[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73530-73533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33939]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Science


Office of Financial Assistance Program Notice 00-09: Carbon 
Sequestration Research Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting research grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) of 
the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby 
announces its interest in receiving applications for research on Carbon 
Sequestration in the Terrestrial Biosphere and the Oceans.

DATES: Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to submit a brief 
preapplication for programmatic review. Early submission of 
preapplications is encouraged to allow time for meaningful dialog.
    The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 4:30 p.m., 
E.S.T., March 2, 2000, to be accepted for merit review and to permit 
timely consideration for award in Fiscal Year 2000 and early Fiscal 
Year 2001.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications, referencing Program Notice 00-09, for 
Section A on Terrestrial Biosphere should be sent E-mail to 
[email protected] and for Section B on the Oceans to 
[email protected].
    Formal applications, referencing Program Notice 00-09, should be 
sent to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and 
Contracts Division, SC-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-
1290, ATTN: Program Notice 00-09. This address must also be used when 
submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or any 
other commercial overnight delivery service, or when hand-carried by 
the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Houghton, Environmental 
Sciences Division, SC-74, Office of Biological and Environmental 
Research, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone: (301) 903-8288, 
E-mail: [email protected], fax: (301) 903-8519. The full 
text of Program Notice 00-09 is available via the Internet using the 
following web site address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/
grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Predictions of global energy use in the next 
century suggest a continued increase in carbon emissions and rising 
concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere 
unless major changes

[[Page 73531]]

are made in the way we produce and use energy--in particular, how we 
manage carbon.
    One way to manage carbon is to use energy more efficiently to 
reduce our need for a major energy and carbon source--fossil fuel 
combustion. Another way is to increase our use of low-carbon and 
carbon-free fuels and technologies, such as nuclear power and renewable 
sources such as solar energy, wind power, and biomass fuels.
    The third and newest way to manage carbon, capturing and securely 
storing carbon either from the global energy system or directly from 
the atmosphere, is relatively new. Although many options exist to 
capture and sequester carbon dioxide, the focus of this solicitation is 
fundamental research that would enable: (a) The operation of the 
terrestrial biosphere in such a way to enhance the absorption and 
retention of atmospheric carbon; (b) The operation of the ocean surface 
biota also to enhance the absorption and retention of atmospheric 
carbon; and (c) The use of the deep ocean to store carbon dioxide that 
has been already separated, captured, and transported. The result of 
carbon retention by terrestrial and oceanic systems is commonly termed 
``carbon sequestration.''
    Any viable system for sequestering carbon must have a number of 
characteristics. It must be effective and cost-competitive with 
alternative means, such as renewable energy. It must have 
environmentally benign consequences, at least compared to alternative 
solutions, including no action. It must be able to be monitored and 
verified, because contributions to carbon sequestration almost 
certainly need to be measured. Research sponsored by this program could 
contribute to any of these goals.
    This solicitation invites applications for individual projects on 
carbon sequestration in the terrestrial biosphere and in the oceans. 
The proposed research should be fundamental in nature. We are not 
accepting applications that test demonstrations of engineered 
technologies. Principal Investigators may consider the two existing DOE 
carbon sequestration research centers, CSITE (Carbon Sequestration in 
Terrestrial Ecosystems), and DOCS (DOE Center for Research on Ocean 
Carbon Sequestration), and the ways in which their research can 
complement programs there in the Centers.

