FY 2004 - 2005 Great Lakes National Program Office Funding Guidance

Draft List of Proposals FY 2004 - 2005

Proposal Submission Software Update Available!

USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office
FY2004-2005 Funding Guidance

Contents

Overview

1. Funding Opportunity Description
   1. Contaminated Sediments
   2. Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction
   3. Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, including Habitat Conferences
   4. Invasive Species
   5. Strategic or Emerging Issues
   6. Other LaMP/RAP Priorities
2. Award Information
3. Eligibility and Matching
4. Application and Submission (including examples from previous years)
5. Application Review (including general criteria, review process, and schedule)
6. Award Administration
7. Agency Contacts
8. Other Information

Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting Initial Proposals for projects, collectively totaling up to $4,180,000, furthering protection and clean up of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Projects should address Contaminated Sediments, Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction, Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, Invasive Species, Strategic or Emerging Issues, and Other Lakewide Management Plan or Remedial Action Plan (LaMP/RAP) Priorities.

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity for the Great Lakes Program under Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 66.469.

The deadline for all Initial Proposals is 8:00 AM Central time, Monday morning, March 29, 2004.

Applicants should submit Initial Proposals using the PSS2004 software available from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/2004guid/ . We request that you go to this website and register with us now, so that we can keep you informed about our funding process.

I.  Funding Opportunity Description  

With this FY2004-2005 Funding Guidance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA’s) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting Initial Proposals for Great Lakes projects addressing the following topics: Contaminated Sediments, Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction, Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, Invasive Species, Strategic or Emerging Issues, and Other Lakewide Management Plan or Remedial Action Plan (LaMP/RAP) Priorities. Although projects of “particular interest” will receive special consideration in evaluations, any Initial Proposal meeting the applicable criteria will be considered and may be selected. Applicants seeking more funding under existing awards should apply through this process. Descriptions of each topic, priorities within the topics, projects of particular interest, targeted amounts, and criteria follow. Estimates of dollar amounts and numbers of projects are included as planning targets. The actual amounts and numbers may differ substantially as described in Section II - Award Information. Amounts, Targets, and Number of Projects.

A.  Contaminated Sediments - $1,100,000 targeted for 5 to 12 projects. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals for funding, technical support, and vessel support to assist contaminated sediment work in priority geographic areas in the Great Lakes

GLNPO's emphasis and ultimate objective is to assist in bringing about remediation of contaminated sediments at these sites. GLNPO will not fund basic research focusing on the development of technologies for treating contaminated sediments.

Projects of Particular Interest. We are particularly interested in the following projects:

Top priority will be given to projects which will fill information or other gaps essential to achieving sediment remediation in the Areas of Concern (AOCs), pursuant to the Great Lakes Legacy Act, such as:

• sediment assessments to support the development of remedial alternatives.
• conduct evaluations of remedial alternatives for sites moving toward remediation.
• conduct source identification/source control projects.

A limited number of additional projects will be considered, if funding is available, including projects not at AOCs. These additional projects should include an education outreach component and include:

• sediment assessments [chemical (including Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy priority pollutants), physical, biological] to better map contamination at a site.
• those which determine economic benefits of conducting sediment remediation.
• data collection projects to support a review of the short-term and long-term effects of remedial alternatives on human health and the environment
• beneficial re-use of sediments, including associated human and ecological risk.
• monitoring/assessment projects focusing on post-remedial investigations.
• on the ground sediment remediation.
• demonstrations of innovative sediment treatment technologies and innovative sediment assessment techniques.
• those which lead to the setting of delisting targets for identified beneficial use impairments in AOCs related to contaminated sediment impacts.
   

Project Selection Criteria. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the prioritization described above, the General Criteria, and the following Specific Criteria:

• Identification above as a particular interest.
• Availability and assessment of baseline conditions for remediation projects.
• Likelihood that remedial measures, including enforcement, will result.
• Public outreach component of activity.

