[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62238-62241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25257]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 03-04: 
Joint Interagency Program on Phytoremediation Research

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting 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 grants in 
the Joint Interagency Program on Phytoremediation Research. The DOE is 
cooperating with the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval 
Research, and the Strategic Environmental Research and Development 
Program in this joint announcement. The focus of the program is on 
basic research projects that address the fundamental mechanisms of 
interactions between plants, microorganisms, and contaminant chemicals 
in soils, sediments and water (potentially marine, estuarine, or 
freshwater systems) that result in the degradation, extraction, 
volatilization, or stabilization of the contaminant. Contaminants of 
interest include organic pollutants, radionuclides and metals. 
Information derived from such research should provide the knowledge

[[Page 62239]]

base to develop the effective use of plants to remediate hazardous 
wastes in the environment. This program is not appropriate for the 
simple field testing of plant species for their utility in 
phytoremediation or the specific application of phytoremediation to a 
particular waste site.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 4:30 p.m., 
E.S.T., January 15, 2003, to be accepted for merit review and to permit 
timely consideration for awards late in Fiscal Year 2003.

ADDRESSES: We encourage you to submit formal applications in response 
to this solicitation electronically through DOE's Industry Interactive 
Procurement System (IIPS) at: http://e-center.doe.gov/. IIPS provides 
for the posting of solicitations and receipt of applications in a 
paperless environment via the Internet. Applications must be submitted 
through IIPS in PDF format by an authorized institutional business 
official. Questions regarding the operation of IIPS may be e-mailed to 
the IIPS Help Desk at: center.doe.gov">HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or you may call the 
help desk at: (800) 683-0751. Further information on the use of IIPS by 
the Office of Science is available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.
    If you are unable to submit the application through IIPS, formal 
applications may be sent to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Science, Grants and Contracts Division, SC-64/Germantown Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290. ATTN: Program 
Notice 03-04.
    When submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, 
any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried by the 
applicant, the following address must be used: U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Science, Grants and Contracts Division, SC-64, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 03-04.

FURTHER INFORMATION/CONTACTS: The full text of Program Notice 03-04 is 
available via the Internet using the following web site address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. Further information, if 
needed, may be obtained from the Agency officials indicated below. E-
mail inquiries are preferred.

