Great Lakes Funding

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FY 2002 - 2003 Great Lakes National Program Office Request for Proposals / Funding Guidance

INTRODUCTION

This document contains brief summaries of the 83 Great Lakes environmental protection and restoration projects totaling $6.9 million funded by USEPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office in FY 2002. GLNPO has funded 692 projects totaling $77.7 million between 1993 and 2002.

About USEPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office

USEPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), located in Chicago, Illinois, has a staff of 40 and a budget of $15 million. GLNPO brings together Federal, state, tribal, local, and industry partners in an integrated, ecosystem approach to protect, maintain, and restore the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes. The program monitors Lake ecosystem indicators; manages and provides public access to Great Lakes data; helps communities address contaminated sediments in their harbors; supports local protection and restoration of important habitats; promotes pollution prevention through activities and projects such as the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS); and provides assistance for community-based Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern and for Lakewide Management Plans. Each year, GLNPO uses its funding to assist Great Lakes partners in these areas through grants, interagency agreements, and contracts.

The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) with Canada provide the basis for our international efforts to manage this shared resource. Additional responsibilities are defined in Section 118 of the Clean Water Act, Section 112 of the Clean Air Act Amendments, and the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990. The Great Lakes 5-Year Strategy, developed jointly by EPA and its multi-state, multi-Agency partners and built on the foundation of the GLWQA, provides the agenda for Great Lakes ecosystem management: reducing toxic substances; protecting and restoring important habitats; and protecting human/ecosystem species health.

GLNPO Funding

GLNPO makes "venture capital" available for important, innovative projects to protect and clean up the Great Lakes ecosystem. In the fall of 2000, mid-level environmental managers from Great Lakes State, Tribal, and Federal programs met in a Great Lakes Planning Meeting to discuss Great Lakes priorities and the criteria for projects to be funded by GLNPO in the upcoming year. That information was used in developing a Great Lakes Funding Guidance which was then used in a broad solicitation of Preproposals through direct mailings, notification in the Federal Register, and Internet posting and announcements.

The 2001-2002 Great Lakes Funding Guidance asked interested Applicants to submit short Preproposals for $3.15 million for Great Lakes projects in the areas of Contaminated Sediments, Pollution Prevention and Reduction (pursuant to the Binational Toxics Strategy), Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, Indicator Development, Invasive Species, and Strategic or Emerging Issues. Our criteria looked at whether projects: (i) State a Rationale/Relevance/Bias for Action, (ii) Have Scientific/Professional Merit, (iii) Demonstrate Innovativeness, (iv) Demonstrate Performance Capability, (v) Involve Diverse Stakeholders, (vi) Have its Geographic Scope within the Great Lakes Basin, (vii) Disseminate Results effectively, (viii) Outline an Appropriate Budget, (ix) Leverage additional resources, and (x) More closely match the mission of Other Funding Sources. Reviewers internal and external to USEPA evaluate the Preproposals. Evaluations take into account recommendations on specific needs and priorities of geographic areas within the Great Lakes.

In response, 124 applicants submitted 193 Preproposals, seeking $20 million in funding. On May 15th, 37 applicants were asked to submit 47 full proposals < <http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/2002fund/yeslist.html> > totaling $3.02 million.

The selected projects are from organizations located in Michigan (15 projects totaling $1,070,109), New York (10 totaling $574,968), Wisconsin (8 totaling $621,171), Illinois (3 totaling $344,000), Ohio (1 totaling $185,565), Minnesota (2 totaling $90,000), Indiana (3 totaling $98,988), Pennsylvania (1 totaling $5,000) and Canada (1 totaling $$40,000)
The selected projects were proposed by State Agencies (9 totaling $926,165), non-governmental organizations (15 totaling $881,503), universities (10 totaling $616,798), Federal Agencies or Research Centers (1 totaling $40,000), Special Purpose Districts (1 totaling $185,565), Tribal organizations (1 totaling $20,650), and Counties (3 totaling $94,120), Interstate Agency or Commission ( 3 totaling $150,000) and Municipality ( 4 totaling $115,000)

In all, GLNPO awarded $3,029,801 through awards for 47 projects as a result of the Funding Guidance. In addition, GLNPO issued awards for 36 projects totaling $ 3,893,603 for projects outside of the Funding Guidance process. In all, GLNPO issued awards for 83 projects totaling $6,923,404 in 2002. GLNPO makes reports and other products of this assistance accessible to the public via the Internet and other means.

Document Organization and Contacts

Projects described in this document are listed by category. Within each category, projects are listed according to the Great Lake most impacted by the project. Projects that address the issues of more than one lake are placed under the heading “Basin-wide or Multiple Basin.” The summary for each project includes the project’s name, EPA grant or Interagency Agreement number, the amount of funds granted, the recipient, the project period, and the USEPA-GLNPO project officer. Project-specific questions should be directed to the project officer at the telephone number given. General questions regarding this document or GLNPO funding should be directed to Michael Russ at 312-886-4013.

GLNPO contacts for the principal areas described in this document are:

Contaminated Sediments: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)
Pollution Prevention and Reduction: Edwin Smith (312-353-6571)
Habitat (Ecological) Protection: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)
Invasive Species: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)
Strategic or Emerging Issues: Paul Horvatin (312-353-3612)

We may also be contacted via e-mail using the convention: lastname.firstname@epa.gov <mailto:lastname.firstname@epa.gov>

We especially appreciate the efforts of Student Aide Elias Avalos in pulling this document together.

Emerging or Strategic Issues

Lake Michigan

Multi-beach Mapping and Modeling of E. coli (GL9850001-0: $50,000)
Recipient: City of Chicago Department of Environment
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: David Rockwell (312-353-1373)

A predictive forecasting model is proposed for beach closures based on information derived from the predictive models developed for 63rd Street Beach, extrapolated and integrated with beaches for Chicago, Racine, Gary, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The proposed models would be calibrated using Chicago Park District, City of Racine, City of Gary, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore data collected during summers of 2000-2003. Beaches will be hierarchically classified by their E. coli occurrence and abundance patterns, geometries, orientation and depth profiles.

Levels of PBDEs in Eggs of Wisconsin Cormorants (GL97512901-0: $15,171)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Vergel C. Santos (312-353-5627)

This project will investigate and conduct a study to determine the presence and levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) in double crested cormorant eggs taken from Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay due to potential bio-magnification of, and in ovo exposure to these organic compounds. Six cormorant eggs including archived eggs previously collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (between 25 and 40 eggs), will be analyze for PBDEs.

Lake Erie

Botulism E in Lake Erie: Ecology and Lower Food Web Transfer (GL975999-01-0: $49,599)
Recipient: SUNY-Fredonia
Project Period: 09/01/02 to 08/31/04
Project Officer: Melissa Hulting (312-886-2265)

This project will determine the environmental conditions that favor botulism Type E bacteria in Lake Erie and explore whether quagga mussels are altering bottom sediment conditions to favor C. botulinum growth. Analysis of environmental parameters, including water chemistry, algal biomass, and sediment and weather conditions, will be used to identify C. botulinum’s habitat preference. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) will be used to detect and identify strains of C. botulinum from samples of tissue (mussels and benthic invertebrates) and sediment. This research will help determine the source of the botulism outbreaks and the links between the microbial community and fish and waterbirds, which will help EPA and other partners address the problem.

