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AN ENERGY RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS PROGRAM
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NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
An Associate Laboratory of
National Environmental Research Center—Corvallis

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AN ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN:
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS PROGRAM
National Ecological Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corval11s, Oregon 97330
Dallas, Texas
December 3, 1974
DRAFT

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The Regional and Ecological Effects Research Program
A.	Recommended Action Summary
1.	Define the following specific objectives for the ecological
effects research program:
a.	To minimize the ecological effects of pollutants from
new or expanded energy sources by achieving, relating and applying
environmental scientific knowledge to decision-making processes,
Including cost-risk-benefit trade-offs, concerning energy sources
technology development, alternate energy processes, site selection,
etc.;
b.	To assist 1n guiding the direction taken by control
technology decision-makers in pursuit of new methods of pollutant
control to minimize environmental Impact, the cost of control
technology R&D as well as to minimize the potential cost involved
In retrofitting facilities at some future time;
c.	To Improve the existing data base for determining air
and water quality standards.
2.	Define energy research areas for which each Federal agency
will be responsible.
3.	Determine the output and time desired from each Federal agency.
4.	Define specific energy research sites (ERS) that will serve
as focal points for particular energy research activities.
5.	Establish a technical synthesis group which will be
responsible for guaranteeing the credibility of the output, particularly
1n multimedia problem areas.
6.	Establish a management synthesis group to establish and
guide all energy research for which EPA has a responsibility.
B.	Introduction
Public concern for the health, environmental, and social and welfare
impact of energy-related activities has become the single most important
Issue limiting the growth of domestic energy production. These public
concerns are directed at observable as well as suspected deleterious
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aspects of the discovery, extraction, transport, and conversion of fuels
as well as their ultimate use 1n energy production. While health-related
consequences of energy activities are not discussed in detail here, there
are many aspects of pollutant transport and ecological effects of
pollutants which are relevant to both the health and ecological effects
problem areas.
During the next several years, the nation will be faced with a
series of critical decisions of utmost priority and importance. A need
for Increasing the nation's energy capability must be balanced against
the need for minimizing environmental Impacts caused by energy-producing
facilities. Any environmental research program that is implemented must
provide to the nation the basic understanding necessary to evaluate and
measure environmental Impacts, determine environmental effects, and to
suggest the need for minimum cost control technology where required.
Successful implementation of an environmental research program will
affect all aspects of the energy self-sufficiency program that will be
a definitive determinant of optimal energy resource use.
The production of energy will be accomplished by using a number
of alternative sources. Some of these are nuclear conventional burner
reactors, nuclear breeder reactors, geothermal power, solar power,
hydroelectric power, fossil-fuel power and a number of forms Including
direct combustion of coal, coal gasification, shale oil usage for
electric power production as well as for conversion to other petroleum
products, and conventional crude oil. There are a number of problems
associated with each of the elements of this mix of potential energy
sources. The expansion of coal use, in part the result of a shift from
low sulfur oil and natural gas to coal, and the introduction of new
synthetic and shale oil products will require Improved siting criteria
and enhanced environmental Impact assessment techniques. Large-scale
Introduction of new energy technology such as shale oil, geothermal,
and advanced oil and gas recovery techniques, and advanced power
production facilities will also have an environmental Impact. Rapid
expansion of nuclear generating capacity (long lead times and licensing,
environmental Impact review, and construction not withstanding) at
associate requirements for nuclear fuel processing, disposal of radio-
active cooling and other water, and other radiation problems will create
increased pressures for acceptable means of disposal of radioactive
wastes and fuel reprocessing.
While each of the above technologies does carry certain unique
environmental consequences, there are a number of common threads of
environmental concern which run through nearly all. For example, the
difficulty of disposing of waste heat, and the adverse effects of waste
heat discharge are problems found with nearly all methods of power
production. Another example of a similar type concerns the use of
cooling water. There are cooling water Intake design problems,
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entralnment effects, closed versus open cycle cooling, cooling towers
