United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-600/8-80-010
January 1980
Research and Development
EPA and the
Academic
Community
Partners in Research
Solicitation for
Grant Proposals
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Solicitation for
Grant Proposals
Introduction The Office of Research and Development (ORD)
currently provides assistance for mission related research
and development projects through headquarters and 15
major laboratories located throughout the United States.
ORD's research objectives are contained in the annual
Program Guide. The Program Guide is an official EPA
publication describing ORD's research interests and
available funds. The Guide contains specific information
detailing application procedures and Agency contacts
and may be obtained from:
Center for Environmental Research Information
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Awards may take three forms: contracts, grants, or
cooperative agreements. Each instrument serves a
different purpose. Proposals for cooperative
agreements in the areas outlined below should be
directed to the appropriate laboratory for action, either
in the form of a pre-proposal or after discussion with
laboratory personnel.
Grant proposals cannot be discussed in advance, nor can
pre-proposals be accepted. Contact Grants
Administration Division (GAD), USEPA, 401 M Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460, for application
procedures and forms which must be returned to GAD
by the appropriate date. GAD will conduct a preliminary
administrative and legal review before routing the
proposal for Peer Review.
ORD uses the Grant mechanism to accomplish its
objectives and priorities in response to the overall mission
and priorities of EPA and is highly concerned with
solving specific priority problems rather than only
advancing basic scientific knowledge. However,
exploratory research as a basis for anticipating new
problems and providing a sound basis for regulatory
decisions is emphasized. Relevance and scientific merit of
proposals will be significant factors in the evaluation
procedures since all projects are directed at meeting
specified objectives as determined by the Agency's
budget.
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With this announcement, ORD is implementing its new
policy for solicitation, review, and award of research
grants and cooperative agreements as stated in 40 CFR
Part 40 FR44 #193 (FRL 1332-5) and the FY80 ORD
Program Guide. Note that grant eligibility is restricted by
law and that the specific acts cited in the Program Guide
should be consulted in case of doubt.
ORD desires (1) to encourage applications from an
increased number of experienced researchers, especially
those who- have not previously received EPA extramural
research funding assistance, including handicapped,
minority, and female researchers, (2) to improve the
scientific quality of its program, and (3) to assure the
relevancy of the grant program to the EPA mission.
Proposals will be evaluated by the appropriate Peer
Review Panel, convened at regular intervals. The Panel
will be primarily composed of non-EPA scientists
acknowledged as experts in their respective fields.
Although applications may be submitted at any time,
there will be a cut-off date for each session. The FY80
dates are March 30 and June 30. Results will, generally,
be announced within 60 days of the Panel meeting. If,
for any reason, a decision cannot be reached within the
60 days, the proposer will be notified as to the status of
the grant request. Proposals received after June 30 will
not be considered until fiscal year 1981. Although this
solicitation emphasizes the need for research in a
particular area, proposals may be submitted in any area
which the proposer feels is relevant to any aspect of the
overall program as detailed in the Program Guide.
Pollution
Control
Processes
ORD produces scientific data and technical tools
supporting adequate environmental standards for national
pollution control. ORD's pollution control technology
programs for industrial, municipal, and energy processes
reflect Agency research activities emphasizing multimedia
pollution control approaches. The objective of this
segment of the grant program is to supplement ORD
activities by stimulating scientific and technical research
fundamental to pollution control advances. For example,
current priority concerns include:
1. Generic unit process pollutant modeling for the
chemical industry needed to enable EPA's utilization
of the generic unit process pollutant model for
specific discharge evaluations and generic
regulations. Process conditions (i.e., temperature,
pressure), reaction rate and order, reaction driving
force, size of process unit and other variables must
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be evaluated to determine how, and to what extent,
they influence the validity of generic pollutant
discharges from generic unit processes. Research
efforts are also needed to set scientific and
technical bases for predicting pollutant discharges
for specific chemical industry manufacturing
processes based on generic pollutant discharge
findings for the associated generic unit processes.
2. The assessment of fuels, combustion conditions,
and combustion equipment to identify and verify
techniques that can be used to reduce the
formation and subsequent emission of polycyclic
organic materials, and other complex and hazardous
pollutants and carcinogens.
Program elements of research beyond those already
in progress elsewhere may include but are not
limited to:
(a) Fuel analysis identifying potentially
mutagenic and carcinogenic fractions likely to
produce such compounds during processing
or combustion.
(b) Evaluation of fuel processing and combustion,
identifying rates of formation and release of
pollutants.
(c) Development of techniques to separate
identified mutagenic fractions from fuels prior
to processing or combustion or to assure
destruction of these materials during
processing or combustion.
(d) Fuel processing and/or combustion
modification development to reduce or
minimize the formation and/or emission of
pollutants.