Lake Superior

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether in the Lake Superior Watershed
Recipient: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Edwin T. Smith (312-353-6571)

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) proposes to assess the prevalence, potential for local sources and accumulation trends of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the St. Louis River Area of concern and western Lake Superior watershed. PBDEs are widely used as flame retardants and are environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative. Recent studies have shown that they are ubiquitous environmental contaminants in marine and freshwater environments. A Swedish trend study has estimated that concentrations of PBDEs in human milk have increased exponentially between 1972 and 1997. An assessment of PBDEs in the Western Lake Superior watershed and St. Louis River Area of Concern has not been conducted. This project will estimate the prevalence of PBDEs in surficial sediments and fish from the western arm of Lake Superior, the St. Louis River Area of Concern and an ambient lake in the Lake Superior watershed. Trends in PBDE accumulation in ambient and industrially-impacted locations will be examined by analyzing sediment cores from a remote lake and the Duluth-Superior Harbor.

Basin-wide

Toxicity and Estrogenic Activity of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) (GL975972-01-0: $36,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Melissa Hulting (312-886-2265)

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants whose concentrations are rapidly increasing in the environment, including the Great Lakes. The proposed research will:

Determine estrogenic activity of BDE-47 and BDE-99 using the E-screen assay, which uses MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Determine the acute and chronic toxicity of BDE-47 to the aquatic invertebrate, Ceriodaphnia dubia. NOAEL and LOAEL values and an acute to chronic ratio will be determined if possible.

Measure the concentration of PBDEs in sediments of the Sheboygan River Area of Concern

Measure the concentration of PBDEs in wastewater treatment plant and industrial effluents in the Sheboygan River AOC.

The toxicological portion of the project will provide data that will be helpful in determining possible future Great Lakes water quality criteria for PBDEs. Because concentrations of PBDEs in sediment have been shown to increase downstream of some industries and are high in sewage sludge, the Sheboygan River basin, with its history of plastics and furniture manufacturing, represents an ideal location to examine possible industrial and municipal sources of PBDEs to Lake Michigan.

Basin-wide

Great Lakes Research and Monitoring Metadata Inventory (GL97509301-0: $20,000)
Recipient: Great Lakes Commission
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Michael Russ (312-886-4013)

This project will provide resource managers with access to a Great Lakes research and monitoring inventory being developed in a separate project funded by the Joyce Foundation.

Recommendations for a Wisconsin Water Quality Trading Program (GL97522101-0: $20,00)
Recipient: Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Francis Anscombe (312-353-0201)

This project will assess experiences in Wisconsin with water quality trading programs and develop recommendations on trading guidelines that could be used to improve water quality as regards phosphorus in the Green Bay system. Wisconsin DNR does not have guidelines to support water quality trading. This project will develop ideas that could serve usefully as a policy tool to address phosphorus levels in Green Bay.

Invasive Species

Lake Michigan

Fen and Sedge Meadow Restoration and Maintenance (GL97558301-0: $59,994)
Recipient: Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: 10/001/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Duane Heaton (312-886-6399)

The project will document how the use of mechanical cutting and carefully targeted herbicide application can be used to supplement prescribed burning in the restoration and maintenance of fens and sedge meadows. Changes in plant communities will be documented through aerial and ground photography. Restoration costs in time and materials will be tracked and reported on a per acre basis for different restoration techniques. This will help natural area managers make sound decisions about the financial resources necessary to assure the continued survival of these natural communities.

Lake Erie

Review of Phragmites Control Methods (GL98535201-0: $5,000)
Recipient: Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority
Project Period:10/01/02 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: James Schardt (312-353-5085)

The goal of the project is to develop control strategies for a Phragmites infested urban wetland. Mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods will researched. Data and case studies will be collected. The investigation is intended to be applicable to the wetland restoration project within Presque Isle Bay in Pennsylvannia, but is expected to be relevant to other Phragmites infested wetlands in the Great Lakes basin. This award will provide a better understanding of methods to restore a wetland in an urban

Basin-wide

Project Title: Evaluation of an Aquatic Nuisance Species Dispersal Barrier (GL97539501-0: $84,000)
Recipient: University of Illinois
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)

The objective of this project is to evaluate and improve an experimental electric barrier designed to block the transfer of unwanted, invasive fish between the Mississippi and the Great Lakes basins. The barrier is intended to deter the impending upstream movement of the bighead and silver carp from the Illinois River into the Great Lakes and deter the downstream movement of fish species such as the ruffe and goby into the Mississippi basin. The project will assess the degree of fish movement across the electric barrier.

NIS Early Detection Systems (GL97509301-0: $80,000)
Recipient: Great Lakes Commission
Project Period: October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2004
Project Officer: Michael Russ (312-886-4013)

Project will develop guidelines and recommendations for a coordinated system to detect new invasions of nonindigenous aquatic species in the Lake Michigan Basin.

A Community Partnership Approach to Zebra Mussel Control (GL97524301-0: $20,100)
Recipient: Leelanau Conservancy
Project Period: 8/31/2002 to 8/30-2004
Project Officer: James Schardt (312-353-5085)

The project will provide insights into methodologies to estimate zebra mussel densities and their relationship to cyanobacterial blooms. The program will develop a novel approach to document zebra mussel population dynamics (and associated filtering potential) through underwater video, ground-truthed with SCUBA. Using an extensive historical water quality dataset (hydrolab profiles, total phosphorus determinations, nitrate nitrogen determinations, chlorophyll a determinations, secchi disk readings, and bottom sediment phosphorus determinations) and the zebra mussel population data , the researchers will quantify the influence of zebra mussels on inland lake water quality parameters. Completion of this work will also provide a functional template for other communities in the Great Lakes' Basin with low nutrient lakes that have a high recreational value and are encountering similar impacts from zebra mussels and cyanobacterial blooms.

Ecological (Habitat) Protection and Restoration

Lake Michigan

Ecology of Globally Rare Charophytes in Ephemeral Wetlands (GL97557801-0: $28,535)
Recipient: Purdue University
Project Period: 9/15/02 to 9/14/02
Project Officer: James Schardt (312-353-5085)

The goal of the current study is to examine the charophyte flora of 140 ponds and lakes in the southern Lake Michigan region and to correlate distribution with the ephemeral nature of habitat, presence of scuds, water chemistry, sediment type and associated flora. The southern Lake Michigan region has an incredibly rich variety of aquatic habitats including ephemeral and permanently inundated ponds with a range of sediment types and water chemistry types ranging from acidic to highly alkaline pH. This award will provide a better understanding of the ecology of these habitats and enable the formulation of conservation strategies for globally rare species.

Coaster Brook Trout Habitat Evaluation in East Grand Traverse Bay (GL97522001-0: $20,650)
Recipient: Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Project Period: 5/1/03 to 4/30/05
Project Officer: Sandra Hellman (312-353-5006)

Coaster brook trout were once present in immeasurable numbers and highly sought after in Grand Traverse Bay. To enhance declining fisheries the MDNR began stocking efforts in the 1960s and continued through the late 1980s but met with very limited success. Since that time there have been very few accounts of brook trout being taken anywhere in Grand Traverse Bay. While little is known about why these fisheries disappeared or failed to succeed, there are indications that inappropriate stocking site selection and/or over-fishing may have been a significant factor. Stocking programs may have targeted sites where spawning and nursery habitats were unsuitable or absent. Such programs may not have supported natural reproduction. This project will investigate coaster brook trout habitat spawning and nursery habitat availability and abundance in Grand Traverse Bay and subsequently the feasibility of implementing a coaster brook trout stocking effort in key sites within Grand Traverse Bay.