versus lagoons, and other cooling system Issues which are common to
electric power production from geothermal, nuclear and fossil-fuel
based facilities. Because there are common threads running through
all the energy-production, conversion, extraction and usage Issues,
a program which addresses those common threads has been developed.
An additional aspect of the ecological effects research program
concerns technology. The technological deveopment and implementation
of energy systems must be sensitive to the effects that effluents and
residuals from the system will have on health, welfare, and the
ecological system. If this sensitivity 1s incorporated into the
development and Implementation process, domestic resources can be
broadly utilized with minimal deterioration of the environment.
Knowledge of the effects of the energy-production system before it 1s
Implemented will avoid the enormous cost associated with the need to
retrofit controls on an operational system where they clean up the
waste once they have been discharged. Therefore, in order to minimize
R&D costs of alternate technologies and to support energy-technology-
related decisions, an ecological effects research program 1s needed
which addresses all aspects of pollution Impact. In this way, technology
research can be related to ecological effects research such that both
technology dollar and environmental Impact cost can be minimized.
It 1s clear that any ecological effects research program cannot be
accomplished solely by the Environmental Protection Agency. Over the
past several years, other organizations besides the EPA have been
actively involved in funding studies of the transport and effects of
stressants on the environment. Many of these studies have dealt with
the effects of particular pollutants on Individual organisms or
processes. A relatively small amount of the research effort 1n all
branches of the Federal government has been directed toward the ecosystems
or holistic approach. The National Science Foundation, the Atomic Energy
Commission, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare, and the Department of Commerce have worked closely
with the EPA in performing research 1n the areas of health effects,
ecological effects, social and welfare effects, and 1n support activities
such as pollutant transport processes and characterization, measurement,
and monitoring. Accordingly, a well-coordinated energy effects research
program Involving several agency needs to be implemented.
C. Objectives of Energy Program
The National Energy Effects Research Program must prepare its
objectives to follow closely with the development of the nation's
energy-production resources 1n the areas of coal, oil, oil shale,
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coal conversion, nuclear power, and geothermal power. The objectives
must be faced so that the information necessary to make intelligent
cost-benefit decisions will be available as the nation's energy-
producing priorities are transferred from one energy source to another
or the mix or proportion of energy-producing activities from each source
changes. Therefore, the following objectives are listed below, each
objective applies to all energy-producing activities (coal, oil, oil
shale, coal conversion, nuclear, etc.), and by region or whole ecosystem
(coastal zone, Rocky Moutain region, Northern Great Plains, watershed,
etc.).
a.	To minimize the ecological effects of pollutants from new or
expanded energy sources by achieving, relating and applying environmental
scientific knowledge to decision-making processes, including cost-risk-
benefit trade-offs, concerning energy sources technology development,
alternate energy processes, site selection, etc.
b.	To assist 1n guiding the direction taken by control technology
decision-makers in pursuit of new methods of pollutant control to minimize
environmental Impact, the cost of control technology R&D as well as to
minimize the potential cost Involved in retrofitting faclllities at some
future time.
c.	To improve upon the existing data base that establish air,
water, and solid waste pollution standards.
D. Description of Energy Program
As can be seen 1n Figure 1, which depicts the overall program, the
energy R&D program has a number of components. The two primary components
from an EPA point of view are the research involving technology, and the
research into the effects of energy extraction, production, conversion,
transmission, and dissipation. We will be concerned primarily with the
research on energy effects. The next level of subdivision within the
effects category is Into four major components. The first of these
compartments embodies the health consequences associated with energy
production. The second compartment consists of all the sociaj and
economic effects of energy production, Including trade-offs 1fr terms of
changing job conditions, job markets, Industry types, an assessment of
comparative costs of alternate technologies and energy sources. The
third major component 1s entitled Ecoloalcal Effects which will be
discussed at some length below. This category includes all of the non-
health and non-soc1o-econom1c effects of energy production. The fourth
major category 1s entitled Integration. The Integration component would
be responsible for synthesizing and Integrating the results obtained from
health research, socio-economic research, and ecological effects research.
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FIGURE 1. OVERALL PROGRAM
X
ENERGY R&D
I
EFFECTS
1
TECHNOLOGY


