Enclosure 2 to COMTINST 16478.12
particularly conducive to the methylation process. Habitats such as oyster
beds and very fine-grained sediments are high priorities for battery
removal because they appear more likely to provide opportunities for
methylmercury formation.
The site attributes selected to indicate the potential for environmental
effects are the same ones used to predict the potential for human health
effects, except that we are not concerned with a site's potential for use
as a drinking water supply. The model gives additional weight to sensitive
habitat sites with clay, silt or other fine grained bottom/sediment types,
reflecting their potential for methylmercury formation.
3.3 Potential Selected Public Recreation Impacts
The concern is that recreational diving and swimming could be diminished if
they are avoided due to the presence of discarded AtoN batteries, or if the
batteries lower the aesthetic appeal of the location. In the unlikely
event of a direct release of battery contents into a recreational swimming
of diving area, there may be short term potential for mercury exposure in
the immediate vicinity of the battery. Additionally, recreational divers
in popular areas (such as the Florida Keys) could come upon batteries in
shallow depths around fixed lighted AtoN, degrading the diving experience.
The site attributes selected to indicate the potential for public
recreation impacts are the projected number of batteries and location in
potential swimming or diving areas (shallow coastal depths, certain bottom
types).
3.4 Potential Selected Private and Commercial Fishing Impacts
The concern is that discarded batteries could reduce the number of fish
taken from around AtoN sites or make fish from a particular area less
appealing to consumers concerned about contamination. As discussed in the
Scientific Assessment, tissue samples from biota on and near AtoN showed
mercury levels consistent with "baskground" measures and are unlikely to be
harmful. Nonetheless, the perception that marine life could be
contaminated by the batteries could alter fishing and consumption patterns.
The site attributes selected to indicate the potential for private and
commercial fishing impacts are the projected number of batteries and
location in potential fishing areas (deeper near-coastal depths, certain
bottom types).
9
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Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Priority Ranking Plan for Aton Battery Recovery
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