Contact: Marc Tuchman (312) 353-1369

B.  Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction - $500,000 targeted for 8-15 projects. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals for pollution prevention, reduction or elimination projects, with an emphasis on substances which are persistent and toxic, especially those which bioaccumulate, in the Great Lakes basin.

Projects of Particular Interest. We are particularly interested in the following projects:

• Source characterization: Assessment of potential sources of persistent toxic substances.

• Indicators of progress toward virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances.

• Proper disposal of persistent toxic substances.

• Foster adoption of innovative products that would reduce the use and release of persistent toxic substances and that are consistent with the principles of EPA’s Environmentally-Preferable Purchasing Program (see http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp ).

• Implementation of projects/actions delivering toxic reductions/pollution prevention in sectors targeted by the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS). Expected environmental outcomes must be quantified.

• Foster adoption of green technologies. In this context, green technology involves reducing or eliminating the use or generation of persistent toxic substances - including feedstocks, reagents, solvents, products and byproducts-during design, manufacture and use of chemical products and processes.

• Outreach to achieve source reductions from targeted sectors or groups, e.g., designing a campaign for educating the XX industry on ways to reduce usage and releases of YY chemical.

• Develop Great Lakes Basin-wide burn barrel outreach materials which target multiple user groups. Project should consider the best ways to disseminate materials to rural communities, in consultation with user organizations (e.g., LaMP Forums).

• Support for development of delisting targets for identified beneficial use impairments in AOCs related to fish and wildlife consumption, fish tumors or other deformities, and bird or animal deformities or reproductive problems.

The specific needs and priorities of Lakewide Management Plans and geographic initiatives such as the Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern will be considered in evaluations, particularly:

• Lake Erie and St.Clair/Lake St. Clair/Detroit River basins. Projects addressing the chemicals associated with the beneficial use impairments as identified by the Lake Erie LaMP (PCBs, mercury, PAHs, lead, chlordane, dioxins, DDE/DDT, mirex) with priority given to projects (i) involving PCBs and mercury or (ii) which reduce the release of atrazine to the waters of Lake Erie, or (iii) encourage POTWs to coordinate, on a watershed basis, the development of Pollutant Minimization Programs, and activities to identify and reduce mercury loadings from various sectors.
   
• Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River and Niagara River basins. Projects which:

1. address pollutants identified in the 1998 Stage I Lake Ontario LaMP (PCBs, DDTs, mercury, mirex, dieldrin, and dioxins), and emerging toxics such as PBDE as well as projects along the Niagara River which address the priority toxics identified in the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan.
2. reduce mercury or other pollutants by building upon, or initiating projects similar in concept to auto mercury switch/ thermometer replacement; mercury collections from medical facilities; or electronic equipment collections;
3. reduce pesticides through clean sweeps;
4. demonstrate innovative technologies for control of pollutant loadings from the watershed; or
5. encourage “Green Marinas.”

• Lake Michigan Basin. Innovative, demonstration projects which:

1. demonstrate innovative technologies for control of pollutant loadings from a watershed assessment plan.
2. address dioxin and other pollutants formed from "burning trash in barrels."
3. further agricultural clean sweep efforts.
4. collect and/or phase out PCB and Mercury, including urban clean sweeps.
5. prevent pollution from pesticides, including substitution or reduction projects, with priority given to atrazine.
6. incremental steps toward virtual elimination of PCB and mercury in lieu of a traditional TMDL for Lake Michigan.

