1 DR. AURAND: Of benthic organisms or sessile? 



2 DR. HECKER: Larvae of benthic organisms. 



3 DR. AURAND: The only other thing I can think of that we talked 



4 about that you might include in this would be a statement about the 



5 commercial species. I think we dismissed that earlier this morning in 



6 large measure and you may want to put that in. 



7 DR. HECKER: You may want to cross out "physical characteristics" 



8 and just say "would alter the physical characteristics of the sediment 



9 in the axis." Someone just pointed out that might mean topography. 



10 Physical characteristics of the sediment. 



11 DR. RAY: There was one other category that Fred noted a little 



12 while ago and that was I made the comment about toxicity in drilling 



13 fluid related primarily to the hydrocarbons and Fred noted the 



14 hydrocarbon issue. 



15 The use of diesel is no longer allowed in drilling fluids. 



16 DR. GRASSLE: Actually, I was thinking about it when we were going 



17 through this exercise of saying whether this material that reaches the 



18 bottom is going to have any effect on larvae. The overwhelming effect 



19 is that chemically the stuff is different and it may or may not be good 



20 for organisms, if you are talking about larvae. It just has a lot more 



21 impact than any physical consideration. 



22 DR. MILLER: Let me interject. Instead of taking a full break, we 



23 have got coffee and cokes out here, so if people would like to have 



24 that, they can get up and go out and serve themselves, if they would 



25 like. 



26 (A brief recess was taken.) 



27 DR. AURAND: On commercial species, would you want to propose 



28 something to add to this list? 



29 DR. COOPER: If I could say something-- 



30 DR. AURAND: Forthrightly. Now that you mention it, the position 



31 of the Department of Interior on leasing canyon blocks was formulated 



32 by the Conservation Division [correct name?]. 



307 



