Annex III

Total amount and average composition of matter dumped (e.g. per year).

Form, e.g. solid, sludge, liquid, or gaseous.

Properties: physical (e.g. solubility and density), chemical and biochemical (e.g. oxygen demand, nutrients) and biological (e.g. presence of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, parasites).

Toxicity.

Persistence: physical, chemical and biological.

Accumulation and biotransformation in biological materials or sediments.

Susceptibility to physical, chemical and biochemical changes and interaction in the aquatic environment with other dissolved organic and inorganic materials.

Probability of production of taints or other changes reducing marketability of resources (fish, shellfish, etc.).

In issuing a permit for dumping, Contracting Parties should consider whether an adequate scientific basis exists concerning characteristics and composition of the matter to de dumped to assess the impact of the matter on marine life and on human health.

Location (e.g. co-ordinates of the dumping area, depth and distance from the coast), location in relation to other areas (e.g. amenity areas, spawning, nursery and fishing areas and exploitable resources).

Rate of disposal per specific period (e.g. quantity per day, per week, per month).

Methods of packaging and containment, if any.

Initial dilution achieved by proposed method of release.

Dispersal characteristics (e.g. effects of currents, tides and wind on horizontal transport and vertical mixing).

Water characteristics (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity, stratification, oxygen indices of pollution — dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — nitrogen present in organic and mineral form including ammonia, suspended matter, other nutrients and productivity).

Bottom characteristics (e.g. topography, geochemical and geological characteristics and biological productivity).

Existence and effects of other dumpings which have been made in the dumping area (e.g. heavy metal background reading and organic carbon content).

In issuing a permit for dumping, Contracting Parties should consider whether an adequate scientific basis exists for assessing the consequences of such dumping, as outlined in this Annex, taking into account seasonal variations.

Possible effects on amenities (e.g. presence of floating or stranded material, turbidity, objectionable odour, discolouration and foaming).

Possible effects on marine life, fish and shellfish culture, fish stocks and fisheries, seaweed harvesting and culture.

Possible effects on other uses of the sea (e.g. impairment of water quality for industrial use, underwater corrosion of structures, interference with ship operations from floating materials, interference with fishing or navigation through deposit of waste or solid objects on the sea floor and protection of areas of special importance for scientific or conservation purposes).

The practical availability of alternative land-based methods of treatment, disposal or elimination, or of treatment to render the matter less harmful for dumping at sea.