[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72652-72657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30918]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 03-13: 
Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

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 Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) Program. 
The goal of the NABIR program is to provide the fundamental science 
that will serve as the basis for development of cost-effective 
bioremediation and long-term stewardship of radionuclides and metals in 
the subsurface at DOE sites. The focus of the program is on strategies 
leading to long-term immobilization of contaminants in place to reduce 
the risk to humans and the environment. Research should address 
bioremediation of uranium, technetium, plutonium, chromium or mercury. 
NABIR is focused on subsurface sediments below the zone of root 
influence and includes both the vadose (unsaturated) zone and the 
saturated zone (groundwater and sediments). Applications should 
describe research projects in one or more of the following program 
elements: Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, Community Dynamics and 
Microbial Ecology, Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Assessment, 
and Bioremediation and its Societal Implications and Concerns. Studies 
that integrate research from more than one NABIR element are strongly 
encouraged.

DATES: Researchers are strongly encouraged (but not required) to submit 
a preapplication for programmatic review. Preapplications will be 
accepted on an ongoing basis, however, early submission of 
preapplications is encouraged, to allow time for review for 
programmatic relevance. A brief preapplication should consist of one or 
two pages of narrative describing the research objectives and methods.
    The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 4:30 p.m., 
E.S.T., March 11, 2003, to be accepted for merit review and to permit 
timely consideration for awards late in Fiscal Year 2003 or in early 
Fiscal Year 2004.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice 03-13 should be 
sent by E-mail to science.doe.gov">anna.palmisano@science.doe.gov.
    Formal applications in response to this solicitation are to be 
electronically submitted by an authorized institutional business 
official 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. In order to submit applications through IIPS your 
business official will need to register at the IIPS Web site. The 
Office of Science will include attachments as part of this notice that 
provide the appropriate forms in PDF fillable format that are to be 
submitted through IIPS. Color images should be submitted in IIPS as a 
separate file in PDF format and identified as such. These images should 
be kept to a minimum due to the limitations of reproducing them. They 
should be numbered and referred to in the body of the technical 
scientific application as Color image 1, Color image 2, etc. 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 an application through IIPS please 
contact the Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Science at: (301) 
903-5212 in order to gain assistance for submission through IIPS or to 
receive special approval and instructions on how to submit printed 
applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Anna Palmisano, Environmental 
Remediation Sciences Division, SC-75/Germantown Building, Office of 
Biological and Environmental Research, Office of Science, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20585-1290, telephone: (301) 903-9963, E-mail: 
science.doe.gov">anna.palmisano@science.doe.gov, fax: (301) 903-8519. The full text of 
Program Notice 03-13 is available via the Internet using the following 
Web site address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/ grants/grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    For more than 50 years, the U.S. created a vast network of more 
than 113

[[Page 72653]]

