[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70788-70793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31331]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice DE-FG01-
04ER04-06: 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 
understanding the role of microorganisms in long-term immobilization of 
contaminants in place, and the potential for their remobilization. 
Contaminants of interest are 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 
categories: (1) Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, Community Dynamics 
and Microbial Ecology, or Assessment; (2) Interdisciplinary studies 
that integrate research from more than one NABIR element; or (3) 
Projects to be performed at the NABIR Field Research Center (FRC) 
addressing field scale processes that immobilize uranium and/or 
technetium; field teams must include, at a minimum, expertise in 
microbiology, geochemistry and hydrology.

DATES: Researchers are strongly encouraged to submit a preapplication 
for programmatic review. Preapplications should be submitted on or 
before February 6, 2004, for review for programmatic relevance.
    The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 4:30 p.m., 
E.S.T., March 9, 2004, to be accepted for merit review and to permit 
timely consideration for awards late in Fiscal Year 2004 or in early 
Fiscal Year 2005.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-
06, should be sent by E-mail to: [email protected].
    Formal applications referencing Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-06, 
must be sent electronically by an authorized institutional business 
official through DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) 
at: http://www.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. IIPS 
offers the option of using multiple files, please limit submissions to 
one volume and one file if possible, with a maximum of no more than 
four PDF files. 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 grant 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: [email protected], 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 or (301) 903-3604, 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: Mr. Paul Bayer, 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) 903-5324, e-mail: 
[email protected], fax: (301) 903-8519. The full text of 
Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-06, is available via the Internet using 
the following Web site address: http://www.science.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 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 percent of DOE facilities have groundwater contaminated with 
metals or radionuclides. More than 50 percent 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,

[[Page 70789]]

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.

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. 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. 
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 (known as natural attenuation) 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. Thus, understanding the 
potential for remobilization of contaminants is of special interest.
    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 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). Research 
on phytoremediation will not be supported by this solicitation.
    NABIR 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. The NABIR Program 
supports hypothesis-driven, basic research that is more fundamental in 
nature than demonstration projects.
    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

    To encourage hypothesis-based field research and process-level 
understanding, the NABIR program established the Field Research Center 
(FRC) for long-term field studies. The FRC provides a site for 
investigators to conduct field-scale research and to obtain DOE-
relevant subsurface samples for laboratory-based studies of 
bioremediation, and it is located on the U.S. Department of Energy Oak 
Ridge Reservation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The FRC is operated by the 
Environmental Sciences Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 
and it includes a contaminated and a background (uncontaminated 
control) area for in situ studies. Both areas are located in Bear Creek 
Valley (BCV) within the Y-12 Plant area.
    The contaminated research site at the FRC is a 98-hectare plot 
containing uranium, nitrate, technetium-99, 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 groundwater plume that originated 
from the S-3 Waste Disposal Ponds.
    The background area is approximately 163 hectares and is located in 
West Bear Creek Valley, about 2 km from the contaminated area. The area 
lies directly along the geologic strike of the contaminated area and 
is, therefore, underlain by nearly identical geology, mineralogy, and 
structure. No known contaminants have been disposed at this location 
throughout the history of DOE operations. The majority of the area is 
heavily wooded, with the exception of the Bear Creek floodplain.
    Both the background and contaminated areas are well-characterized 
and well-instrumented, and should be available for five to ten years. 
The water table resides between 0 and 3 meters below the surface and is 
readily accessible through multilevel groundwater monitoring wells.
    The FRC is responsible for general site characterization activities 
and provides 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 
researchers. See: http://www.esd.ornl.gov/nabirfrc for more detailed 
information on the NABIR FRC.
    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 
([email protected]), the NABIR Field Activities Manager.

Resources at DOE User Facilities

    Applicants are encouraged to propose making use of the capabilities 
provided by DOE's National Scientific User Facilities. The 
instrumentation and experimental facilities at these user facilities 
are available free of charge to users who agree to publish their 
findings in the peer reviewed literature. Applicants may be interested 
in one or

