THERMAL POLLUTION RESEARCH PROGRAM
STATE OF THE ART NEWSLETTER
No. 3
January - June, 1971
July 1971
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. REGION X
PACIFIC NORTHWEST WATER LABORATORY

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NATIONAL THERMAL POLLUTION RESEARCH PROGRAM
STATE-OF-THE-ART NEWSLETTER
No. 3
January - June 1971
Environmental Protection Agency, Region X
Pacific Northwest Water Laboratory
National Thermal Pollution Research Program
200 S. W. Thirty-Fifth Street
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
July 1971

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CONTENTS
Page
MAJOR RESULTS OF RESEARCH IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL		1
NEW HARDWARE, CONCEPTS AND TRENDS IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL....	3
SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA		4
SERVICES AVAILABLE		4
NEW PUBLICATIONS		5
GRANTS AND CONTRACTS		8
WHO'S WHO IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL		10
PROGRAM AND PLANS FOR FY 72		12

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MAJOR RESULTS OF RESEARCH IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL
The long-awaited Guidelines: Biological Surveys at Proposed Heat
Discharge Sites was finally published by GPO. These guides, prepared
by Dr. Garton, biologist with NTPRP and Dr. Harkins, mathematical sta-
tistician at EPA's Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center, provide a quanti-
tative approach for the biological portion of thermal discharge siting
surveys and monitoring.
A report on the Columbia River Thermal Effects Study summarizing
the findings and conclusions of two years of research and investigation
by three Federal agencies was released June 11 by the Acting Regional
Administrator, Region X, EPA, Portland, Oregon. The study was Initiated
in February 1968 with the investigations and research carried out over
the two-year period. Participating with EPA in the research on biologi-
cal effects of temperature on fish were the Atomic Energy Commission and
the National Marine Fisheries Service (formerly, the Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries, USDI).
The Thermal Effects Study provides additional scientific information
on which to base critical review of the adequacy of the water temperature
standards now established for the Columbia River as those standards bear
on the anadromous fishery of the river.
The findings are reported 1n two volumes. Volume I, "Biological
Effects Studies," concerns the effects of temperature on the anadromous
fish of the Columbia River. Volume II, "Temperature Prediction Studies,"
concerns the development of mathematical temperature-prediction models
to evaluate the effects on river temperature of existing and predicted
reservoir release schedules.
The concept of decreasing evaporative loss from cooling ponds by
floating a film of highly reflective particles 1s presented by Lawrence
Winiarski in ASME paper #70-WA/PWR-4, "Reflective Cooling Ponds."
His subsequent laboratory-scale research on a variety of materials
has included determination of reflectance characteristics, film stability
in wind, resistance to algal growth, and pond heat and water budget. He
concludes that high cost, relatively low reflectance qualities and suscep-
tibility to wind preclude the prototype use of commercially available
particles for reflective type cooling ponds. However, the theory and con-
cept remain waI id but new and cheaper materials must be developed or the
value (price) of water or land increase significantly before reflective
cooling ponds will be practical economically. A report of the latest
studies is being prepared.
Cooling pond area and water loss can be reduced by designing the pond
for higher operating temperature. Tichenor and Christianson (see New Pub-
lications) present data on closed-cycle pond area for six locations in the
U.S. and inlet temperature range of 110-135° F. In a test case using meteo
rologic data for Dallas, Texas, they show that evaporation rate could be
reduced from 50 cfs to 36 cfs by increasing pond inlet temperature from
115° F to 125° F