• Lake Superior Basin. Projects which characterize and reduce sources of Lake Superior critical pollutants in the Lake Superior Basin and otherwise address the main joint priorities of the Lake Superior Workgroup and the Lake Superior Forum. These include projects which:

1. address the top mercury commitments of the LaMP, including workshops; education/outreach; abandoned white goods containing mercury and PCBs; and taconite mercury treatability.
2. address other LaMP mercury commitments such as mercury reduction of the main sources of environmental release in the Lake Superior basin: energy production (electric utility sector), taconite mining and ore processing, mercury releases at wastewater treatment facilities, and mercury releases from landfills, in order to meet the chemical load reduction schedules set in the Lake Superior Stage II LaMP document.
3. enhance burn barrel outreach and education, especially in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
4. otherwise address the chemicals identified as critical pollutants; PCBs, dioxins, DDT and metabolites, toxaphene, chlordane, aldrin/dieldrin, mercury, hexachlorobenzene and octachlorostyrene.
5. address in-basin load estimates of mercury, dioxin and hexachlorobenzene that have a low degree of confidence but may represent a significant portion of the load from the Stage 2 and 3 inventories (e.g., small incinerators, treated wood or mercury products in the solid waste stream, and mercury release from landfills and solid waste transfer stations).
6. provide demonstration projects that significantly reduce non-point loadings of critical and other pollutants originating from the development of previously undeveloped land such as new parking lots and highway construction.
7. address the long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants to Lake Superior, especially those projects developed in conjunction with other international efforts - i.e., the United Nations Committee for Environmental Cooperation.

• Lake Huron basin. Priority pollutants for Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction efforts in Lake Huron include those causing beneficial use impairments in Areas of Concern -- especially PCBs, Chlordane, Dioxin, and Mercury -- but also including PAHs, heavy metals, and other compounds identified in the Saginaw River/Bay and St. Marys River RAPs. Initial Proposals are also requested that demonstrate innovative approaches to address the long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants to Lake Huron.

Project Selection Criteria. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the General Criteria and the following Specific Criteria:

• Identification above as a particular interest.
• Includes an evaluation of the potential reductions of pollutants in the environment
• Jointly targets common goals under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and the LaMPs.

Contact: Ted Smith (312) 353-6571

Further information: Please see http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/p2.html

C.  Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals for the two types of Habitat projects described below.

C.1. General Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration. $875,000 targeted for 8 to 18 projects. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals for projects that demonstrate practices and tools for protecting and restoring aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland ecosystems. Acquisition projects will not be considered. Basinwide projects having large-scale ecological implications for the Great Lakes ecosystem, and multi-organizational, binational partnerships are encouraged. Regional projects must be consistent with Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) priorities described below, with Tribal priorities, or with regional ecological protection and restoration planning effort priorities. Local or site-specific projects must implement techniques that demonstrate protection and restoration measures or the need for standard protection and restoration techniques, and define expected outcomes.

Projects of Particular Interest. The following projects at the basinwide, regional, and local scales are of particular interest:

BASINWIDE:

• Organize a multi-organizational, binational partnership that proposes to begin protection and restoration activities on an ecosystem currently lacking overarching, strategic management. Components of the project could include species and ecological community inventories, conducting ecological assessments, building on State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) indicators, monitoring, or strategic planning. The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Consortium (http://www.glc.org/wetlands/)and the International Alvar Initiative (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ecopage/shore/alvars/)  are two examples of existing GLNPO-funded multi-organizational partnerships. Examples of ecosystem types currently lacking overarching, strategic management are sand dunes, inland wetlands and nearshore aquatic habitats.
  
  
• Organize a multi-organizational, binational partnership to address habitat fragmentation as it relates to species and ecological community movement in response to climatic changes and/or land use pressures.

REGIONAL:

Lake Erie Basin

• Refine or develop indicators for species and habitats in Lake Erie and its AOC's.
• Support implementation of the draft Lake Erie LaMP Habitat strategy, available at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/2004guid/lelamp_hab.pdf
• Support protection and restoration of habitat in Lake Erie AOC's.

Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River Basin, Niagara River Basin

• Assessment and Prioritization of Habitat Issues - Up to $50,000 targeted for 1 -2 projects that will complement ongoing U.S. LaMP efforts to identify and prioritize significant habitat issues. These proposed projects should take maximum advantage of existing reports and studies with the aim of developing concrete proposals for specific actions. Initial Proposal development should include involvement of local and state governments.
  