[[Page 70790]]

more of the following DOE user facilities:
    Applicants may be interested in the capabilities offered at the 
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), which is located at 
the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA. EMSL 
provides users with unique and leading edge instrumentation for 
molecular-level studies, including a wide variety of capabilities in 
spectroscopy and microscopy, particle characterization and imaging, and 
meter-scale reactive transport. These experimental capabilities are 
located within EMSL's high field magnetic resonance, high performance 
mass spectrometry, interfacial and nanoscale science and optical 
imaging and spectroscopy facilities. In addition, the high-performance 
molecular science computing facility within the EMSL includes an 11.8 
TeraFlop supercomputer for use in reactive transport and flow modeling. 
See http://www.emsl.pnl.gov for further information.
    Applicants may also be interested in the molecular-level 
capabilities for studying the speciation, properties or behavior of 
contaminants that are available through DOE's synchrotron radiation 
facilities. Information concerning the types of analytical techniques 
available at specific synchrotron facilities is available through 
EnviroSync, a national organization that represents molecular 
environmental science at the synchrotrons. See http://www.cems.stonybrook.edu/envirosync/ for further information.

Current Request for Applications

    Research projects should address the scientific aims of: (1) 
Individual NABIR elements including Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation, 
Community Dynamics and Assessment; (2) Integrative, interdisciplinary 
studies that involve research from more than one element; or (3) Field 
research projects to be performed at the NABIR FRC in Oak Ridge, 
Tennessee. 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 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, and the potential for remobilization. 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 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

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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.
    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, and Community Dynamics/Microbial Ecology. 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.
    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 should include participation from two or more 
research areas such as 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.

Field Scale Bioremediation Experiments

    Although bioremediation of radionuclides and metals has been 
studied in the laboratory, and bioremediation technologies have been 
demonstrated in the field, there are few examples of carefully 
controlled, hypothesis-driven, in situ bioremediation research at the 
field-scale. The FRC provides opportunities for such field-scale 
experiments.
    The S-3 Ponds were the primary source of contamination detected in 
the contaminated zone of the FRC. The S-3 Ponds consisted of four 
unlined ponds constructed in 1951 on the west end of the Y-12 Plant at 
Oak Ridge. Liquid wastes, composed primarily of nitric acid plating 
wastes containing nitrate and various radionuclides and metals (e.g., 
uranium and technetium), were disposed in the ponds until 1983. Waste 
disposal activities at the Y-12 Plant created a mixed waste plume of 
contamination in the underlying unconsolidated residuum (primarily 
saprolite and fill) and shale bedrock. The ponds were neutralized and 
denitrified in 1984, and capped in 1988, and the area is now a parking 
lot.
    Three areas in the contaminated zone are currently identified as 
the primary targets for in situ studies. Areas 1 and 3 are located 
adjacent and directly south and west, respectively, of the S-3 Ponds 
parking lot and Area 2 is located several hundred feet to the southwest 
of the parking lot. Applicants may choose to propose research for Area 
1 (a high nitrate, low pH site), Area 2 (a low nitrate, circumneutral 
site) or Area 3 (a very high contaminant concentration, very low pH 
site). More detailed information on Areas 1, 2 and 3 can be found on 
the NABIR FRC Web site

[[Page 70792]]