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2
The authors point out, however, that such benefits are not without
cost because a penalty 1s Imposed on power plant efficiency. The point
is that some latitude in cooling pond design is available and the economic
trade-off should be analyzed before a final selection 1s made.
A model and computer program for evaluating the extent of vapor
plumes from large evaporative cooling towers has been developed by EG&G,
Inc., under contract from EPA. This model will remove much of the hypothe-
sis and opinion concerning potential local environmental modifications.
It is being tested and used by TVA and several consulting engineering
firms and electric utilities.
This model describes the dynamics of the wet cooling tower plume
and its interactions with the environment. The study showed that the
saturation deficit of the atmosphere clearly controls the downwind spread
of the ejected liquid water. Except for cases where the relative humidity
approaches 100%, downwind propagation is limited to periods when the air
temperature falls below the freezing point.
The potential for adverse atmospheric effects due to cooling towers
was analyzed on a national basis and is presented in the form of a map.
Note the Errata Sheet that appears 1n New Publications section of
this letter.
Potential environmental effects of waste from a nuclear power plant
submerged off-shore in about 250 ft of water were studied by General
Dynamics under contract from EPA. The report concludes that the off-shore
power plant might be the best hope with today's technology for minimizing
the degradation of water quality while meeting the nation's power demands.
In the four case sites studied it was found that the thermal plume
in excess of presently applied coastal temperature criteria ends before
a surface field is established. Although some mortality among organisms
entrained in the cooling water is inevitable, 1t was concluded that less
harm would be done than would be done by a coastal plant.
The first comprehensive thermal plume model for surface discharge
that combines in a three-dimensional analysis the surface exchange, en-
trance slope, entrainment and ambient cross-current has been developed
by Stolzenbach and Harleman at MIT.
Cornell Aeronautical laboratory provides a theoretical description
of the stratification cycle of temperate lakes in which the Interaction
between wind-induced turbulence and buoyancy gradients is Included expli-
citly. The theoretical model predicts all of the observed features of
stratification accurately. The analytical framework 1s also used to pre-
dict effects on the stratification cycle of discharges at or below the
thermocline. The effects of such thermal discharges are to distort the
thermocline, increase the temperature of the epllimnlon and increase the
temperature during the spring homothermy. A lengthening of the stratifi-
cation period also occurs.

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NEW HARDWARE, CONCEPTS AND TRENDS IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL
Cherne Industrial, Inc., Edina, Minnesota, announces a joint venture
demonstration project designed to prove the efficiency of a new cooling
device -- the Cherne Thermal Control Rotor. The demonstration is supported
by 23 electric utilities throughout the U.S.
The heart of the Cherne Rotor is a floating unit containing a series
of 15 spinning plastic discs; each	24 inches 1n diameter, rotating on a
horizontal shaft. The unit floats	partially submerged and throws an opti-
mized drop size into the air which	results 1n rapid cooling.
An innovation in cooling tower design 1s announced by General Electric.
The proposed tower would be doughnut-shaped, about 60 ft tall and 600 ft in
diameter. Development is in the laboratory stage. The GE tower exploits
the principle that a low exit velocity and large plume diameter minimizes
entrainment of ambient air, hence, the buoyancy of the plume is maintained
and it will rise to higher altitudes. NTPRP has requested non-proprietary
test data.
Manufacturers and consulting engineering companies are now marketing
combined cvcle power plants. Used for peaking and moderate load demands,
these medium-sized plants (125-240 MWe) combine the fast start-up of gas
turbines with the proven reliability of the steam cycle. By using the gas
turbine exhaust in the steam cycle, combined heat rates of 9000 Btu/kwhr
are possible. Other advantages include short construction time and smaller
cooling water requirements.
Among the units now on the market are Stone and Webster's FAST system
which employs dry cooling towers, thus precluding the need for makeup water.
Westinghouse's PACE (Power at Combined Efficiencies) plant 1s operated with
conventional cooling techniques, but with 120 MWe out of the 240 MWe capa-
city from gas turbines, cooling water quantities are reduced substantially.
Turbo Power and Marine Systems, a subsidiary of United Aircraft Corporation
offers a 125 MWe "Turbo Steam Pac," with two 40 MWe gas turbines combined
with a 45 MWe steam turbine.
Chromate recovery from cooling tower blowdown is being accomplished
at Cities Service Company's butyl rubber plant 1n Louisiana by an ion-
exchange unit that has now been in satisfactory operation for about one
year. Regeneration of the exchange resin produces a chromate solution
that is recycled to the cooling tower as a corrosion inhibitor. The re-
covery plant uses sulfuric acid for pH adjustment and caustic soda and
salt for resin regeneration. It is claimed that the cost of these chemi-
cals is small when compared with the value of the recovered chromate.
Southwestern Public Service Company announces that for an experimental
period the C.B. Jones Station will be run entirely on reclaimed water.
Although the cost is greater than for fresh water, Southwestern believes
that this is one way to show the public it is concerned about environmental
problems. Our compliments to Southwestern! We hope this is a scientific
experiment and that operating and cost data will be made public.

