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Request for Proposals

(closed November 20, 1997)

Study of Organic Contaminants in Air and Water in Conjunction with Episodic Events - Great Lakes Experiment

Purpose

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting proposals to provide analytical support for studying organic contaminants and providing scientific input on assessment of the impact of the winter-spring plume event on organics concentrations in Lake Michigan air and water. The study requested by this Request for Proposals (RFP) will test a hypothesis of significance of episodic resuspension and transport events based on the Lake Michigan plume effect on biogeochemical processes that might result in increased water and air concentrations of organic contaminants.

The goal of the project is to expand the Episodic Events - Great Lakes Experiment (EEGLE) study by including studies on organic contaminants. EEGLE is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Coastal Ocean Processes and the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) Coastal Ocean Program (COP). EEGLE results will be used to expand the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (LMMB) contaminant model. The EEGLE study is treated as a prototypical study for similar episodic events taking place in coastal environments.

Introduction

It is hypothesized that material resuspension and transport affect biogeochemical processes in coastal environments. From satellite observations of Lake Michigan, the plume effect event is known to occur on a yearly basis. The plume effect takes place after ice melt in late winter. During the plume, the bottom sediment is resuspended and transported off-shore by wind-created waves. The resuspended material spreads over a 10 by 200 km region in the southern part of Lake Michigan.

Due to the coastal plume effect, organic contaminants, previously deposited over time and buried in the lake bed sediment, reenter the water column along with the resuspended bottom sediment. This process may contribute to the increase of the dissolved phase concentration of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). If, as the result of the sediment resuspension, the dissolved concentration of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) is elevated, the gaseous phase concentration may elevate as well. The essence of this project is to test the consequences of the sediment resuspension on HOC concentrations in the water column and in the air above the water, and, based on obtained results, recommend areas of further study.

The NSF/NOAA joint EEGLE study consists of several projects which will focus on taking a variety of physical, chemical, and biological measurements during, before, and after the plume event. The physical study will include remote sensing measurements, turbidity measurements, meteorological measurements, and interdisciplinary Lagrangian measurements. The chemical study will include a radionuclide study of the suspended particulate phase (i.e., to characterize particle chemical surface, residence time, aging, size) and a study of nutrient characteristics. The biological study will cover the chlorophyll distribution and the structure and dynamics of the lower food chain (nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton). The study will test three hypotheses described in the EEGLE full proposal document (refer to the EEGLE web site listed below). The EEGLE study does not include organic contaminants, so the purpose of this proposal request is to add this capacity to the program.

EEGLE is a two year program scheduled for 1999 and 2000. Three 10 to 14 day cruises for sample collection are planned for both years. Additionally, year round sediment and water samples will be collected and several other measurements will be conducted on a biweekly basis. For 1998 a pilot study is planned to collect samples on a research vessel during one 10 to 14 day winter cruise (between January and March).

Under the requested project the U.S. EPA GLNPO would like to have simultaneous measurements conducted of PCBs and PAHs in the air and water column. Analysis of PCBs should include a minimum of 120 congeners. Analysis of at least 15 individual PAHs (i.e., benzo(a)pyrene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene, perylene, phenanthrene, etc.) of environmental concern in Lake Michigan should be selected and the selection should be supported by historical research results.

The general sampling strategy will include at least 12 air and 12 water samples collected on a research vessel and 12 suspended sediment samples collected in the traps by NOAA. At least four water and air samples will be collected at the southeastern part of the lake, at the plume occurrence, during the winter cruise. At least one background sample will be collected (with duplicate) at the middle of the lake, for example at the NOAA data buoy, during this cruise. A second background sample (with duplicate) will be collected at southeastern part of the lake during non-event on the NOAA monthly cruise. Four water and air samples will be collected after the plume event on the NOAA monthly cruise in May or June.
Additional suspended sediment samples will be collected into a series of traps every 10 days all year round. The sediment sample collection is coordinated by NOAA. Some time in May the samples will be removed from the lake and split in half; one for conventional and second for organics. The grantee will provide assistance with sample split and storage of the samples. Upon availability of physical and meteorological measurements from NOAA, and their evaluation, the Project Officer, together with Grantee, will determined which twelve sediment samples will be analyzed for PAHs and PCBs.
For more information regarding EEGLE project refer to NOAA web site under following address: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/eegle/.

Grantee Responsibilities

For the EPA GLNPO portion of the study the Grantee will be responsible for the following:

Collection of air samples (the gaseous phase and particulate phase) and water samples (the particulate and dissolved phase) from a research vessel.
Suspended sediment sample storage. Provide assistance to NOAA for a split of the suspended sediment samples collected incrementally every ten days by the sequencing traps set up within primary station of the plume study, and store them securely for further availability to study organics. Perform analysis of PCB and PAH vapor and particulate samples.
Perform water analysis, the suspended particulate phase and dissolved phase, for PCBs and PAHs.
Perform the sediment sample analysis for PCBs and PAHs.
Conduct data interpretation that will provide preliminary assessment of the plume effect on lake water quality.
The Grantee will be expected to interpret data collected in this project and historical data available form Spring and Summer seasons for Lake Michigan through GLNPO annual survey (water), and applicable data from the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study.

As the final outcome of the project the Grantee will formulate recommendation if further study of organic contaminants in the Lake Michigan Plume Event is required.

Funding Level

The U.S. EPA expects to award a grant for this project early January 1998. The maximum amount of funding is expected to be $50,000, however, there is the possibility of future project expansion.

Quality Assurance

A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) will be prepared by the recipient of the award. It must to be approved by the Project Officer and the Quality Assurance Officer of the Great Lakes National Program Office, US EPA, prior sample collection.

Special Conditions

No work or part of the work can be subcontracted without the EPA knowledge and approval.
All data must be submitted in compatible format to GLNPO’s data management system.
GLNPO may request Grantee to participate in the 1999 and 2000 year EEGLE - organic component (EEGLE-OC) study, however, participation in the pilot study does not guarantee participation in the 99/00 EEGLE-OC study.

Project Deadline

The Grantee will be expected to complete analysis and submit data within 3 months from the end of each cruise date and final report no later than end of August 1998. Data interpretation and recommendations should be furnished to EPA by the end of September 1998.

Selection Criteria

Demonstrated access to analytical equipment, sufficient laboratory space, and sufficient personnel required to perform the study successfully. Provide laboratory capacity information - number of samples that can be processed per month --- 20 pts

Demonstrated expertise in the analysis of organic contaminants such as congener specific PCBs and selected PAHs in air (the gaseous phase and particulate phase), and/or water (the particulate and dissolved phase) and sediment. The EPA may award two grants one for air one for water and sediment study where the funds will be divided adequately. Published papers and reports based on successfully completed grants or contracts should demonstrate the proposers expertise ---

Demonstrated capability to complete study within project timelines. The proposers should provide information regarding his/her ongoing projects and deadline obligations for 1998 through year 2000 --- 10 pts

Demonstrated expertise in performing statistical analysis of large sets of environmental data. Available access to computers and software required to perform the data
evaluation --- 10 pts

Project cost --- 10pts

Proposals should be submitted via fax or e-mail to:

US Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office, G-17J
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604

Proposals in length not exceeding 20 pages will be evaluated against the above criteria. Applicants seeking additional information regarding the project may contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office.

Proposals are due at the above address by close of business November 20, 1997