1 DR. VALENTINE: Brad's data shows current speeds over years, 



2 months and years, and we can determine from that whether this stuff will 



3 be resuspended and it probably will be. 



4 DR. BUTMAN: The only caveat to that is that those are in the 



5 axis. A lot of Barbara's observations are on the walls and I think the 



6 resuspension is probably, because of the focusing of the current energy, 



7 there is probably less resuspension on the walls than in the axis. 



8 DR. TEAL: Then the area is going to be more spread out, too. 



9 DR. BUTMAN: Right. 



10 DR. TEAL: The area becomes greater then. 



11 DR. BUTMAN: I think it is fair to say you have to stretch to get 



12 a physical effect on sediment with those concentrations that we are 



13 talking about. 



14 DR. TEAL: I still think it is fair to say that a reasonable 



15 expectation is the effect of the sediment itself on the properties — the 



16 mud discharges on the properties of the sediment, I wouldn't expect to 



17 have any. 



18 DR. HECKER: It is probably unlikely, yes. 



19 DR. TEAL: That is a double qualifier, Barbara. 



20 DR. HECKER 



21 DR. AURAND 



22 DR. HECKER 



I like double qualifiers, yes. 



Is that "almost unique"? 



It is probably unlikely that the fine materials from 



23 the drilling activity would alter the physical characteristics of the 



24 axis enough to present a problem to settlement of sessile larvae, 



25 sessile critters. 



26 DR. AURAND 



27 DR. HECKER 



28 DR. AURAND 



29 DR. HECKER 



She won. She got it. 



Did you get that? 



She did. 



It is probably unlikely that the fine materials from 



30 drilling would alter the physical characteristics of the axis such as to 



31 preclude settlement by larvae of the sessile organisms. 



32 DR. AURAND: Does it have to be restricted to sessile organisms? 



33 DR. HECKER: Those are going to be your sensitive ones, so the 



34 other ones-- 



306 



