1 MR. LANE: When we describe the potential effects of drilling 



2 operations and drilling fluids on these communities, I think we have to 



3 put something in perspective. 



4 That is, in order to have an adverse biological effect, we have to 



5 postulate a mechanism that allows sufficiently high concentrations of 



6 toxic materials to come in contact with these communities for 



7 sufficiently long periods of time to produce those effects. That, to 



8 us, has always been the most difficult thing to do. 



9 We have had a lot of discussion of the flux of materials into the 



10 canyons and how they might get there and what mechanisms might be 



11 responsible for putting them in contact with the communities. 



12 What we do not really know is how much material, in terms of its 



13 volume and what concentration levels of toxic materials are really 



14 likely to be brought in contact with these communities and how long the 



15 residence time is for these materials in the canyons. 



16 I think we have to discuss it in that context, if we are going to 



17 postulate a significant adverse environmental effect from drilling 



18 around canyons. 



19 Finally, as far as the overall objectives of the meeting, I think 



20 what we want to accomplish here as a group--and I understand that there 



21 are people who won't be here tomorrow--is making some significant 



22 conclusions about these adverse environmental effects if they exist; 



23 testing these hypotheses; if necessary, restating or replacing the 



24 hypotheses with something more acceptable to the panel. 



25 We do have to draw these conclusions and make our recommendations 

 25 as a panel and I think that as many people as possible from the panel 



27 want to participate in that. I think, very clearly, we what to have 



28 these recommendations and conclusions in writing before the group 



29 leaves, if that is possible. 



30 We want to have those conclusions and recommendations restated for 



31 the benefit of the court reporter and the rapporteurs so that everyone 



32 has an opportunity not only to participate in formulating the 



33 conclusions and recommendations, but agrees that those are the ones that 



34 should exist and there is some consensus on that. 



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