1

1



SOCIO-
ECONOMIC

ECOLOGICAL
EFFECTS

HEALTH
1 INTEGRATION
Iaquatic
1
TERRESTIRAL
EZHZ
ECOLOGICAL
EFFECTS
SYNTHESIS
IsOILS IVEGETATION I ANIMAL
1
TERRESTRIAL
I5PPSYSTEHS
"1
IMARINE I lESTUARINE \ 1FRESHWATER
1
AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS
Supporting Research Functions
1.	Meteorology
2.	Thermal Pollution
3.	Formation and decay
of atmospheric
pollutants
4.	Pollutant characterize
5.	Instrumentations and
technique development
6.	Quality control and
quality assurance
7.	Eutrophlcation
8.	Coastal pollution
9.	Etc.
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The purpose of the integration and synthesis component is to coordinate
and assure the meshing of programs between the EPA and other Federal
Agencies concerned with energy R&D. In addition, the synthesis function
will serve to mesh the output from technology R&D with effects R&D. By
having a combination of representatives from the Headquarters and the
technical level field personnel, it 1s possible to adequately address
both the operational aspects and the Headquarters' planning function of
other Federal Agencies.
The next level of components 1n Figure 1 is comprised of the
following major subdivisions:
Ecological Effects Synthesis
The ecological effects synthesis component deals with the synthesis
and total integration of all knowledge acquired in the aquatic and
terrestrial ecological effects research area.
Aquatic
The aquatic effects component deals with all of the energy production,
extraction, conversion, and other problems in the marine, estuarine, and
fresh water environments.
Aquatic Ecosystems
The aquatic ecosystems component would be responsible for integrating
all Information 1n the aquatic environment which relates to the effects of
energy production.
Terrestrial
The terrestrial compartment of the ecological effects component has
analogous sections which would involve the effects of energy production,
extraction, conversion, and other problems on soils, vegetation, and
animals (Including domestic livestock and wildlife).
Terrestrial Ecosystems
The terrestrial ecosystems component would be responsible for
Integrating all effects Information in the terrestrial environment which
relates to the effects of energy production.
The box formed by dotted lines 1n Figure 1 has some representative
support services listed. It 1s clear that any effects research program
will require input from related research programs. For example, 1n the
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dotted box we 11st support services which would be obtainable for the
effects program. For example, 1t 1s possible, through optimizing the
management of the on-going EPA research program, to have each of the
listed programs slightly reorient Its existing program toward an
energy effects program. For example, the effects of thermal discharges
are a problem that the EPA 1s concerned with in regard to setting
thermal discharge standards, thermal problems are also concerned 1n an
energy R&D program because of the consequences of a cooling system
design, cost of alternative technologies, the use of different types
of cooling systems, etc.
What we have 1n Figure 1 1s an overall energy R&D effects program.
We assume that appropriate people will be contacted in the health, socio-
economic and Integration areas to develop their programs in more detail.
If the proposed research program is Implemented, then the integration
responsibilities for the energy program would be great. There are many
scientific Inputs that will be generated from within the agency as well
as from other Federal organizations. Data derived from laboratory and
field studies will be synthesized and integrated Into an energy research
strategy which will be carried out 1n the various regions of the United
States.
At the present time, several Federal agencies are involved in
identifying specific research projects and principal investigators who
could wisely spend a large amount of energy dollars. The National Science
Foundation, the Energy Research and Development Agency, the Federal Energy
Administration, the Department of the Interior, the United States Department
of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency are moving toward
Identifying potential candidates for grants and contracts 1n the Northern
Great Plains area as well as other regions.
There are so many Federal agencies proposing to fund research projects
that are all similar in scope that the Northern Great Plains area 1s
rapidly becoming impacted by researchers studying the Impact of energy-
producing activities on the environment. This seemingly humorous situation
1s rapidly going to develop into one that will limit the scope of research
that can be performed in that region of the country. For example, the
Colstrlp, Montana, area 1s already being researched by Federal, State and
local governments. New research that 1s proposed by several agencies
focuses 1n on the Colstrlp area for major programs. It is unclear as to
whether the Colstrlp area will be able to absorb the new researchers that
will be drawn to the area to Implement the projects that will be funded
by these agencies. In addition, 1t 1s unclear as to where the talent will
be located who will perform the research on grants or contracts.
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Several of the research organizations (University of Montana,
University of North Dakota, etc.) have submitted grants to most Federal
agencies. With the large number of dollars being proposed for Federal
research, a great many of these proposals will 1n fact be funded. If
so, the local talent probably will not be able to absorb very many
new starts over the next year or two. More than likely, outside
researchers (Battelle Northwest, Llvermore, etc.) will initiate
research Investigations that will have to fill the gap. These
"foreigners" coming Into the area may cause further pressures on the
