TITLE: GCN GRB OBSERVATION REPORT NUMBER: 1981 SUBJECT: VLT spectra of GRB 030328 DATE: 03/03/29 08:29:12 GMT FROM: Paul Vreeswijk at ESO Evert Rol (U. of Amsterdam), Paul Vreeswijk & Andreas Jaunsen (ESO) report for the GRACE collaboration: The optical afterglow, discovered by Peterson & Price (GCN 1974), of GRB 030328 (HETE trigger 2650, see GCN 1978), was observed around March 29.08 UT with FORS1 at telescope unit 1 of the VLT. A total of one hour of spectra were taken with the grism 300V and a slit width of 1 arcsecond, at a position angle of 104 degrees to also include object B of Price & Peterson (GCN 1975) in the slit. A preliminary reduction shows significant absorption lines, most of which we identify with typical metal lines at a redshift of z=1.520. We also find some hints for another system at z=1.29, but an improved analysis is needed to confirm this. We are thankful for the assistance of the ESO staff at Paranal; in particular that of Andreas Kaufer.