Technical Areas of Interest

A. Sequestration in the Terrestrial Biosphere:

    Carbon pools in the natural biogeochemical cycle are immense and 
quantitative estimates of the natural sequestration of carbon in 
various locations of the terrestrial biosphere are improving in 
accuracy. The feasibility of various options for enhancing 
sequestration, however, is only beginning to be explored. The DOE 
``Carbon Sequestration Research and Development Report'' (available at 
http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/ober/carbseq.html) identifies 
potential opportunities for sequestering carbon in many ecosystems 
using a variety of mechanisms. The scientific foundation of different 
potential approaches needs to be developed. In particular, better 
estimates of biological fixation and metabolism of carbon are needed, 
along with improved data on the quantities of carbon sequestered. The 
intent is to develop techniques that increase fixation and alter carbon 
metabolism to enhance sequestration. Advanced research is encouraged 
that will elucidate ways of modifying natural biological and physical 
processes in terrestrial ecosystems to enhance carbon sequestration 
rates and capacities.
    In general, the research should consider mechanisms and processes 
that can be manipulated in terrestrial ecosystems to enhance net uptake 
and sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Field tests are 
encouraged that consider feasibility and effectiveness of applying new 
approaches with managed and/or unmanaged terrestrial ecosystems, and 
which will focus on those processes or properties of ecosystems for 
which alteration or management will offer significant potential for 
enhancing the net sequestration of carbon.
    The following examples are illustrative of technical areas relevant 
to carbon sequestration research involving the terrestrial biosphere:
    1. Increasing the net fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by 
terrestrial plants with emphasis on physiology and rates of 
photosynthesis of vascular plants, retention of carbon by ecosystems 
and enhancing the translocation of carbon to soil. Research might focus 
on:

--Intrinsic rates of carboxylation and changes in carbon balance of 
vascular plants.
--Native plant species that exhibit rapid growth under a wide range of 
environmental conditions.
--Ways that above-and below-ground partitioning of fixed carbon can 
generate long-lived sequestered products through the manipulation of 
nutrients, water and other environmental variables. This would include 
biotechnological approaches to increase the availability or supply of 
nutrients from natural sources that otherwise limit plant productivity.
--Understanding root architecture for optimal below-ground productivity 
and transformation of plant biomass, including lignified materials, 
into soil organic matter.

    2. Reducing the emission of CO2 from soils due to 
heterotrophic oxidation of soil organic carbon. Research might focus 
on:

--Defining and producing optimal mix of organisms and substrates for 
slowing oxidation of plant residues in soil.
--Isolating and defining the environmental and biochemical factors that 
control the oxidation rate of soil carbon and how these factors could 
be modified to slow the rate.

    3. Developing and demonstrating new, novel techniques for measuring 
changes of the quantity of carbon in biomass and soil of terrestrial 
ecosystems. Research might focus on:

--Non-invasive methods that can measure carbon changes over time. The 
desired resolution would imply the ability to measure changes during a 
three year period of as little as 50g per square meter (0.5 tonnes per 
hectare) for biomass or 100g per square meter (1.0 tonnes per hectare) 
for soil.
--In situ devices for producing time series measurements for a given 
location, where detection is the same resolution as above.
--Remote measurement devices for detecting relative changes of carbon 
source or sink strength of terrestrial ecosystems at same resolution as 
stated above.

    4. Assessing the beneficial and adverse side effects of enhancing 
sequestration in the natural terrestrial biosphere. Research might 
focus on:

--Certain management practices, such as low tillage agriculture, may 
enhance carbon sequestration. What secondary impacts affect the soil 
and runoff as a consequence of these practices, such as soil fertility, 
erosion control, and possible increased use of pesticides?
--How would altering the carbon cycle affect the biogeochemical cycling 
of other elements?
--What might be the impact of enhancing the carbon content of soils on 
the structure and function of ecosystems including biodiversity?

[[Page 73532]]

B. Sequestration in the Oceans

    The ocean represents a large current sink for the sequestration of 
anthropogenic CO2 emissions as well as a large potential for 
further enhancement. Two strategies for enhancing carbon sequestration 
in the ocean have been proposed. One strategy is the enhancement of the 
net oceanic uptake from the atmosphere by fertilization of 
phytoplankton with micro-or macronutrients. A second strategy is the 
direct injection of a relatively pure CO2 stream to ocean 
depths greater than 1000 m. Sources of CO2 might include 
power plants, industries or other sources. The long term effectiveness 
and potential environmental consequences of ocean sequestration by 
either strategy, however, are as yet unknown.
    Examples of relevant research areas to the issue of enhanced carbon 
sequestration by the oceans.
    1. Environmental consequences of long term ocean fertilization. 
Research might focus on:

--Examining changes in structure and function of marine ecosystems 
including community structure of phytoplankton and zooplankton, ocean 
food webs and trophodynamics, resulting from ocean fertilization.
--Examining changes in natural oceanic biogeochemical cycles (carbon, 
nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur) resulting from carbon 
sequestration.