study sites. Each of the study sites that are being Investigated are
being Impacted by researchers being drawn to the area. Housing
facilities, research laboratories, monitoring laboratories, facilities
support (police orotectlon, library service, sewage capability, water
capability, etc.) are going to have to be provided to these Individuals
if they are able to carry out their research activities.
What 1s proposed to reduce the potential impact of the energy
research programs 1n the Northern Great Plains area, 1s that specific
sites be identified and selected for research investigation. Individuals
performing research at these sites would be working on projects that
complement one another and that all projects work toward the objectives
that have been established for the output of the particular energy
research activity for that site. For example, Col strip, Montana, could
be established as a coal-fired power plant energy research site.
Biological activities, socio-economic analysis, health effects research,
and support activities such as pollutant characterization of transport
and modeling could be performed 1n and around the site. The management
details could be established such that an on-site coordinator guarantees
the research projects that are being planned meet the total objectives
that have been selected for the site.
It 1s through the Identification of the energy research site (ERS)
that total integrated research projects can be implemented. For example,
the Department of the Interior, the Energy Research and Development Agency,
NSF, and EPA could develop Integrated research programs that lend themselves
toward site specific activities. The end product from these research
activities would be directly applicable to the missions of all the agencies
Involved 1n the program. Costs and duplication in the various energy
activity parts of the country could be eliminated or at least reduced to
an acceptable level.
E. Research Program Milestones
The milestones for certain aspects of the research program should
follow approximately the following pattern. For increasing petroleum
and natural gas production, we can anticipate increases 1n production
from secondary and tertiary recovery methods to have completed the pilot
plant demonstration design stage by approximately 1978 or 1979. Stimulation,
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by both conventional and nuclear means,*, for oil and gas production we expect
to have the pilot plant demonstration phase completed by mid-1977. Oil
shale in situ processing Including conventional and nuclear fracturing and
retorting, can be anticipated to be through the pilot plant demonstration
design stage by 1977 or 1978. Obviously, by the above mentioned dates, it
is necessary to have a completed protocol for site evaluation, selection,
and impact assessment, as well as many other aspects of the ecological
research program. Because the high probability areas for these methods
of increasing petroleum and natural gas production are in the Rocky
Mountain area and 1n the Southwest, we can anticipate that we should be
performing research programs 1n that part of the country. Project
milestones should correspond to the above dates for the completion of
assessment protocols, and effects Identification.
Under activities such as substituting coal for oil and natural gas,
the mining of coal and shale have already begun in many parts of the
country, and effects research programs should be mounted Immediately in
those areas. For direct combustion of coal either by fluldlzed bed or
combustion modification methods, we have until possibly mid-1977 before
the completion of pilot plant demonstration design stages. Therefore,
project milestones designed to develop impact assessment protocols and
evaluate the ecological effects of plants to perform energy-producing
functions are these methods should be 1n mid-1977 time frame.
For high BTU gasification, coal Hquifaction, low BTU gasification,
and synthetic fuel pioneer program, the pilot plant demonstration design
stages are anticipated for completion in late 1975 to late 1977. Therefore,
ecological effects research protocols in areas where those activities are
expected to occur should begin immediately. Project milestones to assure
completion of protocol development by those dates should be specified.
For other fuel cycles, for example, liquid metal fast breeder
reactor, pilot plant and demonstration design stages are not expected
to be completed until early 1980's, research on the protocol development
for plant siting for these energy sources can be delayed. The same
reasoning also applies to other advanced energy systems, fusion, solar,
other exotic energy sources. The necessary ecological effects information
base is not required until 1980 at the earliest.
For geothermal power, we already have pilot plants and demonstration
plants as well as commercial application in some parts of the country,
but the method of power production is so limited 1n terms of its geographic
distribution that serious ecological effects assessment at only a few sites
is sufficient. However, since It is clear that geothermal power will be
developed in the West and along the ridge of the Rocky Mountains, it would
be prudent to begin a terrestrial ecological effects research program In
the Western Montana/Northwestern Wyoming area or in parts of Oregon and
California.
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FIGURE 2
FUEL CYCLE
Region Light Water Breeder Coal	Coal Gasi- Shale Crude Geo-	Solar
Reactor	Combust	fication	Oil	Oil	Thermal
Great	1	2
Plains
Midwest	3	1
Coastal	3	1
Zone
Rocky
Mountains	12	2	2
Watersheds 3	etc.1	2	2
Southwest	12	2	2
Gulf Coast 3	1
West Coast 3	1	12
ETC.
Time to demonstration or pilot plant stage and site selection lead time dictates assessment protocol
deadline. 1. 2-3 year. 2. 3-5 year. 3. 5-10 year, (priority)

