1 outcomes of this is a recommendation for an additional study. I think 



2 we have a lot of information that we can already use to clarify issues. 



3 I don't rule it out and if that should be the direction that you 



4 intend to go, or if that's the direction we all end up going, these are 



5 the kinds of questions that we would like to see included. 



6 Just for closing, I would like to emphasize my own personal biases 



7 here. This is only going to work if everybody takes the coats off, 



8 loosens the ties, sits back, says what you really think, try to defend 



9 it as best you can, and participate fully in the next three days. 



10 Otherwise, we won't get much in the way of dialogue to put into 



11 this report. Jim and I are in uniform this morning. We both have our 



12 "power-pink shirts" on. We didn't know that this morning when we got 



13 up. 



14 We don't want this to be a formal meeting. We want it to be an 



15 orderly meeting, certainly, but not necessarily formal. I would urge 



16 you to approach it in that vein. 



17 DR. COOPER: Most of us, Don, are pretty timid people. 



18 DR. AURAND: I know. It's been my experience that no one will 



19 speak up in these kinds of things. Still, that's the key to success. I 



20 wanted to make sure everybody understands that. 



21 So, with that I'll introduce Jim and he'll speak a little bit more 



22 directly about that the Atlantic region sees in this. It will probably 



23 be somewhat redundant, and then if anyone has any questions, either one 



24 of us will be happy to answer them. 



25 MR. LANE: Good morning. I'm Jim Lane, chief of the Environmental 



26 Studies Unit in the Atlantic DCS Region. My unit has the responsibility 



27 for planning the studies that Don alluded to. 



28 Once they've gone through the approval process--for designing them 



29 in the form of specifications for contracted research, and administering 



30 those contracts after they've gone through the procurement process. 



31 I'd also like to echo some of Don's other comments, which is to 



32 thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here and 



33 help us with this particular issue. 



