We are pleased to receive such prompt and considered commentary on our recent findings1 regarding methane hydrate ?anomalous preservation?. We agree that future studies of gas hydrate decomposition may well benefit from further consideration of the rich literature available on the kinetics of nonhydrate, endothermic decomposition reactions. Such a review was beyond the scope of our report because of the necessary inclusion of the numerous technical, experimental, apparatus, and measurement details critical for the full understanding and/ or replication of our test results.