Habitat Protection at Indian Boundry Prairies (GL97513201-0: $35,000)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: E. Marie Phillips (312-886-6034)

Project Description: In collaboration with volunteers and academic and conservation partners, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is working to restore ecological processes and manage the Indian Boundary Prairies remnant prairie and wetland habitats. Additional resources are necessary to effectively restore 35 acres of degraded wet and mesic prairie tract. This two-year project will remove invasive and woody species from the 35-acre Markham East site, improving habitat for native plants and animals throughout the preserve. Invasive species that will be removed or controlled include: Canada thistle, reed canary grass, leafy spurge, garlic mustard, buckthorn and teasel.

Development of the Breeding Bird Indicator (GL97523301-0; $10,459)
Recipient: Save the Dunes Conservation Fund
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/03
EPA Project Officer: Duane Heaton (312-886-6399)

The project will further develop the SOLEC Breeding Bird Indicator by investigating established protocols for demographic parameters, and addressing feasibility issues associated with the indicator by comparing cost and labor requirements with the value of data yielded. The result will be a further refined Breeding Bird Indicator capable of reflecting the health of Great Lakes habitats for breeding birds.

Biodiversity Blitz 2002 (GL97591101-0: $5,995)
Recipient: Chicago Department of Environment
Project Period: 8/01/02 to 7/31/03
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

The project will provide funding for three meetings and the printing of fliers and data sheets for the City of Chicago Biodiversity Blitz event that will take place in the summer of 2002 in the Calumet region. Funding will also contribute to the publication of a Calumet Field Guide.

Indiana Coastal Workshop: Finding the Right Balance (GL97591401-0; $5,419)
Recipient: Save the Dunes Conservation Fund
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 4/30/04
Project Officer: Duane Heaton (312-886-6399)

This project will provide two workshops over the next 19 months to address emerging coastal issues in Indiana. The workshops will help coordinate activities and resources relating to environmental protection and sustainable economic development in Indiana’s Lake Michigan basin. Indiana’s 46 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline include the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes State Park, as well as the largest concentration of steel making, and other industrial uses, in the nation. Indiana is developing a Coastal Program under the Coastal Zone Management Program, and with many competing interests, this project will help find the right balance that is vital to provide a sustainable future.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan Annex to the Biodiversity Recovery Plan Project (GL97586301-0: $15,000)
Recipient: Lake Michigan Federation
Project Period: 05/01/02 to 04/30/03
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

This project will provide a plan for implementing the Chicago Wilderness biodiversity recovery goals in specific lakefront areas. Education and outreach will be used to build constituency for lakefront habitat protection.

Lake Erie

Support for Detroit River Conservancies and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (GL97581601-0: $50,000)
Recipient: Friends of the Detroit River
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: Duane Heaton (312-886-6399)

With this project, the Friends of the Detroit River (FDR) will form a coalition of interested organizations and individuals to support the recently designated Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. FDR will investigate the possibility of a new or existing conservancy to accept contaminated brownfield sites along the Detroit River and its tributaries. The project will also involve researching and reporting on the advantages and disadvantages of placing conservation easements on public and private properties. FDR will expand an existing USGS database of 104 river sites in need of protection, and incorporate inventoried and spatially referenced databases and thematic maps to identify unique and significant ecosystem features along the Detroit River and the major tributaries. FDR will work toward the long term desire of protecting these sites through public ownership or through ownership by an conservation-minded private sector.

Lake Superior

Lake Superior Riparian Protection (GL97523501-0: $70,112)
Recipient: Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 04/30/04
Project Officer: Danielle Green (312-886-7594)

The Central Lake Superior Land Conservancy will remediate and subsequently protect riparian habitats on five demonstration sites in Marquette County, Michigan. A key component of the grant will be wide spread promotion of the demonstration sites as examples of what private landowners can voluntarily accomplish to enhance the conservation values of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan.

GLIFWC Lake Superior Protection and Management Program - Increase. (X975412-01: $4,789)
Recipient: The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Project Period:10/01/00 to 09/30/02
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

This action provides an increase to EPA’s Coastal and Estuarine Management Grant No. X975412-01 to the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) in the amount of $4,789.00 for its project, “GLIFWC Lake Superior Protection and Management Program.” It will fund travel for training and technology transfer as part of EPA's charge to assist Tribes in fulfilling the objectives the Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan. It will enable representatives and staff of Tribal environmental organizations, and of GLIFWC in particular, to attend key training and technology transfer opportunities focusing on Lake Superior environmental issues that relate to habitat management, protection and restoration.

Northern Native Plant Propagation: Techniques and Education (GL97523401-0: $35,000)
Recipient: Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute of Northland College
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Danielle Green (312-886-7594)

The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute of Northland College will increase awareness of the importance of northern native plant restoration in northern mesic forest lands, increase the availability of native plants, and facilitate the appropriate use for restoration and revegetation purposes by individuals, businesses and agencies.

Lake Ontario

Eighteenmile Creek Environmental Design and Restoration(GL99515501-0: $50,000)
Recipient: County of Niagara New York
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Michael Russ (312-886-4013)

The project will begin restoration of the Eighteenmile Creek ecosystem. Eighteenmile Creek has been designated as an Area of Concern. Project funding will support construction of diverters to enhance fish spawning habitat, construction of crib walls, and the first phase of improving stream substrate for fish spawning success.

Niagara Frontier Conservation Initiative (GL97509601-0: $59,400)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy
Project Period: 10/1/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

The project will share information from the biological inventory of the species, natural habitats, and landscape setting of the Zoar Valley and Cattaraugus Creek watershed with potential conservation partners; use the inventory as the basis for a conservation plan that will involve local communities and public agencies and serve as the blueprint for preservation of aquatic and terrestrial resources; implement a landscape-scale conservation program in the Zoar Valley and Cattaraugus Creek watershed that will engage private landowners and other public and private partners in efforts to preserve the landscape; and contribute to efforts by partners to preserve ecoregional priority sites in the Niagara Frontier.

Lake Huron

Misery Bay Initiative, A Plan to Protect Coastal Ecosystems (GL97512201-0: $53,497)
Recipient: Northeast Michigan Council of Governments
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: James Schardt (312-353-5085)

The goal of the project is to help local governments establish protections for nearshore terrestrial ecosystems through a coordinated planning effort. The partnership includes governmental agencies, local government, land owners, industries, and conservation organizations. The process will include assessments of existing conditions, review of local planing and zoning, analysis of threats to ecological values, and development of strategies/recommendations for resource protection. This award will help promote the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes basin by providing a better understanding of ecological values of this important region and by promoting voluntary conservation activities.

Green Forum and Trails and Green ways Workshop for Southeast Michigan (GL975890-01: $5,000)
Recipient: Community Foundation
Project Period: 7/12/02 to 12/31/02
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

The conference activities in the workplan will bring together Southeast Michigan Great Lakes partners for the purpose of informing the public about green ways and ecological restoration projects taking place in the region. USEPA’s Great lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is a co-sponsor participating as a contributing partner with federal and state agencies to protect species and habitats.

Basin-wide

Invasive Plants: Global Issues Conferences (GL97519601-0; $5,000)
Recipient: Chicago Botanic Garden
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

The Chicago Horticultural Society will host the Invasive Plants: Global Issues and Local Challenges Conference October 27-30, 2002. This three day symposium will bring together scientists, conservation professionals, restoration professionals, and volunteer land stewards to discuss prevention and control of invasive plant species.