  
• Assessing Feasibility of Dam Removals -Up to $50,000 targeted for 1-2 projects. Develop feasibility study for the removal of a specific dams in New York State to allow upstream fish passage. Consideration of fish ladders or other means to mitigate impassable barriers may also be considered. Initial Proposals should have strong local government support and involve government environmental and natural resource agencies. The emphasis should be on project implementation. Projects should not require significant research such as assessment of upstream and downstream fish populations. The final project deliverable will provide an assessment of the impacts and benefits related to the removal of a dam as well as a detailed workplan and budget for the removal project. The Lake Ontario LaMP would work with local governments to locate implementation funding.
  
  
• Mitigating Impacts of Lake-Level Controls - Up to $50,000 targeted for 1-2 projects. Develop feasibility study to implement projects to mitigate the impacts that artificial lake level controls have had on New York State coastal wetlands. Initial Proposals would evaluate the use of weirs or other approaches to restore the functionality of coastal wetlands that have been altered due to the decreased range of water levels experienced since lake level controls were put in place. Initial Proposals should have strong local government support and involve government environmental and natural resource agencies. The emphasis should be on project implementation. The final project deliverable will provide an assessment of the impacts and benefits related to the mitigation project as well as a detailed workplan and budget. The Lake Ontario LaMP would work with local governments to locate implementation funding.

Lake Michigan Basin

• Development of a component leading to a watershed-wide biodiversity plan like the Chicago Wilderness plan.
• Implementation of a watershed biodiversity recovery plan.
• Identification of a protection plan for species reliant on ground and surface water.
• Activities to restore/protect wetlands and other nearshore preserves important to the health and spawning of Lake Michigan aquatic species.
• Protect and restore rare ecosystems (such as dunes, swales, and alvars).
• Providing GIS layer of lakewide habitat data and/or ground water/surface water exchange.

Lake Superior Basin

• Protect or restore stream/tributary habitat so as to produce a healthy tributary environment, including the restoration of both the land and water interface. Projects should be connected to a monitoring and evaluation project.
• Promote the achievement of Great Lakes Fishery Commission fish community objectives, including the identification of critical habitat for key fish species which will allow development of quantitative goals for self-sustaining fish stocks; and the development of a standardized monitoring program to evaluate the status of the pelagic fish community of Lake Superior.
• Implement multi-jurisdictional restoration or protection watershed or forest stewardship management plan recommendations.

• Restore lost or degraded ecological components or processes in Lake Superior forest communities.

• Protect or restore rare ecological communities (i.e., pine barrens).
• Establish representative, protected baseline areas (Research Natural Areas) of the ecosystems around the Basin.

Lake Huron Basin

• On-the-ground efforts to restore natural tributary flows and increase available fish spawning habitat.
• Strategic, watershed-scale approaches to the quantification and prioritization of coastal wetland management and protection activities in Saginaw Bay, consistent with RAP delisting criteria.
• Assessment of off-shore reef habitat in Saginaw Bay and Tawas.

LOCAL:

• Implement techniques that demonstrate on-the-ground habitat protection or restoration in a particular locale.
• Show that habitat will actually be protected or restored at a particular site.
• Define the relationship of the project to regional protection and restoration efforts.
• Make an effort to include stakeholders in project planning or implementation.
• Strategically lead to AOC restoration, including assistance in setting delisting targets, for the following identified beneficial use impairments: degradation of fish and wildlife populations and loss of fish and wildlife habitat.

Project Selection Criteria. GLNPO’s evaluation process will seek a balance among basinwide, regional, and local projects. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the General Criteria and the following Specific Criteria:

• Identification above as a particular interest, either basinwide, regional, or local.
• Biological importance on a regional, basinwide or global scale.
• Project activities will test new techniques or approaches to ecological protection and restoration.
• Positive impact of the expected environmental results identified by the applicant.
• Effectiveness of education and outreach component.
• Potential for formation of new, multi-organizational, binational partnership(s).
• A significant number of acres of aquatic, riverine, wetland, and terrestrial habitat is protected or restoration efforts begun.