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SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA
The National Thermal Pollution Research Program, 1n cooperation with
EPA's Southwest Region, presented a "Thermal Pollution Seminar," at the
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Engineering and Development Center, in Denver,
Colorado. The two-day seminar (February 2-3, 1971) generally covered the
topic of thermal pollution and was attended by management and technical
personnel of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Johns Hopkins University hosted a Biological Entrainment Workshop,
January 25, 26, 1971. Dr. Ronald Garton, who represented NTPRP, concluded
that there appears to be ample evidence of lethal effects caused by pumping
plankton and by entrainment in the heated plume. However, to date, there
does not appear to be sufficient evidence to demonstrate damage to any large
aquatic system. This, of course, does not prove absence of damage but is
more an indication of the difficulty in detecting small changes In large,
complex systems.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
The technical staff of the National Thermal Pollution Research Program
are "on-call" for consultation and advisory services to EPA Headquarters
and Regional Offices, and to State and local agencies as appropriate. Requests
from sources outside of EPA should be routed through the respective Regional
Administrator.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS
[January - June 1971]
EPA in March 1970 implemented a Research and Development Project
Reports System for acquisition, filing, indexing and dissemination of
reports and publications from inhouse, contract and grant projects.
Materials entered into the system will be published in the Water Pollution
Control Research Series. Please note the prefixed asterisk(s) to the
titles and the instructions at the end of the list for direction of re-
quests for copies of publications.
Intramural Outputs
1.	COOLING POND TEMPERATURE VS SIZE AND WATER LOSS, by Bruce A.
Tichenor and Alden G. Christianson, presented at ASCE National Water
Resources Engineering Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, January 1971.
Grant and Contract Reports
2.	*SYSTEM SELECTION, DESIGN, AND OPTIMIZATION, Dynatech R/D Company,
January 1971, Water Pollution Control Research Series 16130DHS01/71.
3.	POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS PRODUCED BY LARGE EVAPORATIVE
COOLING TOWERS, EG&G, Inc., January 1971, Water Pollution Control Research
Series 16130DNH01/71. [Available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Price: $0.75.]*
4.	*RESEARCH ON THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THERMAL POLLUTION, Cornell
Aeronautical Laboratory, February 1971, Water Pollution Control Research
Series 16130DPU02/71.
5.	A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR THERMAL STRATIFICATION AND WATER QUALITY
IN RESERVOIRS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, January 1971, Water
Pollution Control Research Series 16130DJH01/71.
6.	AN ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF SURFACE DISCHARGE
OF HEATED WATER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, February 1971,
Water Pollution Control Research Series 16130DJU02/71.
7.	**PREDICTION OF THE ANNUAL CYCLE OF TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN A
STRATIFIED LAKE OR RESERVOIR: MATHEMATICAL MODEL AND USERS MANUAL, by
Patrick J. Ryan and Donald R. F. Harleman. Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Report No. 137, April 1971.
8.	ADVANCED NON-THERMAL POLLUTING GAS TURBINES IN UTILITY APPLICATIONS,
United Aircraft Research Laboratories, Water Pollution Control Research
Series 16130DNE03/71.
9.	EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION ON COOLING POND REQUIREMENTS
AND PERFORMANCE, Vanderbilt University, 16130FDQ03/71 .

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~Requests for copies should be addressed to: National Thermal Pollution
Research Program, Pacific Northwest Water Laboratory, 200 S.W. Thirty-
Fifth Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97330.
**Requests for copies should be addressed to Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory
for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics, Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.
Requests for other publications should be addressed to: Librarian, Paci-
fic Northwest Water Laboratory, 200 S.W. Thirty-Fifth Street, Corvallis,
Oregon 97330.
Other Significant New Publications
1.	A HOT DEBATE, GENERATED BY HOT WATER, by Jane Stein, Smithsonian,
June 1971.
2.	COOLING TOWER STUDY, by John Stockham, I IT Research Institute,
Chicago, Illinois, prepared for EPA Air Pollution Control Office, January
1971.
3.	AIR-COOLED CONDENSER FITS STEAM PLANT TO ARID SITE, by Nell
Simpson, Electrical World, June 8, 1970.
4.	A LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE LAGRANGIAN AUTOCORRELATION
FUNCTION IN A STRATIFIED FIELD, by Paul Frenzen, Argonne National
Laboratory, November 1963.
~ ~~
Recipients of final report #16130DNH01/71, "Potential Environmental
Effects Produced by Large Evaporative Cooling Towers," should note
that subsequent to its printing, several errors and ommissions were
found. The following errata sheet (on the next page) should be removed
and attached to copies of this report.