Dr. Anna Palmisano, 301-903-9963, Department of Energy, 
[email protected] .
Dr. Linda Chrisey, 703-696-4504, Office of Naval Research, 
[email protected].
Dr. Bruce Hamilton, 703-292-7066, Division of Bioengineering and 
Environmental Systems, National Science Foundation, [email protected].
Dr. Sharman D. O'Neill, 703-292-7888, Division of Integrative Biology 
and Neuroscience, National Science Foundation, [email protected].
Dr. Andrea Leeson, 703-696-2118, Strategic Environmental Research and 
Development Program, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Contaminants of concern have accumulated in 
various environmental media (soils, sediments, groundwater, seawater) 
as a consequence of anthropogenic activities. To reduce risk to humans 
or the environment, remedial technologies may be employed to remove, 
transform or reduce the concentration or bioavailability of potentially 
harmful contaminants. Contaminants (and corresponding media) for which 
harmful effects have been documented include:
    [sbull] Cd, Pb, Se in soils--Human disease and retardation;
    [sbull] Se in soil--Livestock and wildlife poisoning;
    [sbull] Mo in soil--Ruminant livestock poisoning;
    [sbull] Zn, Ni, Cu in acidic soils resulting from mines/smelting 
operations--Phytotoxicity to sensitive plants;
    [sbull] Organotin and Cu (from marine ship paints) in seawater/
sediments--accumulation in estuarine shellfish and other benthic biota;
    [sbull] Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's, all media)--Human 
carcinogens/mutagens;
    [sbull] Polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins (all media)--
Endocrine disruption in many organisms; carcinogens;
    [sbull] Radionuclides such as Ur, Tc, Cs, Sr from the legacy of 
nuclear weapons production, in surface soils and subsurface 
environments--Chemical, radiological and genetic toxicity;
    [sbull] Energetic compounds [such as trinitrotoluene; 1,3,5,7-
tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX); 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine 
(RDX); picric acid; and degradation products] in estuarine sediments--
toxicity toward various estuarine/freshwater species; and
    [sbull] Hg and As from a range of sources, in all media--may also 
create risks to humans and the environment.
    Although some of these contaminants can be remedied by conventional 
technologies, such as excavation/incineration, pump-and-treat, or 
dredging, phytoremediation, or the use of plants for remediation, may 
offer a more economical, effective alternative that is acceptable to 
the public. While specific phytoremediation approaches vary, the 
contaminant is either removed from soils and sediments for disposal or 
recycling, or left in place following stabilization. Research to 
elucidate basic mechanisms of phytoremediation and in contemplation of 
totally new applications (e.g., ``phycoremediation'' using estuarine/
marine algae, seaweeds and sea grasses) could ultimately lead to the 
development of a potentially valuable remediation strategy.
    Phytoremediation has been applied in a limited fashion for the 
clean up of both metals and organic pollutants in soils. Because metals 
cannot be degraded beyond their elemental states, bioremediation of 
metals and radionuclides in soils and other environmental media has 
been particularly difficult and expensive. The general strategies for 
phytoremediation of soil metals and/or radionuclides are (1) to 
phytoextract the contaminants into the plant shoots for recycling or 
less expensive disposal, and (2) to phytostabilize the elements through 
binding with organic matter into persistently non-bioavailable forms. 
Phytovolatilization, a process that may also remove metals from soil or 
water to air, has also been considered. The basic genetic, biochemical, 
physiological, ecological, and environmental mechanisms are not well 
known for any of these processes.
    Mechanisms similar to the phytoextraction and phytovolatilization 
of metals may also apply to the treatment of organic contaminants. In 
addition, the excretion of bioactive root exudates is an important 
route for either direct, enzymatic degradation of contaminants, as is 
the stimulation of the root-colonizing microbial assemblage. 
Observations from field tests indicate that many plants have the 
capacity to extract and degrade certain organic chemicals. However, 
there is little information available about the use of phytoremediation 
in contaminated marine environments. Potential scenarios for use of 
either submerged plants (e.g., seaweeds, sea grasses, algae) planted on 
site, or used in conjunction with confined aquatic disposal sites may 
be envisioned.
    Thus, in many situations, plants may offer an alternative means for 
clean-up of recalcitrant hazardous wastes. However, in most successful 
examples of phytoremediation, we lack information about the basic 
mechanisms plants employ to extract and/or degrade contaminants from 
polluted environments.

[[Page 62240]]