Contact: Karen Rodriguez (312) 353-2690
 

C.2.  Habitat (Ecological) Conferences and Printing. $75,000 targeted for 15 to 25 projects. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals for conferences, workshops, meeting, and educational materials which address Great Lakes ecological protection and restoration issues, information, and/or actions.

Individual Project Amounts / Budget Period. Each Initial Proposal may be up to $5,000 and should have a budget period of one year or less. Initial Proposals in excess of $5,000 will be rejected.

Project Selection Criteria. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the General Criteria and the following Specific Criteria:

• Consistency of the theme with this request.
• The conference, workshop, meeting or production of educational material includes participants from as wide a variety of agencies and organizations as appropriate.
• Results of the conference, workshop, meeting, or the printed educational material, are to be made available to an appropriate audience in a timely manner.
• Potential to advance government and private partnerships and community involvement.

Contact: Karen Rodriguez (312) 353-2690
 

D.  Invasive Species - $100,000 targeted for 2 to 4 projects. GLNPO requests Initial Proposals to address invasive (non-indigenous) aquatic and terrestrial species in the Great Lakes Basin with an emphasis on prevention.

Projects of Particular Interest. We are particularly interested in the following projects, with the highest priority given to the first two topic areas:

1. Development and demonstration of strong and innovative programs to prevent the introduction of new invasive species (aquatic or terrestrial) into the Great Lakes Basin.
2. Development and demonstration of strong and innovative programs to control the spread of invasive species within and from the Great Lakes Basin.
3. Documenting ecological impacts of invasive species on the Great Lakes Basin food web.
4. Documenting the economic impacts or potential economic impacts of invasive species already in the Great Lakes Basin.
5. Identification of chemical, physical, and biological conditions that promote the establishment of invasive species.
6. Development of innovative education/outreach projects.
7. Monitoring and follow-up on past exotic controls.

Project Selection Criteria. GLNPO's evaluation will consider priorities associated with invasive species for geographic areas within the Great Lakes, particularly those of Lakewide Management Plans; however, as funding for this category is limited, emphasis will be placed on projects of Great Lakes Basin-wide applicability. Education/Outreach projects are eligible. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the prioritization described above, the General Criteria, and the following Specific Criteria:

• Identification above as a particular interest.
• Potential for project to benefit the Great Lakes ecosystem.
• Transferability across the Great Lakes Basin and beyond.
• Potential to advance government and private partnerships and community involvement.

Contact: Marc Tuchman (312) 353-1369

E.  Strategic or Emerging Issues - $120,000 targeted for 4 to 8 projects. In order to better fulfill its mission under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, GLNPO is requesting innovative Great Lakes environmental projects which deal with strategic or emerging issues of basin-wide importance.

We expect that projects in this area would:

• not fit neatly under other existing GLNPO funding categories (i.e. Contaminated Sediments, Pollution Prevention, Ecological Protections and Restoration, Invasive Species, or the specific Initial Proposals requested for LaMP and RAP implementation) but might contain elements of one or more of those categories;
• address assessment, causes and/or effects of chemical or biological pollutants not in the regulatory “mainstream;”
• cut across or overlap two or more of the foregoing areas; or
• address some other unanticipated area.

Projects of Particular Interest. We especially encourage projects which identify and propose solutions/mitigation for strategic or emerging issues of Great Lakes Basin-wide applicability. Areas of particular interest include:

• Chemicals of potential environmental concern such as polybrominated flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors.
• Documentation and investigation of causes and effects of observed changes in components of the Great Lakes ecosystem (for example, population estimates, nutrient loads; changes in lower food web assemblages, including Mysis, Diporeia, benthos and plankton; and effects of these changes on the lake fisheries).
• Quantify and/or assess the connection between environmental contamination directly related to Great Lakes water quality and human health.
• Social and economic issues affecting Great Lakes management and environmental decision-making.
• Harnessing the innovation of market forces in environmental protection via air or water emissions trading.
• Conferences, workshops, and meetings whose theme addresses strategically important issues under the under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) and/or the 2002 Great Lakes Strategy.
• Projects that facilitate linking Federal, State, Tribal, and/or local efforts to integrate and update strategic priorities and help align programs and actions needed to plan for and implement Great Lakes restoration progress.