facilities for research, development, testing and production of nuclear 
weapons. As a result of these activities, subsurface contamination has 
been identified at over 7,000 discrete sites across the U.S. Department 
of Energy complex. With the end of the Cold War threat, the DOE has 
shifted its emphasis to remediation, decommissioning, and 
decontamination of contaminated groundwater, sediments, and structures 
at its sites. DOE is currently responsible for remediating 1.7 trillion 
gallons of contaminated groundwater and 40 million cubic meters of 
contaminated soil. It is estimated that more than 60% of DOE facilities 
have groundwater contaminated with metals or radionuclides. More than 
50% of all DOE facilities have soils or sediments contaminated with 
radionuclides and metals. While virtually all of the contaminants found 
at industrial sites nationwide can also be found at DOE sites, many of 
the metals and most of the radionuclides are unique to DOE sites. The 
NABIR program aims: (1) To provide the fundamental knowledge that may 
lead to new remediation technologies or strategies for radionuclides 
and metals; and (2) to advance the understanding of the key 
microbiological and geochemical processes that control the 
effectiveness of in situ immobilization as a means of long term 
stewardship, and how these processes impact contaminant transport.
    While bioremediation of organic contaminants involves their 
biotransformation to benign products such as carbon dioxide, 
bioremediation of radionuclides and metals involves their removal from 
the aqueous phase to reduce risk to humans and the environment. 
Microorganisms can directly affect the solubility of radionuclides and 
metals by changing their oxidation state to a reduced form that leads 
to in situ immobilization. Or, microorganisms can indirectly immobilize 
radionuclides and metals through the reduction of inorganic ions that 
can, in turn, chemically reduce contaminants to less mobile forms. The 
long term stability of these reduced contaminants is as yet unknown.
    Currently, the fundamental knowledge that would allow cost-
effective deployment of in situ subsurface bioremediation of 
radionuclides and metals is lacking. The focus of the NABIR program is 
on radionuclides and metals that: (1) Pose the greatest potential risk 
to humans and the environment at DOE sites; and (2) are amenable to for 
immobilization by means of bioremediation. Thus, research is focused on 
the radionuclides uranium, technetium and plutonium and the metals 
chromium and mercury. Radioactive contaminants such as tritium and 
cobalt are not a focus because of their relatively short half lives, 
and strontium and cesium are not addressed because they are not readily 
amenable to biotransformation. Research is focused on subsurface 
sediments below the zone of root influence and includes both the vadose 
(unsaturated) zone and the saturated zone (both groundwater and 
sediments). NABIR research is oriented toward areas that have low 
levels of widespread contamination; it is too costly to clean up those 
situations with existing technologies. Uranium, technetium, and 
chromium can be especially mobile in the subsurface under certain 
conditions; they are risk-driving contaminants at some DOE sites. The 
effects of co-contaminants such as nitrate, complexing agents (such as 
EDTA) and chlorinated solvents (such as trichloroethylene and carbon 
tetrachloride) on the behavior of radionuclides and metals in the 
subsurface is also of interest to the NABIR program.

NABIR Program

    The goal of the NABIR program is to provide the fundamental science 
that will serve as the basis for development of cost-effective 
bioremediation and long-term stewardship of radionuclides and metals in 
the subsurface at DOE sites. The focus of the program is on strategies 
leading to long-term immobilization in place of contaminants to reduce 
the risk to humans and the environment. The NABIR program encompasses 
both intrinsic bioremediation by naturally occurring microbial 
communities, as well as accelerated bioremediation through the use of 
biostimulation (addition of inorganic or organic nutrients). The NABIR 
Program supports hypothesis-driven, basic research that is more 
fundamental in nature than demonstration projects. Research on 
phytoremediation will not be supported by this solicitation; a separate 
solicitation for a Joint Interagency Program on Phytoremediation 
Research can be found at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/Fr03-04.html.
    Naturally occurring subsurface microbes may be involved in 
intrinsic bioremediation of radionuclides and metals by reduction and 
immobilization, either directly or indirectly. However, these natural 
processes typically occur at fairly slow rates, and there may be a need 
to use biostimulation to enhance the rates. The primary focus of the 
NABIR program is on biostimulation strategies, due to the ubiquity of 
metal-reducers in nature. Immobilized radionuclides and metals are not 
removed from the subsurface as may occur with excavation, pump and 
treat, or biodegradation of organic contaminants. Immobilization is 
focused on containment in vadose zone and groundwater plumes. As such, 
it may be a strategy applied to prevent the discharge of deep or widely 
distributed contaminants from the vadose zone to groundwater, or from 
groundwater to a receiving water body (e.g., the Columbia River at 
Hanford). In situ immobilization of contaminants is one approach to 
long term stewardship, which is the post-closure responsibility of DOE 
at its contaminated sites. Long term stewardship involves long-term 
monitoring and other maintenance activities to ensure that residual in-
ground contaminants do not spread further. Therefore, an important 
aspect to the NABIR program is to assess factors controlling the long-
term stability of the immobilized contaminants and to devise approaches 
(biological/chemical) to maintain their immobilization through the 
stewardship phase.
    The NABIR program consists of four interrelated Science Elements 
(Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, Community Dynamics and Microbial 
Ecology, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering). Innovative method 
development for the Science Elements is supported under the Assessment 
Element. The program also includes an element addressing ethical, legal 
and societal issues called Bioremediation and its Societal Implications 
and Concerns (BASIC). The NABIR program strongly encourages researchers 
to integrate laboratory and field research at DOE or DOE-relevant 
sites. More information on the NABIR program may be found at: http://www.lbl.gov/NABIR.