    2. Effectiveness of ocean fertilization on a large scale. Research 
might focus on:

--Understanding the biological pumping of carbon to deep waters, the 
export of particulate organic carbon and particulate inorganic carbon 
to the deep sea, and mineralization or dissolution of all forms at 
depth.
--Determining how micronutrients (such as iron) and macronutrients 
(such as nitrogen and phosphorus) regulate the biological pump in the 
ocean.
--Determining to what extent increased carbon fixation in surface 
waters will result in an increase in carbon sequestered in the deep 
ocean, and how long it will remain sequestered. One approach might be 
the use of coupled physical, chemical and biological models.

    3. Environmental consequences of direct injection of CO2 
into the ocean in midwater or deep sea habitats. Research might focus 
on:

--Understanding the effects of sustained release of concentrated 
CO2 on biogeochemistry and ecosystem structure and function.
--Determining the effects of changes in pH and CO2 on 
organisms from midwater and deep sea habitats.
--Understanding the longer-term fate of carbon, which is added to the 
ocean including the carbonate chemistry of mid- and deep-ocean water.

    4. Effectiveness of direct injection of CO2 for carbon 
sequestration. Research might focus on:

--Addressing weaknesses in Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs), 
specifically western boundary currents, ocean bottom currents and sub-
grid scale processes, and test models using natural or experimental 
tracers.
--Coupling near-field with far-field effects of CO2 
injection, for example, couple plume modeling with basin and global 
scale ocean circulation models.

Collaboration

    Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with researchers in other 
institutions, such as: universities, industry, non-profit 
organizations, federal laboratories and Federally Funded Research and 
Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the DOE National Laboratories, 
where appropriate, and to include cost sharing and/or consortia 
wherever feasible. Additional information on collaboration is available 
in the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program that is available via the Internet at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/
production/grants/Colab.html.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that up to a total of $2,000,000 will be 
available for awards in this area during FY 2000, contingent upon 
availability of appropriated funds. Multiple year funding of awards is 
expected, and is also contingent upon availability of funds, progress 
of the research, and continuing program need.

Preapplications

    A brief preapplication may be submitted. The preapplication should 
identify on the cover sheet the institution, Principal Investigator 
name, address, telephone, fax and E-mail address, title of the project, 
proposed collaborators, and the technical area of scientific research 
(i.e., A. Sequestration in the Terrestrial Biosphere or B. 
Sequestration in the Oceans). The preapplication should consist of a 
two to three page narrative describing the research project objectives 
and methods of accomplishment. These will be reviewed relative to the 
scope and research needs of the Carbon Sequestration Research Program.
    Preapplications are strongly encouraged but not required prior to 
submission of a full application. Please note that notification of a 
successful preapplication is not an indication that an award will be 
made in response to the formal application.
    Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer 
review) and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria 
listed in descending order of importance as codified at 10 CFR 
605.10(d):
    1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project,
    2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach,
    3. Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed 
Resources,
    4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.
    The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the 
relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and 
the agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are 
selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence 
of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers may be used, and 
submission of an application constitutes agreement that this is 
acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution.
    Information about the development and submission of applications, 
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other 
policies and procedures may be found in 10 CFR Part 605, and in the 
Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required forms is made 
available via the World Wide Web at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/
grants/grants.html. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs 
associated with the preparation or submission of applications if an 
award is not made. The research project description must be 15 pages or 
less, exclusive of attachments and must contain an abstract or summary 
of the proposed research. On the SC grant face page, form DOE F 4650.2, 
in block 15, also provide the PI's phone number, fax number and E-mail 
address. Attachments include curriculum vitae, a listing of all current 
and pending federal support, and letters of intent when collaborations 
are part of the proposed research. Curriculum vitae should be submitted 
in a form similar to that of NIH or NSF (two to three pages), see for 
example: http://www.nsf.gov:80/bfa/cpo/gpg/fkit.htm#forms-9.


[[Page 73533]]


    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this 
program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 
CFR Part 605.

    Issued in Washington DC on December 22, 1999.
Ralph H. De Lorenzo,
Acting Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 99-33939 Filed 12-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U