423 



Mr. Danenberger. Well, it is difficult to say exactly what the 

 final decision on the total funding package will be. You understand 

 there is a commitment to deepwater studies by the Department, in- 

 cluding a field program. And I think that might be tied into both 

 Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic drilling. Of course, it is very diffi- 

 cult to plan for North Atlantic monitoring since there aren't any 

 effective deepwater leases at this point. It is uncertain where such 

 leases actually would be, if there is a sale in the next year, and 

 concerning the continuation — there is still a commitment for con- 

 tinuing the sale 42 program. 



However, the suspension of drilling in that area makes it more 

 difficult to justify ongoing funding for several years into the future. 



Mr. D'Amours. Well, you have no current plans to terminate the 

 monitoring in the sale 42 area, do you? 



Mr. Danenberger. It is my understanding that it is approved for 

 this year. Now, if it continues to show very little or no effect, then 

 I don't know what the decision will be by the Department for 

 future years. 



Mr. D'Amours. The question specifically was, are there any 

 plans within DOI to after this year phase out the sale 42 monitor- 

 ing program? 



Mr. Danenberger. I don't know what the plans are beyond this 

 year. If there is no further drilling, I would think there would be 

 consideration of putting the resources in other areas. That is my 

 own feeling. There has been a lot of money spent for only an eight- 

 well drilling program. If there is not going to be any further drill- 

 ing on Georges Bank, it may be wiser to put some of those funds 

 into deep water studies. 



Mr. D'Amours. Some of the sale 52 area is involved in Georges 

 Bank. 



Mr. Danenberger. Yes it is. But the most likely area that would 

 be leased probably wouldn't be on the banks. It would probably be 

 on the slopes. 



Mr. D'Amours. How do we know the sediments and the pollut- 

 ants from the slope drillings will not transfer themselves on to the 

 bank? 



Mr. Danenberger. This is part of the work that is ongoing now 

 with the oceanographic studies being done by Lamont Doherty, and 

 by USGS, which are trying to determine if there are some sinks. 

 But I think it is my understanding that it would be more likely 

 that the deposition would be on the slope. 



Mr. D'Amours. Would it be wise in your judgment to discontinue 

 the sale 42 area monitoring until we know with some assurance 

 scientifically that there will be no transfer to the plateau? 



Mr. Danenberger. I think it would be wise to maintain those 

 stations that we feel would be necessary on a regional basis to help 

 in the deep water program that is being developed by the Biologi- 

 cal Task Force now. It may be wise to keep at least several stations 

 on the bank to see if there is any kind of transfer. 



Mr. D'Amours. Mr. Beller wants to comment on that. 



Mr. Beller. Yes, I would like to comment on this, backing up 

 what Bud has said. 



We did recommend that monitoring be continued until the 

 benthic infauna organisms showed no effects of the drilling. At this 