Design and Implement a Management Support System for Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands (GL97547303-0; $400,000)
Recipient: Great Lakes Commission
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
EPA Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

The project will continue the large-scale collaborative effort that will yield a management support system for Great Lakes coastal wetlands. This third phase will include research and development of a financial and human resource needs assessment for implementation of a long-term monitoring plan, the development of an implementation strategy, the development of a monitoring database and maintenance plan, and training to implement the above. Work will build upon project years one and two, which has included the adoption of a geomorphic wetlands classification, indicator development, long-term monitoring design options, and a Great Lakes coastal wetland inventory. The Coastal Wetland Consortium is multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, and binational in composition.

Coaster Brook Trout Management and Rehabilitation Conference (GL9758201-0: $20,000)
Recipient: Trout Unlimited
Project Period: 05/01/02 to 04/30/04
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

This project will organize and host a basinwide coaster brook trout rehabilitation conference to gather all researchers, managers, and involved organizations to share the results of research and management projects. The conference will feature presentations and updates of all the work that has occurred to date, a discussion of the lessons learned, and planning and strategy sessions to coordinate pursuing future initiatives. The objectives are to share management results, refine a lake wide strategy, promote collaboration, provide a forum, and publish proceedings that will be widely distributed.

Wetland Conservation in the Great Lakes using GIS (GL99534901-0: $136,695)
Recipient: Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/31/04
Project Officer: John Schneider (312-886-0880)

Current wetland conservation practices in the Great Lakes ecosystem are opportunistic in nature and often lack connectivity with other practices across the region. Ducks Unlimited Inc. plans to address this issue using GIS analysis and tools to target wetland and upland habitat protection and retoration areas having the greatest need and most positive impact over time. The final product will be an Internet enabled system to 1) view, analyze and target conservation projects and 2) map and track these projects in the Great Lakes States.

Implementing the Marsh Monitoring Program across the Great Lakes Basin (GL97582201-0: $97,590 )
Recipient: Great Lakes United
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: John Schneider (312-886-0880)

The objectives of the Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) are as follows:

Monitoring relative abundance and occurrence of marsh birds and anurans (i.e. frogs and toads) over time on a variety of spatial scales.
Investigate habitat associations of marsh birds and anurans.
Contribute to the assessment of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) with respect to marsh bird and anuran presence and abundance.
Increase awareness of marsh bird, anuran and wetland conservation issues through volunteer participation and communication to the public, scientist and regulators.
Develop new relations and strengthen existing relations with other Great Lakes wetland monitoring programs.
Identify gaps and increase MMP route coverage in Various Great Lakes Basin regions, especially in the United States and in the Lake Superior basin.
Develop marsh-bird and anuran-specifics SOLEC indicators for evaluating wetland condition.

US Fish and Wildlife Services Liaison to GLNPO (DW-14-94795901-1: $90,000)
Recipient: U.S. Department of Interior - Fish & Wildlife Service
Project Period: 06/01/01 to 09/30/02
Project Officer: David Cowgill (312)353-3576

This agreement contributes to the salary of a U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) liaison to facilitate coordination between USEPA and USFWS programs. The individual will also contribute ideas to the development of environmental indicators, in support of the SOLEC process.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Ecosystem Restoration Symposium (DW-12-94803801-0: $14,600)
Recipient: USDA Forest Service
Project Period: 08/01/02 - 07/31/03
Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez (312-353-2690)

This agreement provides funds to the USDA Forest Service to conduct a symposium on traditional ecological knowledge and ecosystem restoration at the joint annual meetings of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration. It will highlight projects from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico where traditional knowledge is a critical components of the recovery strategy across a variety of ecosystems.

Monitoring

Lake Erie

Investigating Mechanisms and Extent of Internal Phosphorus Loading in support of Modeling (GL97590101-0: $272,052)
Recipient: Case Western Reserve/University of Windsor
Project Period: 4/01/02 to 3/31/04
Project Officer: Glen Warren (312-886-2405)

Recent observations by various investigators have found that i) biomass of phytoplankton (Chlorophyll a) in the central and eastern basins is at historically low levels, despite the fact that ii) concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) have been increasing over the past 5 years, even though iii) TP loadings to Lake Erie have not risen; iv) central basin oxygen demand has not changed through the 1990s, and v) central basin hypolimnial oxygen depletion continues to occur. Such patterns are inconsistent with predictions and dynamics of models of internal lake function originally developed to guide management of Lake Erie’s nutrient budget. These observations may represent situations that have naturally occurred at times prior to monitoring records. Alternatively, they may reflect consequences of novel environmental and biological pressures modifying energy and nutrient flow through the ecosystem.

Logistics Support for Survey of Dissolved Oxygen in Central Lake Erie (DW14947831-01-4: $7,670)
Recipient: U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division
Project Officer: Paul Bertram (312-353-0153)

One of the goals of phosphorus controls in the Great Lakes, as set out in Annex 3 of the GLWQA, is the “Restoration of year-round aerobic conditions in the bottom waters of the Central Basin of Lake Erie.” This IAG assists GLNPO to annually monitor the bottom waters of Lake Erie to assess if the GLWQA goal is being met. The study objectives are to measure the profiles of dissolved oxygen and temperature from the surface to the bottom of the central basin of Lake Erie at 10 sites during the third or fourth week in August, 1997 - 2001 (already completed under the original Agreement), and in 2002 (this extension). The R/V Musky II, belonging to USGS, will be used to visit the sampling stations. The R/V Musky II is needed for these surveys because EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian is scheduled to be elsewhere during this critical time-dependent survey. Vertical profiles of dissolved oxygen and temperature will be obtained by a SeaBird (brand) remote sensing CTD unit equipped with a Beckman (brand) dissolved oxygen sensor. This instrument has been used successfully by U.S. EPA for the purpose stated from the R/V Lake Guardian.

Basin-wide

Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network Quality Assurance and Quality Control Program (GL975179-02-1: $6,500)
Recipient: Environment Canada
Project Period: 10/01/01 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: Melissa Hulting (312-886-2265)

The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) collaborates with Environment Canada to implement the binational Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) as mandated by the GLWQA and Section 112(m) of the Clean Air Act. This amendment supplements Canadian support for a Peer Review of the IADN program. The IADN Steering Committee will be conducting the review with a panel of experts in conjunction with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah in November 2002. The goal of this activity is to collect expert opinion in order to ensure that network results and research are of high quality and relevant to the public domain. This complements and builds upon quality assurance activities funded previously under Cooperative Agreements GL975179-01-0 and -02-0.

Project Title: Trends in Great Lakes Fish Contaminants (GL97524202-0: $299,154)
Recipient: University of Minnesota
Project Period: 10/1/2002 to 9/30/2004
Project Officer: Sandy Hellman (312-353-5006)

Specifically, this assistance will provide information on the concentrations of toxic organic contaminants in lake trout, walleye, salmon, and rainbow trout that have been collected for the Great Lakes Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program. The University of Minnesota will provide analytical chemistry support and general scientific input to the program. This project is directed toward the impacts of water contaminants on the Great Lakes fishery and the potential human exposure to contaminants through consumption of popular sport species. Composites of whole fish (lake trout and walleye) and fillets (salmon and rainbow trout) collected in 2001 will be analyzed for percent lipid, PCB congeners, toxaphene homologs, pesticides, and other contaminants as listed in the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by U.S. EPA-GLNPO in 1999. In addition, analyses of contaminants not on the original RFP list, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated napthalenes (PCNs), dioxins and furans, mercury, and PBB-153 will be analyzed. These substances were added in response to a March 2001 workshop on Emerging Contaminants funded through a prior grant. The University will help GLNPO and the other members of the GLFMP with data analysis and interpretation of long term contaminant trends, which will build upon trend analyses performed in previous years in the Great Lakes Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program.

