69 



Dr. Brinkhuis. I believe the schedule calls for a small-scale test 

 farm on the order of about a quarter acre in size in about 1982. 



Mr. Studds. Will that be in the New York Bight area? Where 

 will that be? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. We have as part of this research program, we are 

 supposed to try to determine what environmental characteristics 

 might lend itself to maximum seaweed growth, including nutrient 

 levels, temperature, currents, and we propose to explore the New 

 York Bight area. Long Island Sound as well as some of the shallow 

 coastal embayments along Long Island's coast. 



We don't know at this point but we are going to explore at least 

 three or four different areas. 



Mr. Studds. Is the Department of Energy involved in your under- 

 takings at all, the Federal Department of Energy? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. I am not sure whether I really understand how 

 they relate to this except that 



Mr. Studds. No one understands how they relate to anything, 

 but I was just wondering if they were directly involved. 



Dr. Brinkhuis. I don't think they are directly involved, no. 



Mr. Studds. Are they indirectly involved? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. Yes, by being related to the New York State 

 Energy Research and Development Administration. 



Mr. Studds. Which is at least partially federally funded? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. Right. 



Mr. Studds. To your knowledge, have there been any attempts to 

 date to actually transplant macrocystis off the east coast? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. No, not in the field anyway. 



Mr. Studds. God knows what will happen when exposed to our 

 rich micronutrients. We may all be enveloped. 



Dr. Brinkhuis. I have brought some back from the west coast 

 and grown it in aquaria. 



Mr. Studds. But not in New York Bight? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. Not in New York Bight, no. We are using the 

 same nutrient levels in the tank. 



Mr. Studds. Did it do remarkable things? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. They grow quite well, yes. 



Mr. Studds. Does it grow faster than on the west coast? 



Dr. Brinkhuis. It was just a small number of plants. We only 

 took back 20 plants, and they were small plants. They tripled in 

 size in about 3 or 4 weeks. We are not that far along. We just 

 started this research. 



Mr. Studds. Perhaps you should clear with the Navy, the Coast 

 Guard and a few others before you put that stuff in the New York 

 Bight. There is absolutely no telling what may happen. 



Thank you very much. We appreciate your testimony. 



This concludes the third in our series of hearings on ocean 

 energy and the subcommittee will stand adjourned. 



[Whereupon, at 3:45 p.m. the subcommittee adjourned.] 