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ERRATA SHEET
EG&G, Inc., "Potential Environmental Modifications Produced by Large
Evaporative Cooling Towers," EPA, WQO, Water Pollution Control Research
Series, Report No. 16130 DNH 01/71.
The following corrections and additions should be noted:
1.	Pages 62-68. All Comment statements, as indicated by five
asterisks, should have a C in column 1; some were omitted
during the printing process.
2.	Page 62, 2 and 3 lines after FORTRAN statement 140. These
statements should read:
READ (5,150) P(1),T(1),EFT,RH(1),Z(1),U(1),TH(1),DZ
150 FORMAT (8F10.0)
3.	Page 63, 6 lines after FORTRAN statement 250.
N must not exceed 100, because the various parameters calculated
at each elevation in the interpolated sounding are limited in the
DIMENSION statement to 100 values. N will be less than 100 when
the top elevation of the input sounding data divided by the selected
vertical increment (DZ on the Ground Level Sounding Card) is less
than 100. For example, with DZ = 50 meters, the top elevation of
the input sounding data should not exceed 5000 meters. In order
to abort the run if N exceeds 100, insert the following statements
after ILEVL = 1:
IF (N.LE. 100) GO TO 160
WRITE (6, 1011)
1011 FORMAT (/ON EXCEEDS 100, EXECUTION TERMINATED ?)
STOP o
4.	Page 64, 4 and 5 lines after FORTRAN statement 410. These two
statements should read:
T (1) = EFT + 273.3
TC(1) = EFT + 273.3
5.	Page 68. FORTRAN statement 40 should be renumbered as 940
(i.e., 940 GO TO 100).

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GRANTS AND CONTRACTS
See List of Publications for reports on completed projects
New Grants and Contracts Awarded
Grantee or Contractor
Environmental Systems
Corporation
Route 3, Municipal Airport
Alcoa, Tennessee 37701
Subject
"Quantitative Measurement and
Continuous 0n-L1ne Monitoring
of Drift from Salt or Brackish
Water Cooling Towers."
Project Director &
Expected Comp.Date
Frederick Shofner
October 1971
Continuing Grant & Contract Projects
Center for the Environment
and Man, Incorporated
275 Windsor Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Vanderbilt University
Box 1670 - Station B
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Cornell University
Hollister Hall
Ithaca, New York 14850
Oregon State University
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
"Economic Analysis of Thermal
Pollution Abatement Costs in
the Electric Power Industry"
"Project for Concentrated Re-
search and Training in the
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Aspects
of Water Pollution Control"
"Heat and Water Vapor Exchange
Between Water Surface and
Atmosphere"
"Thermal Plume Dispersion"
Frank Smith
June 16, 1971
Frank L. Parker
Wilfried Brutsaert
October 10, 1971
James R. Welty
April 14, 1972
Purdue University	"Turbulent Bed Cooling Tower" Ronald G. Barile
School of Chem. Engineering
Lafayette, Indiana 47907
September 1972
Eugene Water & Electric
Board
500 East Fourth Avenue
P. 0. Box 1112
Eugene, Oregon 97401
Washington State Univ.
Water Research Center
Pullman, Washington 99163
"Thermal Water Demonstration
Project"
"Analysis of Engineering Alter-
natives for Environmental Pro-
tection from Thermal Discharges"
Byron Price
May 31, 1971
Allen F. Agnew
June 30, 1971

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Oregon State University
School of Forestry
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
"Controlling Thermal Pollution
in Small Streams"
University of Minnesota "Mixing and Dispersion at a
St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Warm Water Outlet"
Laboratory
Mississippi River at 3rd
Avenue, S. E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414
George W. Brown
Dec. 31, 1971
Heinz Stefan
Oct. 31, 1971
Grant and Contract Proposals Sought
In FY-72 it is planned to consolidate EPA's thermal pollution research
in two ways. First, the breadth of topics will be reduced and available
resources focused on a few problems of high priority. Second, grant and
contract awards will be more closely aligned with priority work plans and
intramural research.
We are in the process of evaluating and preparing a digest of the
numerous mathematical models for predicting thermal plume behavior. No
new grant or contract work will be Initiated 1n this technical area until
our analysis is complete. Reluctantly we are deferring most work on ad-
vanced cooling methods until FY-73.
The priority items in FY-72 are Improvements 1n evaporative cooling
methods, bio-engineering aspects of heat disposal and beneficial dissipa-
tion or conversion of waste heat. We are Interested 1n development and
demonstration of ways to correct objectionable features of evaporative
systems -- reduction in drift (carryover) from salt water cooling towers
and sprays, consumptive water loss and/or vapor exhaust (including demon-
stration of dry cooling towers), and pollution by chemical additives 1n
blowdown.
Under bio-engineering we may contract some bio-assay work on chemi-
cals singly and in combination that characterize blowdown from large
cooling towers. Such contracts would be complementary to the inhouse
program.
To receive favorable consideration, a proposal for beneficial dis-
posal of waste heat must involve a concept that will get the heat out of
the water and not impose a secondary pollution problem.

