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Question 3: Since the enactment of the two year moratorium on 



ocean disposal of radioactive wastes, what research 

 efforts has the DOE initiated to better define: 



(1) specific deep-sea populations 



(2) foodchain relationships in the deep 

 ocean 



(3) seasonal and annual variation in deep 

 ocean biological populations and 

 sediment chemistry. 



What studies are being conducted by any other 

 members of the international community to 

 provide data on these necessary parameters? 



Answer: 



No field research efforts have been started 

 during the two-year moratorium on ocean disposal 

 of radioactive wastes. New field research 

 efforts require cruises and there have been no 

 biology cruises since 1979. The research effort 

 has centered on analysis of archived samples 

 from previous cruises. 



The development of new equipment for deep-ocean 

 biology, specifically the acoustic array for 

 monitoring the mobility of deep-ocean biota and 

 the Giant Concial Net to trap deep-ocean mobile 

 nekton, has been deferred because of 

 insufficient funds for fabrication or for ship 

 time needed for testing. 



