484 



true picture of the exchange mechanisms between the various 

 levels within the ecosystem, because in reality there are no truly 

 distinct levels within an ecosystem. There is a whole, and unless 

 the whole can be grasped, understanding isolated parts does little 

 to enhance our knoweldge. 



Third, while the program was designed to monitor the long-term 

 cumulative effects of offshore drilling, by studying the effects of ex- 

 ploratory drilling, it addresses only the impacts of exploratory 

 drilling, and only in the present. The cumulative impacts from an 

 accelerated development of Georges Bank, combined with the stress 

 inflicted by oil-laden formation waters discharged during the devel- 

 opment and production phase won't be estimated by the present 

 studies. 



These studies will only show what is happening as a result of ac- 

 tivities that have already occurred. Of what real value is a studies 

 program that is designed specifically to tell us the nature of the 

 environmental destruction we have just committed? 



Even the information we do have has limitations which precl"de 

 its use in drawing final conclusions, especially in light of the ia^t 

 that the results now available cover only the impacts of the first 

 year of drilling, when only a few dry holes had been drilled. This 

 can't possibly demonstrate long-term cumulative impacts. 



The studies conducted as part of the Georges Bank monitoring 

 program, as well as studies of Georges Bank conducted under the 

 Bureau of Land Management's environmental studies program ac- 

 knowledge some of their own limitations. The following quotes 

 from reports indicate the acknowledged limitations. 



Georges Bank benthic infauna monitoring program — final report, 

 year 1, Battelle New England and Woods Hole Oceanographic Insti- 

 tution: 



Page 22: 



Deposited drilling muds may damage the benthic invertebrate community 

 through burial and smothering, clogging with fine suspended particles of gills, etc., 

 of animals, or chemical toxicity. The extent of this damage and rate of recovery are 

 not known. 



Page 134. At station 13, the Mud Patch: 



Sample residues from this station in July appeared "oily"; that is, after several 

 rinsings in water and 70 percent alcohol, a surface sheen reminiscent of oil contami- 

 nation persisted. Several specimens of amphipods from this station also appeared to 

 be fouled by a dark, oily substance. Since this was observed in samples collected 

 before drilling had started on the bank, this contamination must be from a source 

 other than drilling activities. However, if this station has already been stressed by 

 various forms of pollution, it may be difficult to distinguish changes caused by depo- 

 sition of drilling muds from those caused by other sources of stress. 



The accumulation of nutrients and sediments downstream of 

 Georges Bank in this ''mud patch" may be an indicator of the 

 transport mechanisms on the bank. The mud patch may also be an 

 area which will show negative effects at an early stage. It is worth- 

 while to note that the CETAP data shows the mud patch to be an 

 area of sperm whale concentration. 



All of the above-mentioned studies recommend further study of 

 the Georges Bank region. This is the greatest indication that the 

 researchers themselves realize that studies performed to date do 

 not provide a complete picture of the dynamics of Georges Bank. 



