376 



(9) Rego, Jennifer A., "Deep-Sea Echinoids and Asteroids of the 

 Northeastern Pacific: An Aid in Selecting Candidate Species 

 for Chromosomal Analysis-And-Observations Concerning Three 

 Species of Sea Stars Collected by the Velero II," March 1980. 



A literature search was performed by Rego to predict which benthic 

 invertebrates were most likely to be found in the vicinity of the 

 Farallon Islands and which ones might prove suitable for future 

 chromosome study. The second section of the report describes deep-sea 

 starfish collected at the site in 1977. Although a baseline study to 

 determine capability of visualizing size and number of chromosomes was 

 not possible from Rego's technique, interesting information concerning 

 life history was obtained by laboratory examination. 



Our office has an interest in determining whether a marine 

 organism's response to radiation can be detected via cytogenetic 

 laboratory procedures. 



(10) Schell, W. R., and S. Sugai, "Radionuclides in Water, Sediment 

 and Biological Samples Collected in August-October 1977 at the 

 Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Near the Farallon Islands," 

 July 1978. 



Dr. Schell reports on his measurements of very low levels of 

 radioactivity in sediments obtained at varying distances from radioactive 

 waste containers and in sediments and biota from the surrounding 

 vicinity. Although his radiological techniaue for plutonium is less 

 sensitive than that of other researchers, his estimation of the upper 

 limit of plutonium that could be present is apparently consistent with 

 the conclusion of no radioactivity in excess of background. There was no 

 detection of plutonuim in the edible portion of any fish. In the case of 

 cesium, his results were easier to compare with existing literature and 

 they are comparable to background radiation. 



(11) Silver, Gary R., "A Taxonomic Review of the Farallon Island 

 Sponge Fragments," February 1979. 



Dr. Silver, an hexactinellid sponge specialist, analyzed samples of 

 the large hexactinellid for taxonomic purposes. EPA first observed these 

 sponges growing on the radioactive waste containers at the site His 

 report confirms that this sponge, a new species, is indeed a typical 

 hexactinellid which is growing to a normal hexactinellid sponge size. It 

 is not an aberrant organism. 



EPA's interest in the sponge stems from curiosity concerning the 

 sponge's large holdfast and the potential impact it might have on 

 acceleration or deceleration of container corrosion. 



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