(http://public.ornl.gov/nabirfrc/area123.cfm).
    The initial focus of in situ research conducted at the FRC has been 
on biostimulation experiments to understand or promote the 
immobilization of uranium and technetium by microbial processes. 
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. The NABIR program is currently funding 
the following three in situ projects within the contaminated area of 
the FRC: (1) A stimulated biocurtain for uranium biotransformation 
combined with denitification; (2) push-pull tests to determine the 
kinetics of electron-acceptor and electron-donor use for microbially-
mediated uranium and technetium reduction and reoxidation; and (3) 
stimulation of microbial uranium reduction in hydrologically-accessible 
fractured zones to precipitate uranium oxide and isolate the uranium in 
low-permeability porous regions. Applicants should attempt to 
complement existing projects; additional information can be found at 
http://public.ornl.gov/nabirfrc/awards.cfm.
    For this solicitation, the NABIR program is seeking applications 
that focus on in situ studies that are aligned with the short- and mid-
term scientific tasks outlined in the recently completed strategic plan 
for the FRC (http://public.ornl.gov/nabirfrc/FRCStrategicPlan070103.pdf). Applications should therefore focus on 
field conditions or processes that affect microbial oxidation/reduction 
and contaminant transport at the meter or tens of meters scale. The 
results of in situ research should lead to improved parameters for 
modeling the fate and transport of uranium, technetium or other 
contaminants. For example, research could be undertaken on microbial 
metal reduction in the presence of preferential contaminant flow 
pathways in the saprolite or in reworked fill, during storm events, in 
the vadose zone, at increasing distance from the source, or at the 
seasonally variable capillary fringe. Research findings are expected to 
be useful for incorporation into a site-wide FRC model for reactive 
transport and groundwater flow.
    Applicants must propose a testable hypothesis that is based on 
microbially-mediated mechanisms of immobilization for in situ field 
research, and they should describe a detailed technical approach that 
should include: (1) Establishing a defined (surface area and depth) 
experimental and control plot within the proposed contaminated field 
site; and (2) manipulating the experimental plot by amendments of 
nutrients or other chemicals that might stimulate microbial communities 
to immobilize uranium or technetium. The technical approach must be 
described in phases such that completion of each phase could result in 
publishable results. A statistically robust sampling regimen to 
determine the efficacy of the manipulation should also be described. 
Moreover, the applicant must explain the technical feasibility of 
performing the proposed field research. Technology demonstration 
projects will not be funded by this solicitation.
    The applicants must propose research to be performed as an 
interdisciplinary team including, at a minimum, expertise in 
microbiology, geochemistry, and hydrology. The Principal Investigator 
for the team must have prior experience in relevant field research, and 
the activities of each team member must be clearly defined. Multi-
institutional partnerships are strongly encouraged; for example, 
applicants may draw expertise from National Laboratories, academia, and 
other institutions engaged in basic research. The successful team must 
be willing to partner with other funded NABIR investigators who may 
wish to obtain samples in conjunction with the proposed field studies.
    Although compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
is the responsibility of DOE, successful applicants who propose to 
conduct field research are expected to provide information necessary 
for the DOE to complete the NEPA review and documentation. Successful 
applicants will also be expected to brief and to obtain approval of 
their written work plan from the Field Research Review Panel (FRRP) 
prior to beginning their field work. For this solicitation, applicants 
should describe how they would communicate their proposed experimental 
design and their results to stakeholders, regulators, and community 
groups. Applicants may wish to review the FRC Communication Plan, which 
can be found on the FRC web site. All applicants should discuss other 
relevant societal issues, where appropriate, which may include 
intellectual property protection, and communication with and outreach 
to affected communities (including members of affected minority 
communities where appropriate) to explain the proposed research. For 
further information on NABIR Field Research, please contact Mr. Paul 
Bayer ([email protected]), the NABIR Field Activities Manager.

Additional Information for Applications

Long Term Environmental Remediation Goals

    The following indicators establish specific long term goals in 
Scientific Advancement that the BER program is committed to, and 
against which progress can be measured.
    Environmental Remediation: Develop science-based solutions for 
cleanup and long-term monitoring of DOE contaminated sites. By 2013, a 
significant fraction of DOE's long-term stewardship sites will employ 
advanced biology-based clean up solutions and science-based monitors.
    All grant proposals should address one or more of these measures 
and/or explain how the proposed research supports the broad scientific 
objectives outlined above. More information on the program and the 
scientific research it supports can be found at our Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/ober/.

Preapplications

    A brief preapplication should be submitted. The preapplication 
should identify, on the cover sheet, the institution, Principal 
Investigator name, address, telephone, fax and E-mail address, and 
title of the project. The preapplication should consist of one or two 
pages of narrative describing the research objectives and methods. 
These will be reviewed for responsiveness to the scope and research 
needs described in this notice. Please note that notification of a 
successful preapplication is not an indication that an award will be 
made in response to the formal application.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that up to $3 million will be available for 
multiple awards to be made in late Fiscal Year 2004, and early Fiscal 
Year 2005, 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 04-06). Applications may request 
project support up to three years, with out-year support contingent on 
availability of funds, progress of the research and programmatic needs. 
Annual budgets for Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation or Community 
Dynamic projects are expected to range from $100,000 to $300,000 total 
costs. Annual budgets for integrative studies involving participants 
representing

[[Page 70793]]

more than one research element may range up to $450,000. Annual budgets 
for interdisciplinary field research projects at the FRC are expected 
to range from $300,000 to $1,000,000 for total costs. Costs for 
drilling at the FRC should not be included in the applicant's budget. 
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. DOE is under no obligation to pay 
for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of 
applications if an award is not made.

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.
    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, 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 the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH) or the National Science Foundation (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 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: 
[email protected]; 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 12, 2003.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 03-31331 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P