Project Title: Monitoring of Great Lakes Plankton and Benthos (GL97549701-1: $569,424)
Recipient: University of Wisconsin-Superior
Project Period: 04/01/01 to 06/04/03
Project Officer: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)

This project will provide an assessment of the nature, extent and ecological significance of the plankton and benthic communities in the Great Lakes. Biological samples will be collected and analyzed from 72 stations in the Great Lakes basin in spring and summer. Following sample collection; sample analysis, statistical analysis and interpretation of the data will be conducted to determine changes in community composition that may be linked to changes in water quality of the Great Lakes. Information will be summarized in reports, presentations and Internet documents.

Deposition of Toxic Organic Compounds to the Great Lakes: The Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (GL995656-04-1: $663,916)
Recipient: Indiana University
Project Period: 10/31/02 to 10/30/03
Project Officer: Melissa Hulting (312-886-2265)

This amendment will provide funds for continued implementation of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) as mandated by Annex 15 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The IADN is a binational network made up of 5 master stations (one per Great Lake) and 10 satellite stations. Atmospheric samples of rain, vapor, and particles are taken and analyzed for pesticides and other persistent organic pollutants. The results are used by the recipient and the IADN Steering Committee to calculate loadings of these substances to the Great Lakes and examine trends over time and across the Great Lakes basin, as well to publish the findings.

Collection and Analysis of Water Samples from the Great Lakes for Inorganic Chemicals (DW 75-94799601-0: $151,708)
Recipient: Federal Occupational and Health Services
Project Period: March 1, 2001 to February 28, 2002
Project Officer: Glen Warren (312-886-2405)

This project which will continue the long term chemical monitoring that is part of the mandate for the Great Lakes National Program Office. The Public Health Service Laboratory in Chicago will provide analytical capability as well as sample collection assistance of water samples from all of the Great Lakes. Samples will be analyzed for total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, silica, nitrate-nitrite nitrogen and chloride. The water quality monitoring program has been in place since 1983, with some changes over the years. This agreement will continue the monitoring effort with assured high quality data which will be used for ecosystem health assessment, and tracking of trends.

Contaminated Sediments

Lake Michigan

Grand Calumet Area of Concern (GL97510701-0 : $102,841)
Recipient: Michigan State University
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Demaree Collier (312-353-9184)

The grantee proposes to provide technical assistance to the general public, local government and other stakeholders on the remediation of contaminated sediments in the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal (IHC) and in the Grand Calumet River (GCR), in and near the cities of Hammond, East Chicago and Gary, Indiana. The technical assistance will focus on promoting community participation in decisions concerning three major proposed dredging operatoins. The applicants propose to develop educational materials, review technical documents, participate in discussions about monitoring related to the dredging projects, provide feedback on the next steps in the risk assessment, and conduct workshops to promote citizen involvement in the decision making.

Manitowoc River Basin PCB Contaminated Sediment Cleanup (GL975946-01-0 : $150,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

This assistance agreement will provide for the remediation of approximately 5,000 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediments and flood-plain sediments from the Pine Creek watershed, a tributary to the Manitowoc River and Lake Michigan. The project will remediate extremely high levels of PCB contamination (>200 ppm) from the Great Lakes watershed and serve to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Water column PCB concentrations at the site are some of the highest ever measured in the state of Wisconsin. A variety of remedial options are being considered to address the sediment contamination, and GLNPO funds will be used as part of a public-private partnership to implement the selected remedial option.

Delta Institute Gary Riverfront Revival: A Model Development Plan (GL97595701-0 : $150,000)
Recipient: Delta Institute
Project Period: 09/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Demaree Collier (312-353-9184)

The grantee will implement a model planning process for redevelopment plans to optimize the economic benefits of the sediment remediation project performed by U.S. Steel Gary Works along a five mile stretch of the Grand Calumet River in Indiana. They will analyze the potential economic opportunities from sediment remediation and river restoration, and will work with the community to create a plan to maximize these benefits in a sustainable way. This information will be disseminated to complement other Great Lakes sediment remediation projects.

Newton Creek Contaminated Sediment Removal (GL97501901-0: $300,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

This assistance agreement will provide for the removal and disposal of over 5,000 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated sediments and flood-plain sediments from Newton Creek, a tributary to Lake Superior. The project will remove an estimated 4,000 pounds of petroleum contamination from the Great Lakes watershed and serve to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Remedial work is expected to begin in 2003.

Lake Erie

Ottawa River Sediment Remediation Priorities Project (GL97577001-0: $185,565)
Recipient: Toledo Metropolitan Area Councils of Governments
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Demaree Collier (312-353-9184)

This project proposes to carry on the next steps in remediating the Ottawa River, which lies in the Maumee River Area of Concern, and is one of the primary reasons for designating this area as an Area of Concern. TMACOG would delineate specific areas of sediment that would require remediation, determine all of the logistics of the remediation area, select remedial alternatives and estimate costs of remediation, and finally, prioritize the potential remediation areas that were identified under a previous GLNPO grant (GL975080). This project will involve the public and work directly with the responsible agencies and the Maumee RAP group. The above statutory authority is being used for this proposed Assistance Agreement and the activities in the workplan fit within the scope of the statute because the project helps to fulfill GLNPO’s mission of protecting the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Sediment Remediation in the Buffalo River (GL975074-01: $124,999)
Recipient: State University of New York at Buffalo
Project Period:10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)

This project will characterize water and sediment quality in the Buffalo River, a Great Lakes Area of Concern, in conjunction with proposed remedial actions. The main activities of the project will include collection and analysis of sediment samples, and the development of a three- dimensional sediment transport model for the river.

Remediation of Contaminated Sediments in the Rouge River (GL975656-01 : $250,000)
Recipient: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)

The main focus of this dredging will be on the Rouge River Turning Basin Area. There may be additional removal of sediments from other areas outside the Rouge River Turning Basin Area. This turning area and the turning basin in the Rouge River contain the greatest amounts of contaminated soft sediments that are constantly being moved about by vessel traffic in the river. Removal of these sediments would eliminate the downstream migration of these sediments of their contaminants into the Detroit River.

Lake Huron

Current Sediment Quality in the St. Mary’s River Area of Concern (GL97510101-0: $86,285)
Recipient: Lake Superior State University
Project Period:10/01/02 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369)

This project will conduct a survey of sediment quality in the St. Mary’s River Area of Concern with a focus on two specific areas. The Little Rapids area is a candidate for restoration of open rapid habitat and has not been sampled to date. Munuscong Lake in the lower St. Mary’s has undergone substantial hydrological manipulations and requires updated sediment sampling. Results from the proposed study will directly benefit the variety of government, university and citizen groups which are involved in management of the St. Mary’s River.

Basin-wide or Multiple Basins

Great Lakes Upland Testing Manual for Beneficial Use (GL97509301-0: $50,000)
Recipient: Great Lakes Commission
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Michael Russ (312-886-4013)

This project will support scoping, coordination, establishment of project management infrastructure, and recommendations to be used in development of a regional testing and evaluation manual to be used by state officials to evaluate potential environmental impacts of proposed upland beneficial uses of dredged material (drafting of the manual would be a separate project).

