Request for Proposals
(closed November 20, 1997)
Study of Organic Contaminants in
Air and Water in
Conjunction with Episodic Events - Great Lakes Experiment
Purpose
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes
National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting proposals to provide
analytical support for studying organic contaminants and providing
scientific input on assessment of the impact of the winter-spring
plume event on organics concentrations in Lake Michigan air and
water. The study requested by this Request for Proposals (RFP) will
test a hypothesis of significance of episodic resuspension and
transport events based on the Lake Michigan plume effect on
biogeochemical processes that might result in increased water and
air concentrations of organic contaminants.
The goal of the project is to expand the Episodic Events - Great
Lakes Experiment (EEGLE) study by including studies on organic
contaminants. EEGLE is sponsored by the National Science Foundation
(NSF) Coastal Ocean Processes and the National Oceanic Atmosphere
Administration (NOAA) Coastal Ocean Program (COP). EEGLE results
will be used to expand the Lake Michigan Mass
Balance Study (LMMB) contaminant model. The EEGLE study is
treated as a prototypical study for similar episodic events taking
place in coastal environments.
Introduction
It is hypothesized that material resuspension and transport
affect biogeochemical processes in coastal environments. From
satellite observations of Lake Michigan, the plume effect event is
known to occur on a yearly basis. The plume effect takes place after
ice melt in late winter. During the plume, the bottom sediment is
resuspended and transported off-shore by wind-created waves. The
resuspended material spreads over a 10 by 200 km region in the
southern part of Lake Michigan.
Due to the coastal plume effect, organic contaminants, previously
deposited over time and buried in the lake bed sediment, reenter the
water column along with the resuspended bottom sediment. This
process may contribute to the increase of the dissolved phase
concentration of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). If, as the
result of the sediment resuspension, the dissolved concentration of
hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) is elevated, the gaseous
phase concentration may elevate as well. The essence of this project
is to test the consequences of the sediment resuspension on HOC
concentrations in the water column and in the air above the water,
and, based on obtained results, recommend areas of further study.
The NSF/NOAA joint EEGLE study consists of several projects which
will focus on taking a variety of physical, chemical, and biological
measurements during, before, and after the plume event. The physical
study will include remote sensing measurements, turbidity
measurements, meteorological measurements, and interdisciplinary
Lagrangian measurements. The chemical study will include a
radionuclide study of the suspended particulate phase (i.e., to
characterize particle chemical surface, residence time, aging, size)
and a study of nutrient characteristics. The biological study will
cover the chlorophyll distribution and the structure and dynamics of
the lower food chain (nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton).
The study will test three hypotheses described in the EEGLE full
proposal document (refer to the EEGLE web site listed below). The
EEGLE study does not include organic contaminants, so the purpose of
this proposal request is to add this capacity to the program.
EEGLE is a two year program scheduled for 1999 and 2000. Three 10
to 14 day cruises for sample collection are planned for both years.
Additionally, year round sediment and water samples will be
collected and several other measurements will be conducted on a
biweekly basis. For 1998 a pilot study is planned to collect samples
on a research vessel during one 10 to 14 day winter cruise (between
January and March).
Under the requested project the U.S. EPA GLNPO would like to have
simultaneous measurements conducted of PCBs and PAHs in the air and
water column. Analysis of PCBs should include a minimum of 120
congeners. Analysis of at least 15 individual PAHs (i.e.,
benzo(a)pyrene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene,
perylene, phenanthrene, etc.) of environmental concern in Lake
Michigan should be selected and the selection should be supported by
historical research results.
The general sampling strategy will include at least 12 air and 12
water samples collected on a research vessel and 12 suspended
sediment samples collected in the traps by NOAA. At least four water
and air samples will be collected at the southeastern part of the
lake, at the plume occurrence, during the winter cruise. At least
one background sample will be collected (with duplicate) at the
middle of the lake, for example at the NOAA data buoy, during this
cruise. A second background sample (with duplicate) will be
collected at southeastern part of the lake during non-event on the
NOAA monthly cruise. Four water and air samples will be collected
after the plume event on the NOAA monthly cruise in May or June.
