Section 302 (b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 stipulates that under some circumstances the economic and social costs of achieving effluent limitations shall be taken into account in determining the nature of such limitations. This study is an effort to draw that economic context for the Pacific Northwest woodpulp industry that is generally conceded to be most significant to water pollution in Federal Administrative Region X. It is pointed to the solution of a single problem, determining the impact of waste treatment on production costs of the Region's pulp mills, and relating it to fundamental industry dynamics in order to forecast the likelihood of plant closures. Hopefully, this technical exercise will assist those who may be forced to determine the relative economic and social costs of setting particular effluent limitations.

"December 1972." "Working paper no. 88." Includes bibliographical references.