3. Determination and assessment of basic reaction
kinetics and mechanisms for toxic pollutant
generation and destruction by class or group. Apply
resulting information to advanced technologies to
prevent the formation of pollutants and hazardous
discharges.
For further information of a procedural nature
please contact:
Donald F. Carey
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RD-675
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 426-2355
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Health The objective of the health research program is to obtain
Research and provide a scientific basis upon which the Agency
can make regulatory decisions concerning the protection
of human health from environmental pollutants. The
principal concern is to determine whether, or to what
extent, exposure to various pollutants contribute to
environmentally related health problems. Research is
conducted utilizing studies of acute and chronic animal
toxicology, controlled human exposure, and
epidemiology.
For fiscal year 1980, the following areas are being
emphasized for grant support:
1. Epidemiologic studies of persons exposed to
pollutants in air and water media. Included is the
land application of waste water and sludge, light
duty diesel engine emissions, organic contaminants
in drinking water, and electromagnetic radiation.
Because of the Agency's standard setting
responsibilities, applicants are encouraged to design
studies so that inferences may be made as to the
level of exposure at which positive results were
obtained, or if negative results occurred, statements
can be made as to the confidence that positive
results would have been observed if present.
2. Short-term tests and methods development and
validation studies in the areas of toxic chemicals, air
and water pollutants. Chronic disease effects
(pulmonary, cardiovascular, cancer) are of particular
interest. Included is pollutant identification,
behavioral toxicologic effects, carcinogenic potential
of chemicals, identification of exposure to pest
control agents, and carcinogenic/mutagenic
potency of short-term tests to potency in in vivo
mammalian systems.
3. Experimental toxicologic studies related to
exposures from air, water, electromagnetic
radiation, and chemical substances. Behavioral
aspects (including performance, learning and
memory), neurophysiological effects, reproductive
effects and immunologic studies are of particular
interest.
For further information of a procedural nature please
contact:
Dr. George R. Simon
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RD-675
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 426-2355
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Environmental
Chemistry and
Physics
The objective of this grant program is to develop the
scientific tools and information generally needed to guide
EPA and the states in making regulatory decisions. Of
primary concern are methods for the identification of
pollutants and the determination of the levels at which
they occur, knowledge of the reactions of pollutants and
their fates in the environment and the schema for
predicting pollutant distributions given the location and
strength of their sources. The program may be divided
into two parts: (1) methods for identifying and measuring
pollutants and (2) the transport, transformation and fate
of pollutants in air, surface water, ground water and soils
and sediments.
All grant applications in these areas will be considered.
However, for fiscal year 1980, certain topics will be given
emphasis. Those topics are:
1. Development of regional air quality simulation
models with emphasis on predictions of ozone and
fine particulate concentrations. Models and model
components should be able to treat scales of
motion from 100 to 1500 kilometers; reactive plume
models for large point sources and maximum
transport distances of approximately 150 kilometers.
Emphasis should be placed on predictions of
sulfates, nitrates and fine particulate
concentrations.
2. Kinetics of conversion of S02 to S03 and of NOX to
nitrates; gas to particle conversion rates for
pollutants in the photochemical complex, using
chemical kinetic modeling techniques and
parameterization techniques which can be used
efficiently in large air quality simulation models.
3. Aerosol formation from aromatic hydrocarbons and
high molecular weight defines; atmospheric studies
to discriminate among primary and secondary
sources of carbon-containing aerosols. Such
aerosols constitute a significant part of the
particulate burdens in urban atmospheres.
4. Measurement methods for volatile and organic
aerosols; continuous and personal monitoring
devices for criteria and toxic pollutants in air;
dynamics and kinematics of particles near sampling
inlets as they relate to particulates collectors with
an upper particle diameter cutoff of 15 micrometers.
Development of novel measurement methods for
estimating dry deposition of gases and fine
particulates.
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5. \Abundance and fate of natural hydrocarbons and
their influence on background levels of ozone. In
particular, the development and exercise of
photochemical models to establish the importance
of natural hydrocarbons to the formation of ozone
is sought.
6. Studies identifying the industrial and commercial
sources of well-water contamination; models of the
transport and fate of metals and other toxic
chemicals in soils; methods to control nitrates from
agricultural sources in ground water.
7. Transport models for priority pollutants from animal
wastes into drinking water supplies; characterization
of factors influencing abiotic degradation of toxic
organic compounds in bottom sediments; microbial
degradation rate constants of toxic organic
compounds in natural water-sediment systems;
behavior of toxic metals in natural water-sediment
systems.
8. Improved techniques for multielement analysis of
suspended sediments in water samples and in
sludges; techniques for identification of non-volatile
organic compounds in water samples; improved
techniques for determination of chemical forms of
priority toxic metals dissolved and suspended in
ambient waters; rapid methods for determining the
presence of toxic substances in air and water.