Control of Re-Suspension of Contaminated Sediments During Dredging Operations (GL975443-01-0 - $88,650)
Recipient: The Friends of the Detroit River
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

This assistance agreement will provide for the design, fabrication, and evaluation of an innovative mobile dredging unit with the potential for reducing sediment resuspension and off-site migration of contaminants during dredging. The objective of the project is to demonstrate a method to control sediment resuspension during environmental dredging in an effort to protect and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

Great Lakes Sediment Management Support (DW96947964-01-5: $100,000)
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Great Lakes and Ohio River Division
Project Period: 07/01/00-09/30/04
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

The Interagency Agreement (IAG) amendment shall advance sediment assessment and remediation of contaminated sediments at two Great Lakes Areas of Concern: the Milwaukee River/Harbor AOC and the Saginaw River/Harbor AOC. To accomplish this goal the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and USEPA will coordinate to develop sampling and quality assurance plans, collect and analyze sediment samples (including laboratory analysis), and interpret results of the analysis. This amendment will provide for a more complete sediment investigation of the Kinnickinnic River site in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as the development of a sampling and analysis plan and a quality assurance project plan for dioxin sampling in the Saginaw River watershed.

Great Lakes Sediment Management Support (DW96947964-01-6: $120,000)
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Great Lakes and Ohio River Division
Project Period: 07/01/00 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

The Interagency Agreement (IAG) amendment shall advance sediment assessment and remediation of contaminated sediments at two Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). During early coordination at several AOCs, USEPA and USACE identified additional sites that are of mutual interest to the agencies; Saginaw River and Harbor AOC near Saginaw, Michigan, St. Louis River AOC in Duluth, Minnesota, Indiana Harbor/Grand Calumet River AOC in East Chicago, Indiana, and the Clinton River AOC in Clinton, Michigan. Sediment assessment, remediation planning, technical review of sediment data and dredging planning, and other management activities will take place in these AOCs that are of mutual interest to and fall under the authority of both the USEPA and USACE.

Great Lakes Sediment Data Management Support (DW13947973-01-2: $33,721)
Recipient: Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, PMEL
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/31/03
Project Officer: Demaree Collier (312-353-9184)

This interagency agreement will provide for collaboration between USEPA-GLNPO and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to augment the existing NOAA Query Manager sediment database with Great Lakes sediment data collected by the GLNPO sediment team. The initial project will consist of the creation of a upload template, followed by the uploading of 3 to 5 Great Lakes data sets containing over 1,000 individual data points. NOAA will also produce data maps of each of the data sets for easy viewing and visualization of the data.

Contaminant Analysis for Rochester Embayment Area of Concern Project (GL97582701-0: $87,350)
Recipient: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Project Period: 02/15/02 to 10/30/04
Project Officer: Demaree Collier (312-886-0214)

The overall goal of this project is to collect contaminant information in the sediments located in the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern that will be valuable for de-listing the identified impairments (AOC and Lake Ontario RAP) and reestablishing the native lake sturgeon to the Genessee River. This grant would enable the NYSDEC to determine the concentration of contaminants in the lake sturgeon, pre- and post-stocking to calculate the levels of contaminants available for bioaccumulation in the lake sturgeon community. Also, the NYSDEC will collect sediment samples and perform the analysis for benthic macroinvertebrate community so that a correlation between contaminated sediments can be made to the tissue analysis.

Tenth International Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes (GL97536901-0: $10,000)
Recipient: International Association for Great Lakes Research
Project Period: 10/01/00 to 9/30/03
Project Officer: Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184)

This assistance agreement will provide for organization and planning to support the 46th Annual Conference on the International Association of Great Lakes Research to be held in conjunction with the 10th International Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes. It is expected that the Great Lakes community will benefit from this conference by presenting and discussing reasearch findings and the development of international collaboration with colleagues who are investigating similar environmental issues.

Pollution Prevention

Lake Michigan

The Binational Toxics Strategy and Pollution Prevention in Chicago (GL97519801-0: $30,000)
Recipient: Chicago Department of Environment
Project Period: 01/01/02 to 12/31/03
Project Officer: Anthony Kizlauskas (312-353-8773)

The Chicago Department of Environment will identify facilities on the south side of Chicago which may have chemicals designated as Level I or II Substances under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and will then assist them with proper disposal/replacement of these substances, in addition to initiating pollution prevention activities.

Mona Lake Watershed Hazardous Waste Disposal Program (GL975180-01-0: $9,120)
Recipient: Muskegon County Health Department
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 9/30/04
Project Officer: Mark Elster (312-886-3857)

The project will address preventing further direct pollution to the Mona Lake, Michigan watershed by educating and involving the public in implementing safe disposal of toxic wastes.

New Tools Workshop (GL99599901-0: $10,000)
Recipient: Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Project Officer: Francis Anscombe (312 353-0201)

This will entail a two-day workshop for discussion among Wisconsin stakeholders, including government, business, academics, agriculture, and environmental organizations about how best to integrate emerging regulatory approaches into ongoing efforts to limit nutrient loading in the Fox and Wolf Rivers. While this event will focus on this geographic area, lessons are more widely applicable. Nutrient loading from both agriculture and from industries will be discussed.

Lake Superior

Mercury and PCB Reduction at an Oil Refinery (GL97516901-0: $30,000)
Recipient: City of Superior Public Works
Project Period: 10/02/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: E. Marie Phillips (312-886-6034)

The City of Superior and the Murphy Oil Refinery in Superior, Wisconsin intend to develop a systematic approach to inventory mercury and PCB use at the refinery. They will then initiate a reduction in the use of these chemicals by writing purchasing and phase-out plans. The results of this reduction phase-out project will be published in a report that will provide guidance to other refineries or general industries to assist in the mercury and PCB reductions efforts.

Dioxin Emissions Inventory Project for Lake Superior Basin (GL975131-01-1: $30,000)
Recipient: University of Wisconsin - Superior
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 06/30/04
Project Officer: Todd Nettesheim (312-353-9153)

The goal of this project is to enable the Lake Superior Binational Program and Lakewide Management Plan to track progress and report on the dioxin reduction milestones in the Lake Superior basin. The project will also help to determine the importance of small source categories to guide agency priorities for action. The project objective is to develop a method to inventory sources of dioxin emissions in the Lake Superior Basin. The inventory method will be developed for easy updates as new information becomes available and will focus on developing reasonable estimates with known confidence indicators for small incinerators, burn barrels, and other small source categories.

Mercury Free Zones (GL97537701-1: $30,000)
Recipient: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Project Period: 10/01/00 to 09/30/03
EPA Project Officer: F. R. Anscombe (312-353-0201)

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Mercury Free Zone program is designed to reduce potential mercury exposure risks to students by eliminating mercury from schools, while educating people about the dangers of mercury. The State agency has trained a dog, Clancy, to locate mercury within buildings, by sense of smell. To date, the dog has located over 500 pounds of mercury contained within 100 schools in Minnesota. 1,700 more schools are eligible to take the mercury free pledge and receive a visit from Clancy.

