YSI Environmental signs research agreement with U.S. EPA

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio, June 9, 2004 -- YSI Environmental has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (or CRADA) with the U.S. EPA for the development of an early warning detection device to protect the nation's drinking water supply. An official signing ceremony was held in Washington, DC on May 19, 2004.

EPA Acting Deputy Administrator Steve Johnson noted, "Protection of America's drinking water systems is a critical element of EPA's mission. The agreements we are recognizing here are outstanding examples of how government and industry are working together to find ways to protect our water from contamination."

YSI is one of three companies partnering with the EPA to secure water supply, treatment, and distribution centers across the United States. Under the Federal Technology Transfer Act, the CRADA allows private industry access to federal laboratories for testing and evaluation of new technology. CRADAs are designed to push technology into real world applications.

Gayle Rominger, Senior Vice President and General Manager of YSI Environmental, attended the signing ceremony. She stated, "On behalf of all YSI's employee owners, I am very excited to collaborate with the EPA on protecting our drinking water. This cooperative research and problem solving is just the type of scientific challenge that our employee-owned company finds rewarding."

R&D into an in-situ drinking water monitoring system is underway with the EPA. The proposed multisensor device will be able to be inserted directly into a drinking water distribution line to detect biological or chemical agents. This could be incorporated into an early warning system that will provide water quality officials with a real-time alert of intentional or accidental drinking water contamination.

Since 2002, YSI has been researching possible applications of its proven water quality sensors to homeland security issues. YSI received a TAF grant from the State of Ohio to begin this research in conjunction with The University of Cincinnati and Micro Molar Systems.

YSI Environmental is a strategic business unit of YSI Incorporated. YSI Environmental is dedicated to providing its customers with Pure Data for a Healthy Planet®. YSI Incorporated is a leading provider of technology solutions and services for data collection and analysis. YSI's mission -- expressed in its corporate tag line "Who's Minding the Planet?" -- compels it to provide its customers with data integrity, a critical component in building an ecologically sustainable habitat.