June 11, 2008

                                  NEWS RELEASE

            Corvallis Scientist Receives U.S. EPA's Gold Medal Award

         Robert Lackey recognized for major contributions in protecting
                          nation's salmon populations

               (Corvallis, Oregon. - June 11, 2008)  Corvallis resident
Robert
        Lackey, Ph.D., was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection
        Agency's highest award for his work identifying practical policy
        options for sustaining wild salmon populations in the western
        United States.

        Dr. Lackey, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Environmental
        Protection Agency (EPA) in Corvallis, Ore., received EPA's Gold
        Medal for Exceptional Service on May 20 at the national awards
        ceremony in Washington, D.C.  The Gold Medal is EPA's highest
        award, given on a highly selective basis for distinguished
        service of major significance to environmental improvement and
        to public service.

        "On behalf of my two Oregon State University co-project leaders
        and 33 other project scientists, policy analysts, and policy
        advocates from both Canada and the United States, I'm thrilled
        to see the important work we've done to restore wild salmon runs
        in North America being recognized with such a prestigious
        award," said Dr. Lackey.  "This approach to solving such
        environmental problems is cutting edge.  That the Agency has
        recognized our research with the Gold Medal shows the
        willingness of EPA to address significant science and policy
        challenges."

        At the EPA's Office of Research and Development in Corvallis,
        Dr. Lackey works as a senior fisheries scientist for the
        National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
        where he has provided pivotal leadership for the Salmon 2100
        Project.  Under his direction, the Salmon 2100 Project has
        provided comprehensive scientific analysis invaluable not only
        to EPA, but to other federal and state agencies, tribes, local
        governments and others concerned with salmon sustainability.
        The recovery options offered by the project have also been of
        interest to environmental agencies of other nations. Salmon are
        important as a food fish and as an icon species of western North
        America, and many scientists think the condition of salmon runs
        is indicative of the conditions of ecosystems as a whole.

        Dr. Lackey's research has identified credible policy options for
        sustaining wild salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest
        through the year 2100.  Wild salmon populations are threatened
        throughout the region by factors such as water pollution, loss
        of habitat, over-fishing, dam construction, and competition with
        non-native fish.  The Salmon 2100 Project worked closely with
        policy analysts, policy makers, policy advocates, and fisheries
        scientists in many organizations to develop practical,
        scientifically sound options for restoring salmon populations.

        Dr. Lackey grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia, and attended
        Humboldt State University as an undergraduate, where he majored
        in fisheries science.  He then earned a Master's degree in
        zoology from the University of Maine and a Ph.D. in fisheries
        and wildlife science from Colorado State University.  In
        addition to his position at EPA, he also is a courtesy professor
        of fisheries science and an adjunct professor of political
        science at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

        For more information about:

   .  Dr. Robert Lackey:      http://oregonstate.edu/dept/fw/lackey/

   .  The Salmon 2100 Project:
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/fw/lackey/Salmon2100.htm

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