Regional Burn Barrel Campaign (X97585801-0: $55,000)
Recipient: Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Project Period: 7/01/02 to 6/30/03
Project Officer: E. Marie Phillips (312-886-6034)

This project is a continuation of a 2001 grant. The continuation envisions a three-pronged approach to reduce the practice of backyard trash burning (Aburn barrels@). Given the nature of the burn barrel phenomenon, the strategy focuses on the ways and means of changing the behavior of individuals. Three elements have been found that will influence a person=s decision to burn their wastes on-site or manage them in a more appropriate manner: education, infrastructure, and enforcement. In broad terms, the project will develop key elements of the draft strategy, developed by the Burn Barrel Subgroup (a subgroup of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy’s Dioxins Workgroup). Significant initial work has been done by the WLSSD in developing materials to educate the general public. These materials were tested during the Summer of 2001 in a public campaign within the WLSSD=s geographical boundaries. The project will now develop information to educate state and local government officials about the burn barrel problem, and to develop and publish a guide to aid governments in evaluating infrastructure needs and establishing or enforcing regulations that ban backyard trash burning.

Lake Ontario

Deposition and Ambient Concentrations of PBTs in the Lake Ontario Region (GL97506501-0: $45,000)
Recipient: Clarkson University
Project Period: 11/01/02 to 10/31/03
Project Officer: Todd Nettesheim (312-353-9153)

This project is one of several, that combined, will allow completion of one year of sampling for the Lake Ontario Atmospheric Deposition Project (LOADS). LOADS is an ongoing project designed to provide estimates of loadings of a number of critical pollutants identified in the Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan as well as several additional chemicals. Sources of these pollutants will also be identified using advanced source-receptor models. Current LOADS sampling includes the collection of ambient air samples of mercury (both elemental and reactive gaseous), PCBs, DDE, Mirex, HCB, and Dioxins/Furans every six days for a period of eight months at a site on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Sterling, New York, along with two one-week cruises aboard the Lake Guardian. Funds for this project will primarily be used to operate the Sterling station and perform PCB analyses for the remaining four months.

Basin-wide

Mobilizing/Coordinating Industry BNS Support (GL97521801-0: $45,000)
Recipient: Council of Great Lakes Industries
Project Period: 10/1/02 to 9/31/03
Project Officer: Edwin Smith (312-353-6571)

CGLI will:

Continue BNS support activities and awareness efforts to nurture current participants, and seek additional ones, both in and out of the Basin, placing emphasis on sectors which have not been involved. They include: primary and secondary aluminum/copper/base metal smelters; scrap metal/steel recyclers; pesticides manufacturers; and small industries.
Review industry source characterization data to determine what gaps exist and how they can best be filled.
Review and assess indicators of progress toward the virtual elimination of BNS Level 1 substances.
Chart a course for future efforts once current Strategy goals have been met. CGLI will build on work begun during the 2001-2002 project cycle to review accomplishments with industry, explore potential next steps, and provide recommendations. The effort will include studies of existing pollution prevention programs. Determine which Tier II substances have been included, and what green technologies or practices are being advanced.

Toxics Reductions through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Among Industrial Boilers (GL97514403-0: $100,000)
Recipient: Delta Institute
Project Period: 10/01/2002 to 09/30/2003
Project Officer: Edward Klappenbach (312-353-1378)

Delta Institute will design a large-scale pollution prevention outreach initiative that links toxic reduction and energy efficiency. By doing so, the “natural” cost savings incentive of energy efficiency can be used to achieve quantifiable reductions in toxics as well as criteria pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. To accomplish these tasks, the Delta Institute will: 1) Evaluate and identify potential sub-regions based on their analysis of the U.S. EPA industrial boiler database including Detroit, Cleveland, and Milwaukee; 2) Complete an evaluation of technical assistance and financing programs that can be bundled and made available in the implementation region; 3) Evaluate new incentives that could be used to promote energy efficiency and toxic reductions; 4) Develop standard quantification and reporting methods to be applied to the targeted sectors; 5) Establish how the initiative will run in the implementation region at the desired scale; and 6) Establish agreements from agencies and organizations that will need to be involved in implementing the initiative.

Organochlorine Pesticides in the Ambient Air of Mexico (GL975592-01-0: $40,000)
Recipient: Environment Canada
Project Period: 9/15/02 to 9/14/04
Project Officer: Melissa Hulting (312-886-2265)

Recent and past use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in Mexico has resulted in concentrations in ambient air that are 1-2 orders of magnitude above levels in the Great Lakes region. Atmospheric transport from Mexico and Central America may be contributing significant amounts of OCPs to the Great Lakes. This project will measure concentrations of OCPs in air and soil in Mexico, which will help estimate potential for emissions and transport to other areas. The monitoring sites will be in Chiapas, a state in southeastern Mexico bordering Guatemala. The project will also provide training and experience in analysis of OCPs to Mexican scientists. This work is also relevant under the Long-Range Transport challenge of the U.S.-Canada Binational Toxics Strategy, as well as under the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Sound Management of Chemicals program. Specifically, the project will supply data that can be used to determine the sources of persistent toxic substances from outside the Great Lakes System.

Project Title: Erie County Fluorescent Light, Ballast, and TV Recycling (GL97595401-0: $35,000)
Recipient: Erie County Department of Environmental Planning
Project Period: 1/1/03 to 12/31/03
Project Officer: Anthony Kizlauskas (312-353-8773)

The project will utilize Erie County staff and program format to implement a pilot collection of fluorescent lights (tubes and ballasts), mercury containing lamps and appliances at the 2002 - 03 Computer Recycling Events. It is anticipated the proposed fluorescent light and appliance collections will divert significant quantities of PCBs, mercury, and CFCs from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. This will reduce not only the loadings of PCBs and mercury, categorized by the U.S. EPA as Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) pollutants from entering the Great Lakes Basin, but will also reduce CFCs as well. The proposed pilot project will permit development of the program and inclusion of fluorescent lights and other mercury containing lamps, ballasts, and appliances at future HHW collection events.

Project Title: Eliminated PBT’s from Products and Product Waste (Grant, GL97523501-0: $40,000)
Recipient: Great Lakes United
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Project Officer: Danielle Green (312-886-7594)

Great Lakes United will reduce the releases of persistent bioaccumulative substances like mercury to the environment through three highly interrelated approaches: assembling the best options for industry and government decision-makers to maximize mercury recovery from vehicles; networking with industries and pollution prevention technical assistance providers, they will scope and address clean production technology and information needs in the basin; and representing a coalition of environmental, conservation and labor groups in the Integration Group and other working committees of the US-Canada Binational Toxics Strategy.

Wisconsin Automotive/Appliance Mercury Switch Recycling Program (GL97571001-1: $35,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Project Period: September 15, 2001 - September 14, 2003
Project Officer: Anthony Kizlauskas (312-353-8773)

WDNR will facilitate efforts to recovery mercury contained in switches from end of life vehicles and appliances to minimize the amounts of mercury that will be released when the vehicles and appliances are scrapped or recycled. This work will directly support the mercury reduction goals of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy. It has the support of a wide range of automobile and scrap recyclers in Wisconsin. In addition to the collection program, Barr Engineering will be contracted to develop a “Flow Analysis of Mercury in Products” for the State of Wisconsin. This model was developed and run previously for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The model predicts the release of mercury to air, water, and waste streams from the most common mercury-containing products. The model results will be used to improve the management of mercury-containing wastes, inform decisions on mercury product legislation, and help focus efforts on effective mercury reduction efforts.

Sources of PCBs to the Atmosphere in Chicago: Part II (GL97571701-1: $43,380)
Recipient: Clarkson University
Project Period: 10/01/01 to 09/30/03
Project Officer: Todd Nettesheim (312-353-9153)

The project will obtain additional short-term PCB samples in southwestern Chicago to determine the amount of PCB emissions to the air from a sludge drying facility. The project will: (1) provide critical information about both local and remote sources of PCBs to the Great Lakes, (2) allow potential remediation strategies to be developed to control PCB emissions into the atmosphere, and (3) provide information that is needed to better estimate the amount of PCBs emitted from urban areas near the Great Lakes. Under the current assistance agreement, Clarkson University was able to collect all the samples around the sludge drying beds in cooperation with the Municipal Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and analyze a limited number of samples. Funds under this amendment will provide the resources necessary to enable the remainder of the samples to be analyzed and the data to be interpreted.

