Croatia Sets Feb. 11 ``ELF'' Lab Tests to Validate Loch/ChemTech Landmine Detector.

Business Editors

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000

Laboratory tests set for Feb. 11 in Croatia's Ruder Boskovic Institute will give third-party validation of the effectiveness of the ELF landmine detector developed by Tucson-based Chemical Detection Technology (ChemTech), according to an announcement released today by ChemTech's parent company, Loch Harris, Inc. (OTCBB: LOCH).

Loch CEO Rodney Boone said it could also pump new vigor into a renewed campaign to eliminate landmines forever, which is what the name ELF stands for.

&uot;ELF passed two `blind' tests within 47 days in ChemTech's Tucson, Ariz. laboratories,&uot; said Boone. &uot;Officials from Mine Action Consultants (MAC) witnessed a Dec. 5 test on behalf of the mine-infested nation of Bosnia,&uot; he said, &uot;and United States General Accounting Office (GAO) representatives requested a private test on Jan. 21.&uot;

ELF properly identified buried explosives 16 of 16 times in the first test and 12 of 12 in the second.

Dr. Henry Blair, chief scientist for ChemTech, is confident that ELF will score again. He knows that the institute's criteria are well within ELF's capabilities.

&uot;The Rudjer Boskovic team is expecting us to demonstrate that ELF has a forward-looking range of at least 2 meters and that, at that range, it can reliably discriminate and identify a sealed, buried explosive,&uot; said Blair.

&uot;We have already done that, and ELF will do more,&uot; he said, noting that he has designed the ELF to operate from distances up to 30 meters. &uot;The technology is sound and the design is reliable. We are anxious for ELF to receive the scrutiny of Ruder Boskovic Institute scientists.&uot;

The Croatia test may be the most important yet; first, because success would mean field tests will be scheduled in that nation's live minefields soon. And ultimately, 15 percent of Croatia's suspect farmland that is now laced with an estimated 1.2 million landmines will be returned to production.

Several notable military and political officials will personally witness the ELF test, including Dr. Dijana Plestina, wife of Croatia's Prime Minister-Elect, Damir Gorseta, the director of CROMAC, and Branko Loncar an American businessman of Croatian descent.

Boone said that Loncar will meet with him about manufacturing several ELF components in Croatia, which could mean much to their recovering economy.

Loch Harris/ChemTech, too, has much to gain from the public nature of the Croatia tests. Boone knows that the eyes of the world will be on the ELF.

&uot;For one thing, scientists at Ruder Boskovic Institute will consult with ChemTech on ELF's final design,&uot; said Boone. &uot;But obviously, when it is proved in Croatia's live minefields, the whole world will be clamoring for this lifesaver.&uot;

To see previous releases about ELF or to learn more about ChemTech, log onto the Loch Harris, Inc. Web site, http://www.lochharris.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements which are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, regulatory approval processes, the impact of competitive products or other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.