Project Selection Criteria. Initial Proposals described in this request will be evaluated using the General Criteria and the following Specific Criteria:

• Identification above as a particular interest.
• Strategic importance and timeliness.
• Potential to further the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
• Potential to achieve progress under the Great Lakes Strategy.
• Transferability across the Great Lakes Basin and beyond.

Contacts: Paul Horvatin (312) 353-3612; Michael Russ (312) 886-4013
 

F. Other LaMP/RAP Priorities - $795,000 targeted for 14 to 42 projects. USEPA has worked extensively with States, Tribes, and other partners in development and implementation of the Lakewide Management Plans and Remedial Action Plans. USEPA is now requesting Initial Proposals for projects which advance Lakewide Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan implementation and development.

The updated Lakewide Management Plans are available at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/gl2000/lamps/index.html

Information about Remedial Action Plans is available from:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/index.html

Funding for some LaMP/RAP “program implementation awards for Great Lakes States” is not included in this Funding Guidance pursuant to a January 8, 2004 exemption from USEPA’s Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements. USEPA will contact States separately to discuss assistance pursuant to this exemption.

Projects of Particular Interest. USEPA staff and LaMP and RAP partners have identified the following as projects of particular interest:

1. RAP Delisting Projects for the 31 US AOCs - $30,000 targeted for 1-3 projects which will lead to the setting of delisting targets for identified beneficial use impairments and/or delisting of individual AOCs. This includes projects which will help AOCs to set delisting targets for the Beneficial Use Impairments that apply to their AOC, and/or fund work to develop delisting documents, or to develop "how to" procedures for setting targets for each of the 14 Beneficial Use Impairments.

Contact: Mark Elster (312) 886-3857
 

2. Lake Ontario Projects totaling up to $850,000 for 6-21 projects, including: RAP Coordination; Contaminant Source Trackdown; Tributary Load Monitoring, Lake Ontario Mass Balance Model.

1. RAP Coordination/Management - Up to $500,000 total targeted for 1-3 projects over 5 years. Lake Ontario RAP coordination and oversight of the following New York State RAPs: Buffalo River; 18 Mile Creek; and Rochester Embayment. Initial Proposals may address more than one RAP. The Initial Proposal should specify the work that would be done incrementally over a 5 year period for a budget of up to $100,000 annually. The Initial Proposal should address the following tasks associated with the development and implementation of the RAP strategy(s), including:
   
   
   1. Tracking and coordination activities, e.g.,
      • development of RAP quarterly updates and annual RAP status reports that describe and track remediation efforts aimed at eliminating beneficial use impairments identified for each RAP and moving the AOC towards delisting;
      • organization of quarterly meetings of the remedial advisory committees and distribution of meeting minutes to USEPA, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Remedial Action Committee participants;
      • coordination of RAP activities with other Great Lakes programs such as the Lake Ontario LaMP and the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan; and,
      • coordination of RAPs with related organizations such as the International Joint Commission (IJC) and USEPA/GLNPO; participation and co-operation with any IJC RAP assessments as necessary.
        
        
   2. Undertake remediation and ecosystem restoration efforts aimed towards AOC delisting, including:
      • coordinate and implement the remediation of environmental problems as identified in the RAP;
      • coordinate and implement ecosystem restoration efforts as identified in the RAP; and,
      • periodically re-evaluate beneficial use impairments and adjust remediation strategies and ecosystem restoration efforts as necessary for the elimination of impairments and AOC delisting.
      
