OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C 20460
        POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                  EPA-335
L3  Q  TECHNICAL NOTES
       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  Chris L. West
  (503) 752-4211, Ext. 300
  December 8, 1973
          EPA AWARDS $108,675 CONTRACT TO OREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION TO
          STUDY EFFECTS OF POLLUTANTS ON SALMON ADAPTATION TO SEAWATER



           The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $108,675


       contract to the Oregon State Game Commission to study the effects of


       pollutants on the ability of young salmon to adapt to seawater.


           The Game Commission also will contribute $27,200 to the two-year


       project, making a total of $135,875 available for the study.


           There will be two phases to the project:

           — Game Commission scientists will expose young salmon to maximum


             "safe" levels of copper and zinc metals in freshwater. While


             such effects have been theorized, they have never been tested.


           — The same fish will then be placed in seawater for 20 days,


             simulating the normal transition in which young salmon leave


             freshwater and migrate to  the ocean.

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     The experiments will be conducted with a standardized test




being developed for EPA under the contract.  Because the Pacific




Northwest has many industrial sources of waste with high concentrations




of heavy metals, the new testing method is expected to be of great use




in related studies.




     EPA's project officer for the study is Dr. Gary A. Chapman, an




aquatic biologist at National Environmental Research Center in Corvallis,




Managing the study for the Game Commission is Dr. Harry H. Wagner, a




fishery research coordinator in the Agency's Department of Research on




the Oregon State University campus.  The principal scientist on the




project is Dr. Harry Lorz.
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