
time."
**
Slide
41:
"
Over
3­
5
years,
the
proposed
policies
may
increase
fish
populations
to
between
60
and
75%
on
this
scale.
These
increases
will
occur
in
all
Northeast
fresh
and
salt
waters
affected
by
cooling
water
use."
**
Slide
42:
"
Effects
on
commercial
and
recreational
catch
may
also
vary
according
to
the
types
of
policies
used."
**
Slide
43:
"
These
effects
are
also
shown
on
a
0
to
100
scale,
where
0
is
no
catch
at
all,
and
100
is
the
catch
level
that
was
realized
in
1950.
Today,
because
of
fishing,
pollution,
cooling
water
use,
and
other
factors,
average
catch
levels
are
at
about
a
50
on
this
scale.
This
is
the
status
quo
of
harvest
with
no
policy
changes."
**
Slide
44:
"
As
a
result
of
the
proposed
policies,
average
catch
may
increase
to
between
50
and
65%
on
the
scale.
Effects
on
catch
will
usually
be
smaller
than
effects
on
total
fish
populations,
because
many
of
the
fish
that
would
be
saved
by
these
policies
are
not
harvested
by
humans."
**
Slide
45:
"
Keep
in
mind
that
some
types
of
policies
may
protect
more
total
fish,
while
others
may
be
better
at
protecting
types
of
fish
caught
by
fishermen.
Also,
these
are
the
effects
on
population
and
harvest
that
are
possible
given
current
water
quality
in
the
Northeast."
**
Slide
46:
"
For
each
pair
of
policies,
you
are
asked
to
vote
for
the
one
that
you
prefer,"
**
Slide
47:
"
if
any,
by
checking
the
appropriate
box."
**
Slide
48
**
Slide
49:
"
If
you
do
not
support
either
policy,
you
may
also
indicate
this
in
the
appropriate
box."
5
**
Slide
50:
"
You
will
be
shown
three
different
questions,
each
with
a
different
set
of
policies
to
compare.
This
is
so
that
EPA
may
obtain
your
votes
for
a
variety
of
different
policy
options."
**
Slide
51:
"
When
making
your
choice,
remember
that
protecting
fish
from
cooling
water
intakes
is
only
one
of
many
environmental
problems.
You
would
actually
have
to
pay
the
indicated
amounts
if
regulations
are
enacted,
and
this
money
would
no
longer
be
available
for
your
household
expenses
or
for
any
other
use."
**
Slide
52:
"
When
considering
these
policies,
you
should
only
consider
effects
on
fish
and
the
cost
to
your
household.
This
is
because
scientists
expect
no
other
significant
environmental
or
economic
impacts,
other
than
those
described
in
the
survey.
It
is
also
important
to
recognize
that
these
policies
will
have
no
effect
on
taxes
paid
by
your
household."
**
Slide
53:
"
This
survey
asks
you
to
make
important
choices,
even
though
some
information
is
not
known
to
scientists.
For
example,
there
is
no
way
to
know
the
exact
effect
of
these
new
policies
on
the
fishing
industry.
Even
so,
the
government
will
be
making
its
final
decision
by
June
2006.
The
results
of
this
study
will
be
used
by
EPA
to
assess
the
value
of
the
proposed
policies
to
the
public,
and
will
also
be
posted
on
EPA's
website.
Your
responses
to
this
survey
will
make
a
difference."
**
Slide
54:
"
Because
your
answers
will
influence
real
policy
changes,
it
is
critical
that
you
answer
all
questions
the
same
way
that
you
would
if
this
were
a
real,
binding
vote.
Your
opinion
is
important,
whether
you
choose
to
support
or
oppose
the
proposed
policies."
**
Slide
55:
"
When
voting
in
this
survey,
please
consider
each
pair
of
policy
options
separately."
**
Slide
56:
"
Do
not
add
up
or
compare
policy
options
across
different
pages.
Remember,
there
are
no
wrong
answers,
and "
**
Slide
57:
"
please
be
assured
that
all
your
responses
are
anonymous
and
strictly
confidential."
**
Slide
58:
"
Now,
before
you
answer
the
survey
questions,
there
are
a
few
very
important
things
that
need
to
be
emphasized.
First,
sometimes
people
taking
this
survey
imagine
that
the
policies
being
discussed
affect
such
things
as
water
quality,
pollution,
or
other
environmental
problems.
They
will
not.
The
only
significant
environmental
effect
of
these
regulations
is
on
the
quantity
of
fish
in
the
water.
There
are
no
other
significant
effects
on
the
environment."
**
Slide
59:
"
Second,
there
are
no
hidden
agendas
or
tricks
to
these
questions.
EPA
really
does
want
to
know
your
values
for
these
types
of
policies.
We
are
not
trying
to
sell
you
anything,
or
convince
you
that
any
policies
are
a
good
or
bad
idea
 
we
honestly
want
to
know
your
opinion."
**
Slide
60:
"
Third,
if
these
policies
are
enacted,
costs
will
be
passed
on
to
you
by
facilities,
as
described
in
the
survey.
This
is
real
money
that
you
will
have
to
pay,
so
it
is
important
that
you
consider
the
costs
carefully.
However,
it
is
also
important
to
realize
that
these
are
NOT
new
taxes
 
and
we
are
NOT
talking
about
funding
a
new
government
program."
6
**
Slide
61:
"
Finally,
thank
you
very
much
for
your
participation
in
this
important
survey."