UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE"$300" AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY -EP A-335 A SE2-Environmental News Ryan (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1976 UNIVERSITIES IN FOUR MIDWEST STATES TO STtJDY ENERGY IMPACT ON OHIO BASIN Researchers in six State universities — located in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio — have been offered grants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a one- year, preliminary study of the impact of existing and proposed energy facilities on the lower Ohio River basin. Work on this inter-institutional effort will not begin until governing boards at the various universities have formally accepted the grants. The grant offers have been extended to the main campuses of five of the universities and to two separate campuses of the sixth institution. Grants to be awarded under the project will total $720,579. Selected by the EPA were single campuses of Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky; the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. Both the Urbana- Champaign and Chicago Circle 'campuses of the University of Illinois were chosen to participate in the project. Work performed under the grants will represent the first phase in a proposed three-year assessment of the environ- (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material Q, or if change of address is needed Q (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-204 ------- -2- mental, economic, and sociological impacts of energy develop- ments of all types along the lower Ohio River and within its basin. This portion of the stream is defined as extending from Cairo, Illinois, where the Ohio empties into the Mississippi River, to approximately the Eastern-most point of contact of the State of Kentucky with the River. Thus, substantial parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio w^ljL be^ investigated. The precise region to be examined will be determined later by the group of university researchers and representa- tives of the EPA. Collaborating in the effort will be inter- disciplinary groups consistingof environmentalists, engineers, biologists, economists, lawyers, geographers, psychologists, political scientists, and representatives of other pertinent fields. To meet the demands of such an inter-institutional and inter-state undertaking, EPA has established a special management arrangement, headed by a project office which includes a scientist from its headquarters in Washington, two academic research specialists, and scientists from two EPA regional offices. Responsibility for oversight of EPA activities in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio rests with Region V of EPA with offices in Chicago. Kentucky is located in Region IV, which h&s offices in Atlanta, Georgia. The directive for the energy impact study came from the U.S. Congress, and a final "Phase I" integrated report based on the various elements of the effort will be submitted to Congress. # # # R-204 ------- |