for marine life.

But it says Tynes Bay would be the safest place to dump the waste, and describes the Castle Harbour site planned by Government as the second best option.

The report, by the Water Quality Institute in Denmark, uses research by the Bermuda Biological Station.

Scientists found that tiny marine animals exposed to ash samples did not show significant toxic effects.

The report concludes the safest environmental option for disposing of ash would be mixing it with concrete to form blocks and dumping it near the incinerator in Tynes Bay.

Government's current planning permission for the plant says ash-concrete blocks should be dumped in Castle Harbour, near the Airport.

About 43 tons of ash a day are expected to be produced by the incinerator. The report was presented to members of the Development Applications Board by Works and Engineering officials.

Last night DAB chairman Mr. Neville Conyers said: "It's a fairly reassuring report. They have apparently tested the concreted ash and it doesn't seem to be leaking out anything.

"I think the board were quite happy to see that the tests were being continued and that everything seemed to be quite positive.

"The initial permission that was granted for the incinerator was on the understanding that the concreted ash would be deposited at Castle Harbour, in that area where the dump is, to get that filled.

"If further tests prove that perhaps Tynes Bay might be a better location then they would have to come back to the DAB to get formal permission to change the site.'' Dr. Robbie Smith of the Biological Station said further work was needed on Tynes Bay as a possible dump site, and was being done now. Government had its options open, he said.

The North Shore environment was fairly rich in life, while the Castle Harbour site had been degraded and had a little bit less to lose.

Although Tynes Bay was more open to the ocean, and any pollution could be more diluted, not enough was known about where it would eventually flow. Castle Harbour, on the other hand, was contained.

He said tests were done by pumping water through loose ash, without producing any greatly significant toxic effects. Concreted ash would be even safer, he said.

"The animals were not affected by the concentrations that were present in the material that was leached out of the ash that was used,'' he said. "It's very good news.

"Anything we want to do will be probably lower than the acceptable limits.'' However, the ash was from the island of Jersey in the English Channel and from Saugus, Massacusetts. Bermudian ash could only be tested once the incinerator was working. Ultimately it came down to whether Bermudians removed batteries and other dangerous material from their trash before it went into the incinerator, he said.