      
      
2. Contaminant Source Trackdown
   
   1. Up to $80,000 total targeted for 1-8 projects. Sampling related to the trackdown of contaminated sources in the Niagara River Basin. Recent biomonitoring data collected by NYSDEC (2002) and Ontario's MOE (2003) have indicated potential sources of contamination in selected tributaries/segments of the Niagara River. Initial Proposals are requested for further trackdown related sampling that can build on existing data and lead to contaminant source identification, trackdown and remediation, particularly on the following segments and contaminants:
      
      
      1. Cayuga Creek (upstream sources of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins/furans)
      2. Bergholtz Creek (upstream sources of PCBs, dioxins/furans)
      3. Gill Creek (upstream sources of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins/furans)
      4. Pettit Plume (sources of PCBs upstream)
      5. Gratwick Riverside Park Potential (sources of PCBs upstream)
      6. Little Niagara River near the 102nd Street Landfill (sources of dioxins/furans)
      7. Black Rock Canal (sources of PCBs)
      8. Little Niagara River above Cayuga Creek (sources of dioxins/furans)
         
         
   2. Up to $60,000 total targeted for 1-4 projects. Data synthesis of previous multi-media tributary sampling and remediation efforts. Several tributaries of the Niagara River (e.g., Gill Creek, 2-Mile Creek, Scajaquada Creek) have been the subject of extensive remedial efforts, including the sediment, water, and biota sampling related to trackdown efforts; remediation; and post-remediation evaluation. Initial Proposals are requested that would synthesis all available chemical, physical, and biological tributary data; summarize all remediation efforts; and develop spatial GIS maps that would identify pollutant hot spots; areas of past remediation; and previous sampling locations. Maps and data synthesis will be used to guide future trackdown-related sampling efforts.
      
      
3. Lake Ontario Mass Balance Model - Up to $60,000 for 1 project. Improve and evaluate modeling capabilities of LOTOX2. Initial Proposals are sought to compile, synthesize, and incorporate all recently-obtained priority pollutant data (atmospheric, water quality, sediment, and biota) into the Lake Ontario bioaccumulation model, LOTOX2, for the purposes of calibration confirmation, re-calibration and/or validating the model for each of the Lake Ontario priority pollutants. Following the re-calibration of LOTOX2, the proposers will then update the current documentation for LOTOX2 and subject the model, the model code, and the complete documentation to an outside peer review group of independent experts (selected by US EPA). Activities associated with the peer review process will include, but are not limited to: participation in a 2-day peer review workshop; providing written responses to all peer reviewer comments; and revising the model documentation, and model, as necessary to address peer-reviewer concerns.



4. Tributary Load Monitoring - Up to $100,000 total targeted for 1-4 projects. To support the Lake Ontario mass balance model, information on tributary loadings from the Oswego, Genessee and Salmon Rivers and 18 Mile Creek is needed for 6 critical Lake Ontario pollutants ( PCBs, Hg, dieldrin, DDT, mirex, dioxins/furans). Initial Proposals for monitoring should include:
   • the development of monitoring plans;
   • seasonal monitoring of Lake Ontario critical pollutants and tributary flows; and,
   • the calculation of seasonal and annual loadings of Lake Ontario critical pollutants.
   
   
   
5. GLWQI Implementation - Up to $50,000 for pilot projects that will develop or test new sampling, analytical or permit development approaches needed to fully achieve the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLWQI) through New York State's State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) program. Project results should have broad applicability to other locales and geographic areas so as to support the implementation of new SPDES requirements statewide.

Note: Lake Ontario Projects for Assessment & Prioritization of Habitat Issues, Assessing Feasibility of Dam Removals, and Mitigating Impacts of Lake-Level Controls are included in the Habitat solicitation.

Contact: Barbara Belasco (212) 637-3848. The LaMP is at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ontario.html

3.  Projects for Lakes Michigan, Erie, Superior, and Huron.  $530,000 targeted for 7-18 projects. The projects described below will have the highest priority, with others to be considered as funding is available.