The NABIR Field Research Center (FRC) and Other Field Research Sites

    The NABIR FRC provides a site for investigators to conduct field-
scale research and to obtain DOE-relevant subsurface samples for 
laboratory-based studies of bioremediation. The FRC is located on the 
U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation in Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee, and it is operated by the Environmental Sciences Division of 
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The contaminated and background 
(uncontaminated control) areas are located in Bear Creek Valley (BCV) 
within the Y-12 Plant area. See: http://www.esd.ornl.gov/nabirfrc for 
more detailed information on the NABIR FRC.
    The contaminated research site at the FRC is a 98-hectare plot 
containing

[[Page 72654]]

uranium, nitrate, technetium, strontium, and cadmium in groundwater, 
soils, and sediments. To a lesser extent, metals such as mercury, 
copper, zinc, and lead, and organics such as acetone, methylene 
chloride, tetrachloroethylene, and toluene are also present. The 
contaminated area includes the commingled groundwater plumes that 
originated from a combination of the S-3 Waste Disposal Ponds and the 
Bone Yard/Burn Yard. Both the background and contaminated areas are 
well-characterized and well-instrumented, and should be available for a 
duration of five to ten years. The water table resides between 0 and 3 
m below the surface and is readily accessible through multilevel 
groundwater monitoring wells.
    The initial focus of NABIR field research is on in situ 
biostimulation experiments to promote immobilization of uranium. 
Understanding natural and stimulated uranium biotransformation in the 
presence of high nitrate and low pH in unconsolidated residuum and 
fractured rock is one of the biggest challenges at the FRC at Oak 
Ridge, and at other DOE sites. NABIR researchers conduct controlled, 
field-scale hypothesis testing at the FRC. In addition, the FRC is 
currently providing subsurface samples for 20 laboratory-based NABIR 
projects. These projects span all NABIR Science Elements as well as the 
cross-cutting Assessment and BASIC Elements. Site characterization 
activities are ongoing and will result in a rich database for use by 
NABIR researchers. The FRC is responsible for data management, systems 
integration, and fundamental hydrological and geochemical modeling of 
the contaminated and background sites. The FRC makes these data and 
models accessible to all NABIR researchers.
    While the FRC provides a major focus for the NABIR program, it is 
recognized that other sites that represent the different 
hydrogeological regimes found at DOE sites will also be valuable to 
researchers. A large fraction of the national inventory of DOE wastes 
resides in unconsolidated, porous media in relatively thick, vadose 
zones and in groundwaters low in soluble organic carbon. For this 
reason, NABIR investigators are encouraged to take advantage of 
opportunities to collect and analyze samples from arid western 
environments that typify the Hanford Reservation and Uranium Mill 
Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) sites. For further information on 
NABIR Field Research, please contact Mr. Paul Bayer (paul.bayer@ 
science.doe.gov), the NABIR Field Activities Manager.
    NABIR investigators may want to take advantage of the capabilities 
of the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at the 
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (http://www.emsl.pnl.gov). EMSL 
provides users with unique and state-of-the-art resources including 
facilities for high field magnetic resonance, high performance mass 
spectrometry, interfacial and nanoscale science, molecular science 
computing, and optical imaging and spectroscopy.

