
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040139
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                LENGTH: Short

MARINE AGENCY TURNS DOWN FEDERAL GRANT

The head of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission has told the Environmental Protection Agency to keep a $320,980 grant that was to be used to build an experimental oyster reef in the James River.

However, VMRC director William A. Pruitt said he believes the EPA will offer the money again once the commission finds a new site. Work on the 15-acre reef was to begin Monday. But Pruitt said the site contained healthy oysters that would have been buried during construction.

``One way not to proceed with the project was to keep the federal money from being delivered to us,'' said Rob O'Reilly, deputy chief for the commission's Fisheries Division.

by CNB