Schedule ANNEX III FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE ISSUE OF THE PERMITS

For the purpose of the issue of a permit required under Article 9, paragraph 7, particular account will be taken, as the case may be, of the following factors:

1. A..

   Characteristics and composition of the waste

   1. 1..

      Type and size of waste source (e.g. industrial process);

   2. 2..

      Type of waste (origin, average composition);

   3. 3..

      Form of waste (solid, liquid, sludge, slurry, gaseous);

   4. 4..

      Total amount (volume discharged, e.g. per year);

   5. 5..

      Discharge pattern (continuous, intermittent, seasonally variable, etc.);

   6. 6..

      Concentrations with respect to major constituents, substances listed in Annex I, substances listed in Annex II, and other substances as appropriate;

   7. 7..

      Physical, chemical and biochemical properties of the waste.

2. B..

   Characteristics of waste constituents with respect to their harmfulness

   1. 1..

      Persistence (physical, chemical, biological) in the marine environment;

   2. 2..

      Toxicity and other harmful effects;

   3. 3..

      Accumulation in biological materials or sediments;

   4. 4..

      Biochemical transformation producing harmful compounds;

   5. 5..

      Adverse effects on the oxygen content and balance;

   6. 6..

      Susceptibility to physical, chemical and biochemical changes and interaction in the aquatic environment with other sea-water constituents which may produce harmful biological or other effects on any of the uses listed in Section E below.

3. C..

   Characteristics of discharge site and receiving marine environment

   1. 1..

      Hydrographic, meteorological, geological and topographical characteristics of the area;

   2. 2..

      Location and type of the discharge (outfall, canal, outlet, etc.) and its relation to other areas (such as amenity areas, spawning, nursery and fishing areas, shellfish grounds) and other discharges;

   3. 3..

      Initial dilution achieved at the point of discharge into the receiving marine environment;

   4. 4..

      Dispersion characteristics such as effects of currents, tides and wind on horizontal transport and vertical mixing;

   5. 5..

      Receiving water characteristics with respect to physical, chemical, biological and ecological conditions in the discharge area;

   6. 6..

      Capacity of the receiving marine environment to receive waste discharges without undesirable effects.

4. D..

   Availability of waste technologies

   The methods of waste reduction and discharge for industrial effluents as well as domestic sewage should be selected taking into account the availability and feasibility of:

   1. (a)

      Alternative treatment processes;

   2. (b)

      Reuse or elimination methods;

   3. (c)

      On-land disposal alternatives;

   4. (d)

      Appropriate low-waste technologies.

5. E..

   Potential impairment of marine ecosystem and sea-water uses

   1. 1..

      Effects on human life through pollution impact on:

      1. (a)

         Edible marine organisms;

      2. (b)

         Bathing waters;

      3. (c)

         Aesthetics.

   2. 2..

      Effects on marine ecosystems, in particular living resources, endangered species and critical habitats.

   3. 3..

      Effects on other legitimate uses of the sea in conformity with international law.