Current Request for Applications

    Research projects that address the scientific aims of individual 
NABIR elements including Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, Community 
Dynamics, Biomolecular Science and Engineering, as well as the cross 
cutting elements Assessment and BASIC are solicited in this 
announcement. Integrative, interdisciplinary studies that involve 
research from more than one element are especially encouraged. The 
focus is on field research, or laboratory studies that can be scaled to 
the field, to provide supporting information for current or future 
field research. The NABIR Field Research Center (FRC) provides an 
opportunity for researchers to work at a DOE site in collaboration with 
scientists from different research elements. Studies at the NABIR FRC 
show that microbial reduction of radionuclides and metals is affected 
by the presence of nitrate and low pH. Thus, research into microbial 
mechanisms involved in the reduction of radionuclides and metals in 
this type of subsurface environment is of special interest.
    Biogeochemistry: The goal of this element is to understand the 
fundamental biogeochemical reactions that would lead to long-term 
immobilization of metal and radionuclide contaminants in the 
subsurface. The focus is on reactions that govern the concentration, 
chemical speciation, and distribution of metals and radionuclides 
between the aqueous and solid phases. Biogeochemical reactions in 
subsurface environments are influenced by a wide variety of factors, 
including the availability of electron donors and acceptors, the nature 
of the microbial community, the chemical species or form of 
contaminant, the hydrogeology of the site, and the nature of the 
environmental matrix. Often several competing redox reactions make the 
prediction of the substrates, products, and kinetics difficult. The 
biogeochemical reactions are further complicated by the sorption of 
contaminants and reaction products to mineral surfaces, and the 
presence of natural organic matter and co-contaminants. The research 
challenge is to identify and prioritize the key biogeochemical 
reactions that are needed to predict the rate and extent of reactions 
that result in the immobilization of radionuclides and metals. New and 
creative scientific approaches are sought that address the following 
fundamental research questions:
    [sbull] To increase immobilization of radionuclides and metals, 
what are the principal biogeochemical reactions that govern the 
concentration, chemical speciation, and distribution of metals and 
radionuclides between the aqueous and solid phases (with an emphasis on 
natural geological matrices)? What are the thermodynamic and kinetic 
controls on these reactions? How do factors such as co-contaminants, 
sorption processes, and terminal electron acceptors (e.g., nitrate, 
iron, sulfate), influence these reactions?
    [sbull] Under what conditions would the contaminants remobilize, 
and what alterations to the environment would increase the long term 
stability of metals and radionuclides in the subsurface?
    [sbull] What influence do hydrological processes such as reactive 
transport, advective/dispersive transport and colloidal transport have 
on the biological availability, biotransformation, and movement of 
radionuclides and metals?
    Biotransformation: The goal of this element is to understand the 
mechanisms of microbially mediated transformation of metals and 
radionuclides in subsurface environments leading to in situ 
immobilization and long term stability. Physiological studies of the 
biotransformation of metals and radionuclides by subsurface 
microorganisms will provide the knowledge base needed to understand 
intrinsic bioremediation and to stimulate biotransformation in situ.
    DOE subsurface sites encompass a range of redox environments where 
contaminants such as uranium are present. One challenge is to 
understand the impact of these environments on microbial physiological 
processes involved in the biotransformation of radionuclides and metals 
to an immobilized form. Knowledge of the metabolic pathways for 
biotransformation of these contaminants by naturally occurring 
microbial communities in vadose zones, saturated zones and the waste 
plume is needed. A second challenge is to accelerate the rates of these 
physiological processes in situ, in complex subsurface

[[Page 72655]]

