94-2705. Notification of Request for Research Assistance; Program Development and Evaluation Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program EstuariesLouisianian and West Indian Provinces

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2705]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 7, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-4834-7]

 

Notification of Request for Research Assistance; Program 
Development and Evaluation Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 
Program Estuaries--Louisianian and West Indian Provinces

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research 
Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Action: Notification of Request for Research Assistance.

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Summary: The EMAP-Estuaries (EMAP-E) research program develops 
strategies to define its monitoring program, interpret results, and 
extrapolate the findings of the experimental monitoring systems to 
different time and spatial scales as well as various pollutant/
environmental scenarios. Assistance is requested of cooperating 
institutions to develop indices of estuarine condition and evaluate 
effectiveness of the imposed sampling and processing regimes. Each area 
of cooperation also presents additional research possibilities that 
extend beyond the basic EMAP concept.

Areas of Research: (One cooperative agreement is expected to be awarded 
for each area.)

--Validation of the EMAP Benthic Index and joint development of 
alternate benthic indices for the Louisianian Province (LP). The goal 
is to further develop the relationship between abiotic and biotic 
benthic factors. This research incorporates the collection of biotic 
and abiotic data on benthic samples (i.e., sediment toxicity, abundance 
and diversity of organisms, silt/clay content) from each EMAP-LP site 
and correlation of the information with other field data collected.
--Evaluation of levels of contaminants in sediments and fish tissue to 
determine nominal and subnominal levels of contamination and 
identification of which contaminant is most prevalent and of most 
ecological concern, and adjustments of raw concentration based on 
environmental condition. The joint development of an index of 
contaminant stress is strongly desired. This extends to both organismal 
and system-level assessments.
--Joint development of an index of the trophic state of estuarine 
systems. This includes the selection of parameters to be measured 
(e.g., nutrient levels, productivity, stable isotope ratios) and the 
development of protocols for sample collection and analysis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cooperative agreements are intended to 
promote collaborative interaction with EPA researchers. Selectees will 
be expected to collaborate with EMAP personnel and other EMAP 
researchers in their areas of research. The ongoing research may 
require the combination of all analytical results towards the 
development of new condition indices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Janis Kurtz, U.S. EPA, ERL/Gulf 
Breeze, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561. Proposals should 
be postmarked by February 28, 1994.

    Dated: January 31, 1994.
Carl Gerber,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 94-2705 Filed 2-4-94; 8:45 am]
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