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WHO'S WHO	IN THERMAL POLLUTION CONTROL
EPA Research
Headquarters
Dr. Stanley M. Greenfield	Asst. Administrator for Research and Monitoring
National Thermal Pollution Research Program
Mr. Frank H. Rainwater	Chief, National Thermal Pollution Research Program
Dr. Bruce A. Tichenor	Research Sanitary Engineer, NTPRP
Mr. Alden G. Christianson	Research Sanitary Engineer, NTPRP
Dr. Mostafa A. Shirazi	Research Mechanical & Hydraulic Engineer, NTPRP
Mr. Lawrence D. Winiarskl	Research Mechanical Engineer, NTPRP
Dr. Ronald R. Garton	Research Aquatic Biologist, NTPRP
National Water Quality Laboratory, Duluth, Minnesota
Dr. Donald I. Mount	Director, National Water Quality Laboratory
Mr. Bernard R. Jones	Research Aquatic Biologist, NWQL
National Marine Water Quality Laboratory
Dr. Clarence M. Tarzwell Director, National Marine Water Quality Laboratory
Electric Power Council on Environment
Mr. W. C. Tallman	Chairman, Electric Power Council on Environment
President of Public Service Company of New
Hampshire, Box 330, Manchester, New Hampshire 03105
Mr. Rod J. McMullin	Chairman, Water Quality Committee, Electric
Power Council on Environment, General Manager,
Salt River Project, P. 0. Box 1980, Phoenix,
Arizona 85001.
Dr. John C. Geyer	Chairman, Water Research Coordinating Subcommittee
Department of Geographical and Environmental Eng
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

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Other Federal Agencies
Mr. Yates M. Barber
Mr. G. Earl Harbeck
Mr. Frederich H. Warren
Dr. Charles C. Coutant
Staff Assistant to Asst. Director of Research
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Sport
Fisheries & Wildlife, Interior Building, 18th
& C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Research Hydrologist, USDI Geological Survey,
Water Resources Division, Federal Center,
Denver, Colorado 80225
Advisor on Environmental Quality, Federal
Power Commission, Washington, D.C.
Program Leader for Thermal Effects Studies
Ecological Sciences Division of Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, P. 0. Box X, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee 37830
Non-Federal Agencies and Associations
Mr. Fred A. Limpert
Chairman, ASCE Committee on Thermal Pollution,
Head, Hydrology Section, Bonneville Power
Administration, P. 0. Box 362, Portland, Oregon
97208
Mr. N. J. Ely
Mr. Dick Thorsell
President, Cooling Tower Institute
4252 Richmond Avenue
Houston, Texas 77027
Edison Electric Institute
90 Park Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10016

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PROGRAM AND PLANS FOR FY 72
Work Plan ZBA: Improvements in Evaporative Cooling Methods
Develop the technical base for sound and economically feasible guide-
lines for cooling water treatment and control. This involves determination
of chemical additives used, their purpose, interchangeability, etc., with
particular reference to large cooling towers; analysis of cooling tower
engineering as related to minimizing the volume of blowdown; evaluating and
codification of biological hazards of the chemical; and determination of
controls.
Demonstrate methodology for quantitative measurement of drift from
salt water cooling systems.
Report on feasibility and economics of reflective coatings for cooling
ponds for evaporation suppression.
Time and resources permitting, initiate fluid-dynamic, laboratory
experiments (flume) on cooling tower exhausts.
See also Grants and Contracts.
Work Plan ZFC: Prediction of Heat Transport and Behavior in Receiving Water
Prepare a digest or workbook containing manual and computer methods that
can be practically applied to large hydrologlc systems and thermal plumes.
This project will bring together and present in usable form hydraulic and
math-modeling research sponsored by such groups as EEI, AEC, OWRR, USGS, and
EPA.
Conduct fluid dynamic research into those aspects of prediction inade-
quately quantified at this time, namely ambient stratification, wind effects,
and surface heat exchange.
Publish paper on use of theoretical equations for evaporative heat loss
of small streams.
See also Grants and Contracts.
Work Plan ZBB -- Bio-Engineering Aspects of Heat Disposal
Conduct bio-assays on chemicals singly or 1n combination that characterize
blowdown from large wet cooling towers. The Provisional Algal Assay Procedure
(PAAP) is used for algal response. Fathead minnows and blueglll TLM's will
be used to assess toxicity to fish.

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Continue lab experiments to assess damage to emerging Insects passing
through a heated lens of water.
See also Grants and Contracts.
Work Plan ZFJ: Beneficial Uses of Waste Heat
See Grants and Contracts

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