environments. Biotransformation of metals and radionuclides in the 
subsurface is poorly understood, and predictive models based on 
laboratory studies have not always accurately simulated the observed 
fate of metals and radionuclides in the field. It is important to 
understand the kinetics of desirable metal and radionuclide 
biotransformations and the physicochemical factors affecting those 
kinetics in the field. Research is needed to address questions such as:
    [sbull] What are the primary metabolic pathways for 
biotransformation of radionuclides and/or metals by subsurface 
microorganisms at DOE sites, such as the FRC? Physiological processes 
studied at the laboratory scale will need to demonstrate how results 
will be scaled to the field.
    [sbull] How can metal reduction be harnessed or accelerated to 
immobilize radionuclides and/or metals in the subsurface? Can in situ 
production of organic acids, chelators, or extracellular polymers 
affect contaminant mobility?
    [sbull] What environmental controls affect microbial physiological 
processes involved in radionuclide and metal biotransformations leading 
to immobilization in vadose and saturated zones? What factors inhibit 
these biotransformations in situ?
    [sbull] How can we quantify in situ biotransformation kinetics so 
that these parameters can be applied to numerical models of field scale 
bioremediation?
    Community Dynamics and Microbial Ecology: The goal of this element 
is to determine the potential for natural microbial communities to 
immobilize radionuclides and metals. In particular, research focuses 
on: (1) Understanding the structure and function of microbial 
communities in the subsurface at DOE sites contaminated with metals and 
radionuclides; and (2) identifying and optimizing the in situ growth of 
microorganisms that transform radionuclides and metals. This research 
will enhance our ability to predict the effectiveness of intrinsic 
bioremediation and to optimize microbial community composition for in 
situ immobilization of these contaminants. Diverse microbial 
communities can be found in subsurface environments. These communities 
represent an untapped catalytic potential for biotransformation of 
radionuclides and metals. Most of these microbes, however, are as yet 
uncultured using current methods. One challenge is to determine if 
sufficient genotypic and/or phenotypic potential exists to support 
natural and/or accelerated (biostimulated) bioremediation. Knowledge of 
microbial community structure and function may ultimately provide the 
ability to control or stimulate subsurface communities capable of 
biotransformation of radionuclides and metals. A second challenge is to 
optimize the community structure and activity for immobilization and 
metals, and to determine the long term stability of bioremediative 
communities. Research is needed to address questions such as:
    [sbull] Is there sufficient biological activity and diversity in 
subsurface environments to support natural and/or accelerated 
bioremediation of metals and radionuclides?
    [sbull] What are the effects of metal and radionuclide 
contamination on microbial community structure and function, 
particularly on populations that transform radionuclides and metals? 
What are the effects of key physical, chemical and hydrological factors 
on community structure and function, as it relates to immobilization of 
metals and radionuclides?
    [sbull] What is the role of consortial interactions in subsurface 
environments contaminated with radionuclides and metals? Such 
interactions might include competition for electron donors and 
acceptors, or consortial interactions in the biotransformation of 
metals and radionuclides.
    [sbull] What is the potential importance of gene transfer in 
natural microbial communities at subsurface sites contaminated with 
radionuclides or metals?
    Those studies that link structure to function of microbial 
communities that immobilize metals and/or radionuclides at DOE sites 
are especially encouraged.
    Biomolecular Science and Engineering: Research in this element 
provides a knowledge base, at the biomolecular level, of the processes 
leading to the in situ immobilization of radionuclides and metals by 
indigenous subsurface microorganisms. The primary goal of this element 
is to understand the genetic, biochemical, and regulatory processes 
that mediate biotransformation of these specific radionuclides and 
metals, leading to their immobilization. Characterization of genes, 
gene products, and genetic regulatory networks associated with these 
biotransformations is key to this understanding. Detailed studies of 
the enzymatic mechanisms for reduction of radionuclides and/or metals 
are needed to increase our understanding of in situ processes and to 
identify gene targets for better molecular assessment of radionuclide 
and metal reduction. Secondary goals include: (1) Understanding 
molecular mechanisms of resistance of subsurface microorganisms to 
radionuclide and metal toxicity; (2) understanding, at a molecular 
level, the processes of lateral transfer between microbes of genes 
involved in biotransformation of these radionuclides and metals; (3) 
developing novel technologies to provide insights into biomolecular 
mechanisms of metal and radionuclide biotransformation; and (4) 
developing approaches to manipulate pathways and enzyme systems that 
mediate these biotransformations.
    DOE subsurface sites encompass a wide range of environments with a 
diversity of microbial communities and contaminants. One of the 
challenges of the Biomolecular Science and Engineering Element is to 
select microbes for studies that are active members of subsurface 
microbial communities. A second challenge is to extrapolate laboratory 
findings on pure cultures under laboratory conditions to complex in 
situ environmental conditions. This extrapolation is especially 
critical in studying gene expression, which may be modified by changes 
in local cellular environments in the subsurface. A third challenge is 
to take advantage of genomic and other data derived from the DOE 
Microbial Genome Program (http://www.ornl.gov/microbialgenomes) on 
subsurface microorganisms to increase our understanding of how genes 
relevant to bioremediation are expressed in the environment. Research 
is needed to address questions such as:
    [sbull] How are genes regulated in subsurface microorganisms that 
are responsible for biotransformation and immobilization of 
radionuclides and metals? How are genes regulated in these 
microorganisms to promote survival in the presence of potentially toxic 
levels of these contaminants?
    [sbull] What are the effects of key environmental parameters on 
regulation and expression of genes involved in metal/radionuclide 
reduction? For example, how do pH and co-contaminants such as nitrate 
impact the biochemistry and gene expression and regulation of uranium 
and technetium reduction?
    [sbull] What are the basic biomolecular mechanisms of uranium and 
technetium reduction and reoxidation in microorganisms, primarily those 
indigenous to the subsurface? How can biomolecular processes be 
manipulated to enhance the sustainability of immobilization of uranium, 
technetium or chromium? Are there novel biomolecular mechanisms that 
can be used to immobilize mercury or plutonium?
    [sbull] What are the biomolecular mechanisms involved in lateral 
transfer