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Figure 2 indicates the principles followed In the development
of the timing for scheduled program. Ecological studies for each of
the fuel cycle types which apply to a given region should be conducted.
That is, we should attempt to follow the complete pathway through which
particular pollutants move, from sources to ultimate sinks, and their
effects along the pathways. For example, it would be advantageous to
determine the effects on the entire system of a conventional coal-fired
power plant with SOg removal; to follow the passage of the effects of
sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide or heavy metals or other pollutants
on the entire system from the point at which 1t 1s emitted from
the stack through all of the atmospheric transformations which it may
go through to be dispersed by meteorological process finally settling
on a plant or on the soil. Having reached the side of a receptor,
determine the effect of that pollutant on vegetation, soils, or animals.
Following a determination of those effects, the secondary and tertiary
effects of the pollutant should be determined. In addition, determine
where within the system that pollutant was accumulated or in other
words became hazardous or toxic to organisms. Through studies of this
type, it 1s possible to determine the sinks for various air pollutants
as well as water pollutants and to determine from the knowledge of
those sinks and concentrations to which heavy metals or other
pollutants might arise and therefore determine the toxicity of that
material to local organisms. Through determination of accumulative
and acute effects, It 1s possible to rationally determine the short-
and long-term consequences of Introducing pollutants into the ecosystem.
It 1s also possible through the knowledge of the rates and mechanisms
of transfer and the effects of those pollutants to determine the possible
hazards to humans. It 1s also possible to determine an economic cost or
damage function which can be related to each fuel cycle type or each
region or other pollutant. This then would form a more rational basis
for local decision-making relative to alternate energy options that
may be open to a locality for exploiting its energy sources.
The timing of such studies should be designed in order to have
major milestones in terms of both transport processes and effects which
would relate to the milestones and dates by which pilot plants and
demonstration plants for technologies which use various fuel cycles are
expected. For example, 1t would be desirable to have conducted a number
of whole ecosystems studies in the Northern Great Plains and 1n the
Rocky Mountain areas 1n anticipation of pilot plants and demonstration
plants in shale oil recovery, coal gasification, coal liqulfaction, and
conventional coal-fired power plants. By having conducted such effects
research during the next few years in those regions, we will be 1n a
far better position to evaluate the types of control technology which
would be recommended for both demonstration and full-scale production
plants. By continuing to refine our Information in that part of the
country for fossil-fuel energy sources, by the time large numbers or
large-scale power plants come on line 1n the next five-ten years, we
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will be 1n a better position to evaluate their potential effects and
to make firmer recommendations on siting as well as all necessary control
equipment.
A similar set of whole ecosystem studies should be mounted in the
coastal zone. This is because we will have numerous off-shore drilling
operations, oil tanker transfer points, and refining plants in the
continental margins of the country. Whole ecosystems studies in the
coastal zone area would be analogus and most respects to whole ecosystem
studies in the mid-West or Rocky Mountain portion of the country in that
the milestone 1n the near term would be to develop an assessment protocol
or an assessment methodology for determlng the potential impact of crude
oil energy production facilities. In the longer term, the coastal zone
will receive a far greater number of nuclear installations than 1t now
has. For reasons similar to those mentioned above, it would be advan-
tageous to having developed the short-term assessment protocol
methodology, to project that into longer time scales in order to evaluate
the Impact of nuclear facilities.
F. Federal Interagency Cooperation
If the EPA establishes an energy research site (ERS) concept for
Integrating and centralizing its research activities, then it 1s of utmost
Importance to establish a break out of responsibilities among the Federal
agencies Involved 1n energy research. Table 1 represents a projected
breakdown of energy research activities that could be supported by these
Federal establishments. For example, ERDA has expertise in radiation
monitoring, transport and fate, and the gathering of toxicity information.
The National Bureau of Standards has a major effort in instrumentation
development and standardization of pollution measurement devices. The
NSF, the Department of the Interior, and the EPA all have on-going energy-
related research projects.
At the present time, the National Ecological Research Laboratory in
Corvallis 1s performing field research activities that have a modest amount
of laboratory research support. Much of the field effort 1s conducted by
extramural route, but do Involve a small number of EPA personnel assigned
to Its energy research site (ERS) at Colstrip, Montana. The laboratory
research activities are mainly to investigate further the anomalies that
are occurring 1n the field. All studies, of course, are biologically
oriented and are attempting to constitute a protocol that allows planning
managers to assess the Impact of energy-producing activities on the
environment prior to the initiation of those activities. It 1s Intended
that the ERS concept will be adopted for the following actual or potential
sites:
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Table I
Projected Agency Energy Research Activities
Research
Acti vi ty	EPA
Instrumentation Development X
Monitoring/Characterization X
Transport/Fate	X
Microcosm	X
Standardization of
Measurements	X
Population Modification	-
Indicator Organisms	X
Toxicity Information	X
Cost/Benefi t/Land Use	X
Holistic Field Research	X
Land Reclamation	X
NSF ERDA	DO I USDA
X X
X X	X X
X X	X X
XX	X
X
X
X	X
X
X	X

