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point is that, as I mentioned to you, we are asking for bioassay and 

 bioaccumulation data on the 8 to 10 classes of muds which industry 

 says they will use in the Georges Bank. After reviewing that data 

 we will probably conclude that if we are to allow the discharge of 

 muds and cuttings in Georges Bank that they will be limited to 

 those muds and cuttings that they have tested and submitted the 

 data to us, that we do not — although what was stated earlier to the 

 subcommittee is true and I am not changing that testimony in any 

 way, I am saying that we do not necessarily need to know the 

 entire universe of the muds before we decide what to do with 

 particular drilling rigs if they are limited to the use of certain 

 muds. 



Mr. Studds. I will let the record reflect what the testimony of 

 the scientists were. I am not sure it is consistent. I apologize Mr. 

 Wyatt, it is your time. 



Mr. Wyatt. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You said that the Rice 

 study was reviewed and studied by a scientist from Woods Hole, is 

 that right? 



Dr. Bolton. The what study? 



Mr. Wyatt. The Rice University study. 



Dr. Bolton. I am sorry. Yes; Howard Sanders has done a review 

 of it. It is not in publication yet. Since he has no funding I do not 

 know when it will go into production. 



Mr. Wyatt. So only one person studied it? 



Dr. Bolton. He is a rather well respected marine benthic biolo- 

 gist. 



Mr. Wyatt. Twenty-three universities were involved with the 

 Rice University study. 



Dr. Bolton. That is right. 



Mr. Wyatt. We are talking one study of that and raising ques- 

 tions, that is what you are saying? 



Dr. Bolton. Yes. It is not the only basis for my comment. I have 

 also read most of the original papers involved in that study and I 

 have a consultant who is looking at the new addition of the studies 

 now. There is a reasonable question as to its adequacy. I think 

 industry in many ways also questions some of those studies. 



Mr. Wyatt. Industry questions the studies? 



Dr. Bolton. Yes, for the very same reason. It is a scientific study 

 done basically without control sites, based on inadequate design. 



Mr. Wyatt. And that is the primary objection? 



Dr. Bolton. That is one of the primary objections, yes. 



Mr. Wyatt. Someone made a comment a moment ago that in the 

 Gulf of Mexico you are getting the same catch with ten times the 

 effort, is that correct? 



Dr. Bolton. Yes. 



Mr. Wyatt. That is not true of the Georges Bank area for in- 

 stance? 



Dr. Bolton. I am not familiar with any similar statistics on 

 Georges Bank. 



Mr. Wyatt. Any other fish areas in the country that we know of 

 that do not have the same catch with more effort, or are you just 

 familiar with the Gulf of Mexico? 



Dr. Bolton. I am familiar with that particular study and cita- 

 tion. 