1. LaMP/RAP Implementation through Facilitating Forum Stakeholders - 1-3 projects totaling up to $245,000, including facilitation of multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral, citizen’s groups or Fora that will undertake projects to implement LaMP commitments for Lakes Michigan, Erie, and/or Superior, and the RAPs within those Lake Basins. Binational LaMPs would require binational participation. The focus is on the implementation of high priority LaMP and RAP goals and commitments which will advance restoration of impaired beneficial uses. Projects should include public meetings held around the Basin for the express purpose of educating/ outreaching on specific issues of interest to the Lake stakeholder community and other outreach such as newsletters, web sites, and list serves.



2. Tribal LaMP and RAP Implementation - $130,000 targeted for 1 to 5 projects. LaMP and RAP implementation and coordination on behalf of Tribal interests pertaining to Lakes Michigan and Superior and their associated RAPs, with emphasis on addressing LaMP and RAP commitments for reduction of critical pollutants, and implementing top habitat, terrestrial, and aquatics commitments of the LaMP and RAPs. Projects should include active Tribal technical coordinating committee representation and participation; updating of websites; tracking and updating of LaMP and RAP progress; RAP liaison work; and coordination of LaMP or RAP related monitoring. Planning targets are: $20,000 for Lake Michigan and $110,000 for Lake Superior.



3. Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination - $25,000 targeted for 1 project. Enhance and facilitate Lake Michigan monitoring coordination by Lake Michigan States by facilitating the Lake Michigan Monitoring Coordination Council.



4. Lake Michigan Environmental Education Boat Tour - $15,000 targeted for 1 project. Enhance the public’s environmental appreciation and awareness of Lake Michigan environmental issues and priorities identified in the LaMP and at the FY03 State of Lake Michigan Conference. In addition to other information necessary to address the General Criteria, the project should provide for a research vessel docking at up to 10 Ports in Areas of Concern and specify how the applicant will leverage this funding through its activities and partnerships with local AOC groups.



5. Lake Michigan RAP / Tributary Monitoring - $60,000 total targeted for 1-6 projects. Local Monitoring projects at Lake Michigan tributary mouths would generate data points for a 10 year trend line for the Lake Michigan Mass Balance study and provide information needed for consideration of Area of Concern delisting. The project or projects must provide for coordinated, intensive one-year contaminant monitoring by Lake Michigan States. The existing monitoring assessment is at http://www.glc.org/monitoring/lakemich.



6. St. Louis River RAP Infrastructure - $35,000 targeted for 1 infrastructure support to implement recommendations from the St. Louis River RAP, with a special emphasis on the impact of stormwater on local water quality and quantity.



7. Lake Superior Stewardship - $20,000 targeted for a project to continue developing an education curriculum for high schools students on the stewardship of Lake Superior. Funding could be used to for further development of curriculum, development of educational software, and the development and implementation of an interactive website.

A limited number of additional projects will be considered under Section F.3, if funding is available, including:

• Watershed Training and Implementation - Recipient will utilize Lake Michigan Watershed Academy Training to facilitate or develop new “Academy” communities or Tribes for training or for implementing watershed plan components of the LaMP or RAP projects such as Burn Barrels, PCBs, Mercury Phaseouts, Tributary Buffers, or land use/habitat restoration. The Lake Michigan Watershed Academy training is modeled after general Watershed Academy training available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/.
  
  
• Additional Lake Michigan RAP / Tributary Monitoring projects. See above.

Contacts:

Lake Michigan: Judy Beck (312-353-3849 / beck.judy@epa.gov ). The LaMP is at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/michigan.html.

Lake Superior: Elizabeth LaPlante (312) 353-2694). The LaMP is at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakesuperior/index.html.

Lake Huron: James Schardt (312) 353-5085. The Lake Huron Initiative is at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/huron.html.

Lake Erie: Daniel O’Riordan (312) 886-7981. The LaMP is at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/erie.html.

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