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Coal
1.	LaCygne, Kansas.
2.	Col strip, Montana.
3.	Gillette, Wyoming.
4.	Utah
5.	The Four Corners Area.
6.	Northeastern Portion of the United States
011 Shale
1.	Wyoming.
2.	Colorado.
3.	Utah.
Coal Conversion (gasification and Hquifaction)
1.	Utah.
2.	Colorado.
3.	Wyoming.
4.	South Dakota.
Geothermal
1.	Oregon.
2.	California.
The National Ecological Research Laboratory field efforts are
mainly terrestrial effects research projects and multimedia synthesis
activities. The first two studies (LaCygne, Kansas and Col strip,
Montana) are coal-fired power plant terrestrial effects projects. In
addition to these activities, NERL is planning to mount terrestrial
research efforts in the shale oil, coal conversion, nuclear, and geothermal
areas. The components of the NERL field effort are summarized in Table 2.
These components are used 1n the following:
1.	Temporal and spacial quantitative inventory of components of
the study area.
2.	Detailed measurement of biological structure and function,
including energy flow, nutrient cycling, and species conditions, composition,
and diversity.
3.	Pollution characterization, transport, and fate.
4.	Meteorological measurements.
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Table 2
EPA, NERL Field Component Measurements
Plants
Population biology
Standing crop
Productivity
Species diversity
Injury, disease and condition
Rate of nutrient uptake
Biochemical analyses
Photosynthetic rates
Respiration rates
Animals
Population biology
Condition
Measures of physiological stress, homeostasis, adaptation
Disease and histopathology
Immunosuppressive responses
Nutritional biology and food web analyses
Growth metabolism, bloenergetics
Behavioral patterns including dispersion to movements with respect to
pollution intensity
Biochemical analyses
Soils
Soil respiration
Soil chemistry
Macroorganism Community Analysis By Group and Rates of Activity
Microbial Community Analysis By Group and Rates of Activity
Support Activities
Meteorological and air quality measurements
Development of remote sensing as tool for detecting stress on ecosystems.
Measurement of loss of inventory attributed to strip mining, human activities,
water use, etc.
Use of ecosystem level models to describe and predict effects of stress.
Use of models to aid in design of experiments.
Use of models to help separate pollutant effects from natural variation
1n system dynamics.
Meteorological and dispersion modeling to describe the mode of entry of
pollutants into ecosystems.
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5.	Utilization of remote sensing as a tool for detecting effects
of challenges on the ecosystem.
6.	Experimentally-controlled challenges to an ecosystem.
7.	Laboratory experiments to measure and evaluate physiological,
biochemical and behavioral mechanisms of response to challenge (i.e.,
experiments designed to test field-generated hypotheses).
8.	Utilization of ecosystem level models and atmospheric pollution
dispersion models to describe and predict effects from challenges to
ecosystems.
In addition to its own field research efforts, the National Ecological
Research Laboratory believes that there are a set of research activities
that complement the existing program. These activities, are summarized in
Table 3.
The research program that has been established in Col strip, Montana
represents part of a first ERS. Through formal and Informal discussions
with research organizations within and outside the Environmental Protection
Agency, NERL is convinced that the necessary expertise to perform integrated
research projects 1s resident 1n existing Federal establishments. Appropriate
negotiations have begun at the laboratory level to Invite various Federal
agencies to participate 1n the future ERS activities that the National
Ecological Research Laboratory will be establishing under its on-going
energy research program.
Suggested funding allocations for this program are shown in Tables
4 and 5 under low and high funding options. The proportion of funds
under high and low funding options for each ecological effects program
area differ because of different capabilities which could realistically
be developed under each option.
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Table 3
Energy Specific Terrestrial Research Needs
1.	Determine the atmospheric chemistry of sulfur oxides including
sulfate formation and the mechanisms by which sulfur oxides are removed from
the atmosphere.
2.	Determine pollutant interactions in dry and wet-scrubbed power
plant plumes.
3.	Develop and verify air quality simulation models for power
plants in complex terrains 1n order to accurately determine emission
control levels required to achieve ambient air quality goals.
4.	Develop the capability to predict low-level dispersion patterns
from nuclear plants in light winds.
5.	Determine the transfer mechanism of sulfur and other pollutants
to soils, economic crops, wildlife, and indigenous vegetation.
6.	Determine the effects of cooling system moisture, and heat on
local climate.
7.	Develop model for precipitation scavenging of sulfur,
8.	Determine the mechanisms for dry deposition of atmospheric
pollutants.
9.	Develop data on physical and chemical characteristics and columetric
discharge rates of effluents and emissions from new energy sources from
extract to conversion to end utilization.
10.	Improve accuracy and specificity of sampling and analytical procedures
in:
a.	Ambient air (SO , sulfates, NO , fine particulates, trace
toxic metals, krypton-85, and tritium).
b.	All sources of emissions (SO , sulfates, NO , fine particulates,
trace toxic metals, krypton-85, and tritium).
11.	Develop continuous monitoring instrumentation for:
a.	Ambient air (SO , sulfates, NO , fine particulates, trace toxic
metals, krypton-85, and tritium).
b.	All sources of emissions (SO sulfates, NO , fine particulates,
trace toxic metals, krypton-85, and tntlum).
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12.	Develop location models for in situ sampling and continuous
Instrumentation in:
a.	Ambient air
b.	Emission sources
13.	Develop more precise information specifications for sample collection
in emission sources.
14.	The development of monitoring systems that allow for long-term
low level effects determinations (e.g., S0X concentrations of less than
ppm.
15.	The adaptation of existing IBP system models to energy source
related environmental problems (e.g., the ELM model adapted to EPA Coal-
Fired Power Plant Study in Montana).
16.	The development of simulated ecosystems that (microcosms) serve
to support field oriented activities involving studies of transport,
distribution, food chain concentration, metabolism and toxicity of single
or multiple compounds introduced. This system would especially be useful
for supporting field trace element investigations (e.g., trace element
emissions from coal-fired power plants).
17.	Laboratory research that involves toxicity challenges to
native organisms found in field investigations. This laboratory research
should investigate the effects of pollutants (at varying concentrations)
on communities, populations, and Individuals. Productivity and diversity
should be characterized for each laboratory system.
18.	Normalized cost/benefit matrices should be established to minimize
impact to affected ecosystems (i.e., the trade-off between the environment,
land use, socio-economic, etc.).
18