[[Page 72656]]

of metal/radionlucide reduction genes in subsurface microbial 
communities?
    Applications should primarily focus on indigenous subsurface 
microorganisms that can precipitate and immobilize these radionuclides 
and metals. The ultimate goal of this element is to improve our ability 
to predict and manipulate the activities of microbes in situ, 
particularly in an in situ immobilization scenario.
    Assessment: Assessment is a cross-cutting element with a goal to 
develop innovative methods to assess processes and endpoints in support 
of the NABIR Science Elements. Thus, assessment projects are being 
sought that support the Science Elements of Biogeochemistry, 
Biotransformation, Community Dynamics/Microbial Ecology, and 
Biomolecular Science and Engineering. Methods may range from molecular 
to field scale, but they should improve the understanding of in situ 
bioremediation processes in subsurface environments contaminated with 
radionuclides and metals. Priority will be given to research 
applications that could lead to fieldable, cost-effective, real time 
assessment techniques and/or instrumentation. NABIR will not fund 
projects that examine endpoints relating to human health risks. 
Research should address the development of innovative and effective 
methods for assessing or quantifying:
    [sbull] Biogeochemical or biotransformation processes and rates, 
and microbial community structure and function relative to 
bioremediation of metals and radionuclides.
    [sbull] Bioremediation end points, in particular, the 
concentration, speciation and stability of radionuclide and metal 
contaminants.
    Techniques must enable NABIR science and address specific science 
needs of the program. The applicant should explain the potential impact 
and contribution to the NABIR program, as well as the relevance and 
potential usefulness of the innovation.
    Bioremediation and its Societal Implications and Concerns (BASIC): 
The objective of this element is to identify and explore societal 
issues associated with NABIR. BASIC is designed to provide information 
on issues that might influence the implementation of NABIR science and 
to involve NABIR scientists in discussions about the societal 
implication of their research. The BASIC program may also provide an 
avenue to identify key issues and sensitivities involved in 
bioremediation strategies, such as immobilization of metals and 
radionuclides in situ as a means of long-term stewardship.
    Major focus areas for BASIC research include (1) Identifying and 
prioritizing societal and regulatory issues associated with 
bioremediation of metals and radionuclides in subsurface environments, 
particularly strategies that entail immobilization in place; (2) 
fostering collaboration between NABIR scientists and site stakeholders 
and (3) enhancing the understanding and communication of NABIR research 
to stakeholder communities and others. Quantitative approaches and 
integration with other NABIR program elements are strongly encouraged. 
BASIC grants will not extend beyond two years beyond the award date. 
All grant applications should provide a plan for evaluation of progress 
or outcomes. Where a product (guidelines, recommendations, documents, 
etc.) is the result, dissemination plans including timelines must be 
discussed.
    The NABIR program also encourages smaller grant applications (up to 
$35,000 total costs) for innovative and exploratory activities within 
the BASIC area. Such exploratory grants could be used to carry out 
pilot investigative research on an issue consistent with any of the 
above areas of BASIC research, support a sabbatical leave to organize 
and hold a conference, or to initiate start-up studies that could 
generate preliminary data for a subsequent grant application. Such 
small grant applications must use the standard DOE application forms 
procedures outlined below, but should have a narrative section no more 
than five pages. These small grants, which will be peer reviewed, will 
not extend beyond one year from the award date.