For further information of a procedural nature please
contact:
Dr. Robert Papetti
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RD-675
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 426-2355
Environmental
Biology
The area of Environmental Biology, as related to EPA's
research needs, involves the examination of ecological
effects of pollutants. Quantification of specific effects on
individual organisms is of interest, especially as related to
interactions with ecosystems. An in-depth understanding
of the principles involved in the fate and effects of
pollutants on ecosystem processes is required to provide
the Agency with the ability to anticipate, document, and
predict environmental effects. Identification of theoretical
principles, coupled with a basic understanding of critical
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ecosystem processes which can be modeled (or scaled
down) to permit demonstration of quantitative effects of
pollutants, is required as a basis for developing predictive
models.
Specific research areas include:
7. Contribution of Benthic Invertebrates to the Fate and
Transport of Toxic Organics
The entry of toxic organics into food chains is dependent
on the fate and transport of the toxicant itself. A fate
process which could significantly affect fate assessments
is the metabolism and transportation as mediated by
benthic invertebrates. Deposit and detrital feeders
process quantities of sediment material and their activity
in sediment can both directly and indirectly affect the
fate and transport of toxic organics in estuarine and
coastal environments. Since toxic chemicals are absorbed
to sediments, there is a need to establish the role of
benthic invertebrates in the movement of these
compounds in aquatic, estuarine and coastal systems.
A quantitative assessment of the role of benthic
organisms in affecting the fate and transport of toxic
organics is necessary to permit development of predictive
models.
2. Bioaccumulation of Toxic Chemicals from Food by
Aquatic and Estuarine Biota
A principal pathway for exposure of toxic organics to
man is through estuarine food chains. Man's interest in
harvesting parts of these food chains for food
consumption represents a direct route of exposure for
large parts of the population. The ability to predict the
extent of exposure via this food chain mechanism
depends in part on accurately estimating the transfer of a
toxic chemical from one component of the food chain to
another. Without this information, assessment of human
exposure via common pathways in aquatic, estuarine,
and marine environments cannot adequately be
developed. Current information on estuarine chain
processes indicates that exposure concentration, feeding
rates, and food types are major factors in chemical
transfer which must be further elucidated. These
problems are similar to but may not be the same as
those encountered in fresh water. Information adding to
our understanding of these transfer processes is desired.
3. Great Lakes Studies
Studies conducted in the Great Lakes and smaller lakes
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have documented phosphorous levels and levels of other
organic and inorganic compounds. The data has been
used to develop models describing the relationship
between phosphorous levels and the trophic state of the
Great Lakes. Additional data which:
(a) describes phosphorous-plankton relationships
(b) relates phosphorous input to available phosphorous
and to observed levels
(c) relates phosphorous levels to trophic state
(d) extends the data base to include other significant
organic and inorganic pollutants
is required to validate the models.
In addition, the contribution of airborne pollution to
pollutant levels in the lakes must be better understood
since this may be a major source of pollution affecting
the food chain. Some available evidence indicates that
this may be a significant source of PCB input to Lake
Superior. Additional studies to aid in understanding the
importance of this pathway for other organic and
inorganic pollutants as well as PCB are needed.
4. Applied Genetics
The potential impact of new genones introduced
(accidentally or deliberately) into established ecosystems
as a consequence of large scale application of the
technique of genetic manipulation is now known.
Although the overall problem is very large and complex,
involving interactions between a variety of biological
systems, a possible sequence of events can be
envisioned and the probability of occurrence of each step
estimated. The probability of:
(a) Introduction into the environment (escape from
containment)
(b) Establishment (surviving long enough to reach a
non-hostile environment)
(c) Dispersal (dissemination into new sites or niches)
(d) Impact on populations, environments and
ecosystem functions (emphasis on degree of
reversibility and severity) can be determined.
Organisms of concern include both gram negative and
positive genera, yeast, and viruses. Research efforts to
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date have concentrated on E coli (K12 or 1776) and
therefore this organism is being considered a model
which can be modified for application to other genera.
Thus, development, validation, and use of a multi-
factorial model system for studying genomic impacts
should be emphasized, including interaction with air,
water, soil, and sewage.
While all four of the above facets of the problem are
significant, initial emphasis will concern sections (a) and
(b). Estimates of the probability of escape, and the
probability of persistence, survival, and genetic
exchange; during transit to and treatment in a sewage
plant as well as the question of Establishment — i.e.
determining if a niche exists which the novel organisms
could occupy and the likelihood of this occurring and of
this new environment affecting the organism are required
before examination of Dispersal and Impact is possible.
Proposals which treat any single aspect or combination
of the above topics will be considered.
For further information of a procedural nature please
contact:
Dr. Morris A. Levin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RD-675
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 426-2355
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