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Table 4
Proportion of Total Energy Ecological Effects
R&D Resources Devoted to Each Program Area
Low Funding Level


Fiscal Year


75
76
77
78
79
Aquatic .4
.4
.4
.4
.4
Marine 0
0
•
o
CJ1
.05
.1
Estuarine .1
.1
.1
.1
.1
Freshwater .25
.25
.2
.2
.1
Aquatic Ecosystems .05
.05
.05
.05
.1
Terrestrial .5
.5
.5
.5
.5
Soils .2
.2
.1
.1
.1
Vegetation .05
.05
.05
.05
.05
Animals .05
.05
.05
.05
.05
Terrestrial Ecosystems .2
.2
.3
.3
.2
Synthesis
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
19

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Table 5
Proportion Of Total Energy Ecological Effects
R&D Resources Devoted To Each Program Area
High Funding Level
75
Fiscal Year
76	77
78
79
Aquatic
.5

.5

.5
.4
.1
.4
.1
Marine

.05

.05
.1


Estuarlne

.05

.05
.1

.1

.1
Freshwater

.3

.3
.2

.05

.05
Aquatic Ecosystems

.1

.1
.1

.15

.15
Terrestrial
.4

.4

.4
.4

.4

Soils

.2

.2
.1

.1

.1
Vegetation

.05

.05
.1

.05

.05
Animals

.05

.05
.1

.05

.05
Terrestrial Eco-









systems

.1

.1
.2

.3

.3
Synthesis
.1

.1

.1
.2

.2

20

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