Managing Shared Waters International Conference (GL97592101-0; $5,000)
Recipient: The Pollution Probe Foundation
Project Period: 06/21/02 to 06/20/03
Project Officer: Edward Klappenbach (312-353-1378)

The focus of the conference will be on human and institutional capacity building for the management of coastal zones, particularly in transboundary situations. The location of the conference will provide participants with the opportunity to see the results of decades of cooperation and partnership between Canada and the United States. The conference will use facilitated workshops to engage participants in identifying specific capacity needs, based on their personal experience in the field, and to make recommendations on what is needed and how it might be achieved. Discussions will focus on four themes: education and public awareness; measuring and understanding coastal ecosystems; institutional and participatory frameworks; and infrastructure, products, and services.

State Based Mercury Pollution Prevention (GL99542201-0: $45,000)
Recipient: National Wildlife Federation
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Project Officer: Edward Klappenbach (312-353-1378)

The objective of this project is to expand, redirect, and energize many of the pollution prevention efforts in the region to make them more comprehensive and vigorous. This project will enhance state-level mercury pollution prevention work by providing new incentives for industries to adopt pollution prevention measures. To achieve this goal, the project has the following objectives: 1) Promote aggressive pollution prevention efforts by state agencies by demonstrating the feasibility of virtually eliminating mercury on a statewide basis; and 2) Provide leadership to the Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations communities in the Binational Toxics Strategy process.

Next Steps in PBT-free Purchasing in the Great Lakes Basin (GL97500501-0: $30,000)
Recipient: INFORM, Inc.
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Project Officer: Edward Klappenbach (312-353-1378)

Serious, long-term damage to human health and the environment in the Great Lakes Basin is firmly linked to exposure to an insidious class of chemicals called persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs). This initiative promotes the virtual elimination of PBTs by helping government agencies at the state and local level phase-out their use of products containing substances prioritized for reduction in the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS), individual Remedial Action Plans (RAPs), and Lakewide Area Management Plans (LaMPs). This project is conceived of as a model with transferable informational resources that will be posted on the Internet. As such, it will demonstrate to many of the Areas of Concern and other communities in the Great Lakes Basin how to change and promote utilization of new contracts for PBT-free purchasing and PBT recovery.

Mercury Thermostat Collection at Weatherrization Agencies (GL00586101-0: $25,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Administration
Project Period: 10/01/02 to 09/30/04
Project Officer: E. Marie Phillips (312-886-6034)

Wisconsin Weatherization Agencies will promote Thermostat Recycling Corporations’s (TRC) virtually free recycling program to the HVAC subcontractors through presentations and one-on-one talks. Information presented will include geographically appropriate and updated collection site information, and a new brochure to explain TRC and thermostat recycling. Each Weatherization Agency will host a new thermostat disposal bin, providing and additional collection site. Subcontractors will have the option of depositing thermostats at the Weatherization Agency, or with the distributor where they bought the thermostat. The goal will be to increase thermostat collection in Wisconsin by 6,000. The grantee will also work with Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which currently provides emergency furnace replacements to 1,000 low income families per year with some fraction of these also receiving thermostat replacements. This project can serve as the first step of a broader mercury reduction initiative with Wisconsin Weatherization Agencies.

Other

Basin-wide

Conference Management Services for SOLEC Conference (GL97589901-0: $14,607)
Recipient: Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization
Project Period: 5/15/02 to 1/31/03
Project Officer: Paul Bertram (312-353-0153)

This project will elevate the visibility and viability of the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan while also enhancing the organization and operation of the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) 2002. The conference will bring together Great Lakes environmental managers, decision makers, LaMP and RAP leaders, and other partners for the purpose of sharing and discussing information about the status and trends of Great Lakes ecosystem components.. USEPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is a co-organizer of the SOLEC process. Activities identified in the Workplan for this assistance will help ensure the success of the conference and the quality of information exchange.

Great Lakes Program Support by GSA FEDSIM (DW-47-94802701-0: $200,000)
Recipient: General Services Administration, FEDSIM
Project Period: 3/1/02 to 2/28/07
Project Officer: Anthony Kizlauskas (312-353-8773)

Under this Agreement, the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) is providing GLNPO Procurement and Procurement Assistance according to the terms in the Interagency Agreement's Basic Agreement to help GLNPO and USEPA carry out the Great Lakes Program. Under this Agreement, the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) is providing GLNPO Procurement and Procurement Assistance according to the terms in the Interagency Agreement's Basic Agreement to help GLNPO and USEPA carry out the Great Lakes Program. Specific support areas include assistance with: the Great Lakes Stratgy; mapping and analysis of Areas of Concern; environmental indicators and reporting; Lakewide Management Plans; the State of the Lakes Conference; Remedial Action Plans; the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; the U.S. Policy Committee; the Binational Executive Committee; GLNPO Web Site re-desing; and support for GLNPO information technology needs.

Ensuring Senior-Level State Participation at SOLEC 2002 (GL97574001-0: $14,568)
Recipient: Great Lakes Commission
Project Period: 9/01/02 to 10/30/02
Project Officer: George S. Ison (312-353-1669)

The overall goal of this process is to develop and implement a strategy to ensure the participation of key state, provincial, federal, tribal and other decision makers at SOLEC 2002. The effort by the Great Lakes Commission with federal involvement will focus on appropriate senior-level participation at a special session for managers to be held on Day One of SOLEC 2002, including outreach for and design and conduct of that special session. The recipient will prepare a summary of the special session for the participants.

Preparation, Delivery and Reporting of SOLEC 2000 (GL97528201-2: $15,000)
Recipient: Environment Canada
Project Period: 7/10/00 to 9/17/03
Project Officer: Paul Bertram (312-353-0153)

The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) co-sponsors the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conferences (SOLEC) with Environment Canada. The biennial conferences fulfill, in part, the obligation of the U.S. and Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to report regularly on the status of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The initial Assistance Agreement provided funds for background documents, on-line databases, maps and other materials required, logistic arrangements for SOLEC 2000, and publication of the State of the Great Lakes 2001. The first augmentation provided the same for the next SOLEC in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2002, for publication of the State the Great Lakes 2003, and for reprinting the Great Lakes atlas. This augmentation will assist the production, printing and distribution of the proceedings of a binational symposium on Great Lakes Wetlands, which will support the SOLEC 2002 theme of indicators of biological integrity.

Great Lakes Environmental Database System Development and Data Input (DW-47-94802201-0: $200,000)
Recipient: General Services Administration
Project Period: 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Project Officer: Kenneth Klewin (312-886-4794)

This interagency agreement provides funds to the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide contract support for the Great Lakes Environmental Database System (GLENDA). This will allow EPA to take advantage of GSA’s contract for data management services, which is most cost-effective vehicle available. The contractor will continue populating the database with data from the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (LMMBS) and base-program studies (such as the base lakes monitoring, fish tissue and sediment programs) as directed. The contractor will also continue development of the database and tools for end-users. This activity has been ongoing for several years. This IAG is a continuation of the GLENDA database. This project started January 1, 2002 and ends December 31, 2002.