Program Description

    The need to prevent or ameliorate adverse environmental effects of 
persistent soil and sediment contaminants, and to do so at lower cost 
than existing technologies, has brought increased attention to 
phytoremediation. This program notice solicits applications for 
research projects that address the fundamental mechanisms of 
interactions between plants, microorganisms, and contaminant chemicals 
in soils, sediments and water (potentially marine, estuarine, or 
freshwater systems), which result in the degradation, extraction, 
volatilization, or stabilization of the contaminant. Such research 
should address relevant aspects of plant-microorganism-contaminant 
interactions, including the phenomena of biodegradation, 
biotransformation, extraction, and hyperaccumulation of contaminants by 
plants. Information derived from such research should inform efforts to 
develop the effective use of plants to remediate hazardous wastes. For 
example, collaborations among life scientists, environmental chemists 
and engineers are encouraged.
    Examples of research on organic, metal or radionuclide 
contamination that might be addressed include the following:
    [sbull] Extent and mechanisms of plant-microorganism interactions 
that facilitate phytoremediation;
    [sbull] Soil/sediment geochemistry, fertility, and cultivation 
practices that influence plant-microorganism-contaminant interactions;
    [sbull] Environmental factors (e.g., temperature, rainfall) that 
influence phytoremediation;
    [sbull] Molecular biological basis of contaminant hyperaccumulation 
by plants that will facilitate more efficient phytoremediation;
    [sbull] Fundamental processes by which plants take up or transform 
radionuclides or metals from contaminated soils and groundwater;
    [sbull] Biochemical and genetic basis for enhanced 
biotransformation of organic contaminants by plants and associated 
microorganisms; and
    [sbull] Potential for use of marine/estuarine plants for 
phytoremediation, to include study of biochemical or genetic mechanisms 
of resistance, and/or the development of molecular biology techniques 
for genetic manipulation of marine seaweeds/sea grasses.
    This program is not appropriate for the simple field testing of 
plant species for their utility in phytoremediation or the development 
of systems for the specific application of phytoremediation to 
particular environmental contamination problems. Applications for such 
research will not be considered. However, mechanistic studies conducted 
under field conditions are desirable. To avoid the high cost of 
establishing new field research sites, field studies should use well-
instrumented, characterized, and documented sites. Some appropriate 
sites that are available for field research are listed below. The named 
individuals should be contacted to ascertain the logistical and 
financial arrangements that will be necessary for research that is 
proposed at the site and these arrangements should be reflected in the 
application.
    [sbull] Various Department of Energy sites; Contact: Mr. Paul 
Bayer, 301-903-5324, [email protected]
    [sbull] Various Department of Navy sites; Contact: Dr. Linda 
Chrisey, 703-696-4504, [email protected]
    [sbull] The U.S. Navy's Port Hueneme, CA, site; Contact: Mr. Ernie 
Lory, 805-982-1299, FAX: 805-982-4304, [email protected]
    [sbull] Dover Air Force Base, DE; Contact: Tim McHale, 302-677-
4147, FAX: 302-677-6837, [email protected]
    Applicants must document where any proposed field research will be 
conducted and must include a letter from the site management indicating 
their commitment to participate in the research. Arrangements must be 
made in advance regarding the possible need for funding of activities 
at the field site. Do not presume that site management will be able to 
cover add-on research costs.
    This solicitation is offered under the auspices of the 
Environmental Biotechnology Task Force, Biotechnology Research Working 
Group, Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Committee on Science of the 
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). A more detailed 
statement of interagency interests and priorities in bioremediation 
research can be found in the Environmental Biotechnology chapter of the 
NSTC report, Biotechnology for the 21st Century: New Horizons http://www.nalusda.gov/bic/bio21.

Funds Available

    It is anticipated that up to $3 million will be available for 
multiple awards to be made in Fiscal Year 2003 in the categories 
described above, contingent on availability of appropriated funds, and 
the programmatic relevance of recommended projects to the participating 
agencies. An additional sum, up to $1 million, will be available for 
competition by DOE National Laboratories under a separate solicitation 
(LAB 03-04). Applications may request project support up to three 
years, with an upper limit of $150,000 per year. Out-year support is 
contingent on availability of funds, progress of the research and 
programmatic needs of the supporting agency. Each project selected for 
support will be funded by a single agency. The PI's will be notified by 
the agency program manager of the need for additional agency-specific 
forms or procedures.

Merit Review

    Applications will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review) 
and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria which 
are listed in descending order of importance 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.
    Also, as part of the evaluation, program policy factors become a 
selection priority. Note, external peer reviewers are selected with 
regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence of conflict-
of-interest issues. Federal and non-federal reviewers will be used, and 
submission of an application constitutes agreement that this is 
acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution.

Submission Information

    Information about the development, submission of applications, 
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, the 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 SC's Financial Assistance Application 
Guide is possible 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. In addition, for this notice, the research description 
must be 20 pages or less, exclusive of attachments, and must contain an 
abstract or summary of the proposed research (to include the hypotheses 
being tested, the proposed experimental design, and the names of all 
investigators and their affiliations). Attachments should include short 
(two

[[Page 62241]]

pages) 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.
    The Office of Science as part of its grant regulations requires at 
10 CFR 605.11(b) that a recipient receiving a grant and performing 
research involving recombinant DNA molecules and/or organisms and 
viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules shall comply with the NIH 
``Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules,'' which 
is available via the world wide web at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/biosafe/nih/rdna-apr98.pdf, (59 FR 34496, July 5, 1994), or such later 
revision of those guidelines as may be published in the Federal 
Register. Grantees must also comply with other federal and state laws 
and regulations as appropriate; for example, the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA) as it applies to genetically modified organisms. 
Although compliance with NEPA is the responsibility of DOE, grantees 
proposing to conduct field research are expected to provide information 
necessary for the DOE to complete the NEPA review and documentation.

(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 September 27, 2002.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 02-25257 Filed 10-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-03-P