Additional suspended sediment samples will be collected into a
series of traps every 10 days all year round. The sediment sample
collection is coordinated by NOAA. Some time in May the samples will
be removed from the lake and split in half; one for conventional and
second for organics. The grantee will provide assistance with sample
split and storage of the samples. Upon availability of physical and
meteorological measurements from NOAA, and their evaluation, the
Project Officer, together with Grantee, will determined which twelve
sediment samples will be analyzed for PAHs and PCBs.
For more information regarding EEGLE project refer to NOAA web site
under following address:
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/eegle/.
Grantee Responsibilities
For the EPA GLNPO portion of the study the Grantee will be
responsible for the following:
- Collection of air samples (the gaseous phase and particulate
phase) and water samples (the particulate and dissolved phase)
from a research vessel.
- Suspended sediment sample storage. Provide assistance to NOAA
for a split of the suspended sediment samples collected
incrementally every ten days by the sequencing traps set up within
primary station of the plume study, and store them securely for
further availability to study organics. Perform analysis of PCB
and PAH vapor and particulate samples.
- Perform water analysis, the suspended particulate phase and
dissolved phase, for PCBs and PAHs.
- Perform the sediment sample analysis for PCBs and PAHs.
- Conduct data interpretation that will provide preliminary
assessment of the plume effect on lake water quality.
- The Grantee will be expected to interpret data collected in
this project and historical data available form Spring and Summer
seasons for Lake Michigan through GLNPO annual survey (water), and
applicable data from the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study.
As the final outcome of the project the Grantee will formulate
recommendation if further study of organic contaminants in the Lake
Michigan Plume Event is required.
Funding Level
The U.S. EPA expects to award a grant for this project early
January 1998. The maximum amount of funding is expected to be
$50,000, however, there is the possibility of future project
expansion.
Quality Assurance
A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) will be prepared by the
recipient of the award. It must to be approved by the Project
Officer and the Quality Assurance Officer of the Great Lakes
National Program Office, US EPA, prior sample collection.
Special Conditions
- No work or part of the work can be subcontracted without the
EPA knowledge and approval.
- All data must be submitted in compatible format to GLNPO’s
data management system.
- GLNPO may request Grantee to participate in the 1999 and 2000
year EEGLE - organic component (EEGLE-OC) study, however,
participation in the pilot study does not guarantee participation
in the 99/00 EEGLE-OC study.
Project Deadline
The Grantee will be expected to complete analysis and submit data
within 3 months from the end of each cruise date and final report no
later than end of August 1998. Data interpretation and
recommendations should be furnished to EPA by the end of September
1998.
Selection Criteria
Demonstrated access to analytical equipment, sufficient
laboratory space, and sufficient personnel required to perform the
study successfully. Provide laboratory capacity information -
number of samples that can be processed per month --- 20 pts
Demonstrated expertise in the analysis of organic contaminants
such as congener specific PCBs and selected PAHs in air (the
gaseous phase and particulate phase), and/or water (the
particulate and dissolved phase) and sediment. The EPA may award
two grants one for air one for water and sediment study where the
funds will be divided adequately. Published papers and reports
based on successfully completed grants or contracts should
demonstrate the proposers expertise ---
Demonstrated capability to complete study within project
timelines. The proposers should provide information regarding
his/her ongoing projects and deadline obligations for 1998 through
year 2000 --- 10 pts
Demonstrated expertise in performing statistical analysis of
large sets of environmental data. Available access to computers
and software required to perform the data
evaluation --- 10 pts
Project cost --- 10pts
Proposals should be submitted via fax or e-mail to:
US Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office, G-17J
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
Proposals in length not exceeding 20 pages will be evaluated
against the above criteria. Applicants seeking additional
information regarding the project may contact the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office.
Proposals are due at the above address by close of business
November 20, 1997 |