Integrative Studies

    This solicitation especially encourages those studies that 
integrate research from more than one NABIR research element through 
laboratory and/or field research. This interdisciplinary research 
should focus on achieving the primary goals of the NABIR program 
through collaborative studies in which the experimental design 
integrates two or more NABIR elements. Interdisciplinary teams may 
include participation from two or more research areas that might 
include: microbiology, geochemistry, hydrology, environmental 
engineering, numerical modeling or other disciplines. Partnering with 
specific field experiments may provide information for hypothesis 
testing. Such integrative studies might include, for example:
    [sbull] Employing numerical modeling to integrate information from 
more than one element, such as Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, and 
Community Dynamics and Microbial Ecology, to better predict in situ 
immobilization of metals and radionuclides.
    [sbull] Studies of the effects of key physical, geochemical and 
hydrological parameters on the structure and function of subsurface 
microbial communities engaged in metal/radionuclide biotransformation 
and immobilization.
    [sbull] Integration of new methods in the Assessment element with 
actual application to studies of biotransformation or biogeochemistry 
of radionuclide/metal reduction and precipitation.
    [sbull] Linking chemical speciation of radionuclides and metals in 
subsurface environments to the bioavailability of those contaminants to 
microorganisms.
    [sbull] Studies on the changes of subsurface microbial community 
structure and function, and the effect on net rates of 
biotransformation during biostimulation experiments.
    [sbull] Partnership between any of the Science Elements and 
research in BASIC.

Additional Information for Applications

    It is anticipated that up to $3 million will be available for 
multiple awards to be made in late Fiscal Year 2003 and early Fiscal 
Year 2004 in the categories described above, contingent on availability 
of appropriated funds. An additional sum, up to $3 million, will be 
available for competition by DOE National Laboratories under a separate 
solicitation (LAB 03-13). Applications for all elements except for 
BASIC may request project support up to three years, with out-year 
support contingent on availability of funds, progress of the research 
and programmatic needs. Applications for BASIC may request support for 
two years, or one year for exploratory activities. Annual budgets for 
projects are expected to range from $100,000 to $300,000 total costs. 
Annual budgets for integrative studies involving participants 
representing more than one research element may range up to $450,000. 
All applications should include letters of agreement to collaborate 
from potential collaborators; these letters should specify the 
contributions the collaborators intend to make if the application is 
accepted and funded. DOE may encourage collaboration among prospective 
investigators to promote joint applications or joint research projects 
by using information obtained through the preliminary applications or 
through other forms of communication.

[[Page 72657]]

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.
    For renewals, progress on previous NABIR funded research will be an 
important criterion for evaluation. As part of the evaluation, program 
policy factors also 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 
if an award is not made. 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). Applicants 
who have had prior NABIR support must include a Progress Section with a 
brief description of results and a list of publications derived from 
that funding. Attachments should include short (2 pages) curriculum 
vitae, QA/QC plan, 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).
    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 
National Institutes of Health (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.
    Additional information on the NABIR Program is available at the 
following Web site: http://www.lbl.gov/NABIR/. For researchers who do 
not have access to the world wide web, please contact Karen Carlson; 
Environmental Sciences Division, SC-74/Germantown Building; U.S. 
Department of Energy; 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-1290; phone: (301) 903-3338; fax: (301) 903-8519; E-mail: 
science.doe.gov">karen.carlson@science.doe.gov; for hard copies of background material 
mentioned in this solicitation.

(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 2, 2002.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 02-30918 Filed 12-5-02; 8:45 am]
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