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Mr. Studds. As I understand it from not only your own scientists 

 but those of other agencies, there is no way in this world that we 

 have existing studies adequate to make a reasonable judgment of 

 these questions in an area of the extraordinary biological delicacy 

 of the bank. Under those circumstances how could you even consid- 

 er such permit applications? 



Ms. CoMPTON. As I mentioned earlier we are waiting for the data 

 that is to be supplied to us by the applicants with regard to the 

 classes of fluids that they intend to use in the Georges Bank area 

 and when we receive that data we are hopeful that we will be able 

 to make a reasonable judgment as to whether those muds can be 

 discharged. 



Mr. Studds. How can you make a reasonable judgment when 

 your scientists have testified that no studies have been done upon 

 which such a judgment could be based? We do not have the infor- 

 mation. We have no idea what the long-term effects are, and very 

 little idea, testimony indicates, what the short-term effects are. 



Ms. CoMPTON. Our conclusion — I do not know what the bioassay 

 and bioaccumulation data will tell us. The data may indicate that 

 we should not allow any discharge of those muds and cuttings. The 

 data from 



Mr. Studds. The data from the oil industry? 



Ms. CoMPTON. Yes. It may indicate that there are chronic and 

 toxic effects and therefore there should be 



Mr. Studds. You do not believe any more than I do, do you, that 

 the oil industry is going to come in and tell you there are toxic 

 effects from what they propose to discharge? You are going to rely 

 on whether they tell you that or not. 



Ms. CoMPTON. That is not the sole information on which we will 

 rely in issuing these permits. 



Dr. Bolton. We also have a research program ongoing in the 

 New England area. 



Mr. Studds. I just read from your agency's own publication on 

 the subject which raises more questions. It does not make one feel 

 better about the situation. 



Ms. Bolton. That is true, but I believe there has been a signifi- 

 cant amount of information gathered in recent months that at 

 least gives us a little bit more to go on. A draft study from the New 

 England Aquarium gives us more information about toxicities. In 

 fact one of the least toxic of the muds used in these studies was one 

 from the Baltimore Canyon, about which I believe Mr. Hughes was 

 asking. 



Mr. Studds. This speaks to the question of short-term toxicity 

 but presumably does not speak to the question of long-range toxic- 

 ity or long-range sublethal effects in behavioral changes. 



Dr. Bolton. It is purely a prerequisite test in a spectrum of 

 toxicity testing. 



Mr. Studds. Purely the request. Toxicities. 



Dr. Bolton. In a particular location. 



Mr. Studds. The kinds of concerns of effect over time of the 

 environment, one of which was raised by your own study. 



Dr. Bolton. This is something we are still trying to address. 



Mr. Studds. And presumably will not have addressed within the 

 next few months when decisions will have to be made? 



