Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 233 / Monday, December 4, 2000 / Notices 75681

Floodplain Strip and types of

subsequent activities that would occur

under any alternative evaluated, DOE

does not believe there would be any

hazards to the public or property from

flooding, nor would the activities

jeopardize the wetlands’ survival,

quality, and natural beneficial values.

The limited improvements planned for

the property would be small in scale

and by nature there would be no

habitable structures within the

floodplain or wetlands that could

present a hazard or flooding risk.

Additionally, any proposed structure in

the floodplain (e.g., boat docks) would

be subject to TVA’s section 26(a) review.

Any construction within jurisdictional

wetlands as identified in the floodplains

and wetlands assessment must comply

with the Department of Army Wetlands

Construction Restrictions contained in

33 CFR, sections 320 through 330, as

amended, and any other applicable

Federal, State, or local wetlands

regulations.

Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on

November 27, 2000.

James L. Elmore,

Alternate National Environmental, Policy Act

Compliance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–30766 Filed 12–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Science; Office of Science

Financial Assistance Program Notice

01–12: Natural and Accelerated

Bioremediation Research (NABIR)

Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting grant

applications.

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. Applications should

describe research projects that address

the scientific aims of individual NABIR

Science Elements including

Biogeochemistry, Biotransformation,

Community Dynamics, as well as

Assessment projects that relate to those

elements. Applications for research in

other elements will not be considered at

this time. Applications for research on

Bioremediation and its Societal

Implications and Concerns (BASIC)

have been solicited under a separate

announcement (Notice 00–21).

DATES: Researchers are strongly

encouraged (but not required) to submit

a preapplication for programmatic

review. The deadline for

preapplications is January 8, 2001. 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.,

February 28, 2001, to be accepted for

merit review and to permit timely

consideration for award late in Fiscal

Year 2001 or in early Fiscal Year 2002.

An original and seven copies of the

application must be submitted;

however, applicants are requested not to

submit multiple applications using

more than one delivery or mail service.

ADDRESSES: If submitting a

preapplication, referencing Program

Notice 01–12, it should be sent by email to:

anna.palmisano@science.doe.gov.

Formal applications referencing

Program Notice 01–12 on the cover page

must be forwarded to: U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and

Contracts Division, SC–64, 19901

Germantown Road, Germantown, MD

20874–1290, ATTN: Program Notice 01–

12. This address must also be used

when submitting applications by U.S.

Postal Service Express Mail or any other

commercial overnight delivery service,

or when hand-carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Anna Palmisano, Environmental

Sciences Division, SC–74, Office of

Biological and Environmental Research,

Office of Science, U.S. Department of

Energy, 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD 20874–1290,

telephone: (301) 903–9963, e-mail:

anna.palmisano@science.doe.gov, fax:

(301) 903–8519. The full text of Program

Notice 01–12 is available via the

Internet using the following web site

address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/

production/grants/grants.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

mission of the NABIR Program is to

provide the fundamental science to

serve as the basis for development of

cost-effective bioremediation of

radionuclides and metals in the

subsurface at DOE sites. In particular,

the program focuses on research that

will lead to immobilization of

radionuclides and/or metals in place, or

that will reduce re-mobilization. NABIR

research encompasses both intrinsic

bioremediation by naturally occurring

microbial communities, as well as

accelerated bioremediation through the

use of nutrient amendments (inorganic,

organic or enzymatic) or microbial

amendments. The program consists of

seven interrelated scientific research

elements (Biogeochemical Dynamics,

Biotransformation, Community

Dynamics and Microbial Ecology,

Biomolecular Science and Engineering,

Biotransformation and Biodegradation,

Bacterial Transport, and Systems

Integration/Data Management). The

program also includes an element

addressing ethical, legal and social

issues of bioremediation called

Bioremediation and its Societal

Implications and Concerns (BASIC). The

NABIR program has established a Field

Research Center (FRC) at the Y–12 site

near Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL). The FRC is a focal point of

NABIR field research and can provide

investigators with DOE-relevant samples

contaminated with uranium and other

radionuclides or metals. Additional

information about NABIR and the Field

Research Center can be accessed from

the NABIR Homepage: http://

www.lbl.gov/NABIR/.

Program Focus

The NABIR Program supports

hypothesis-driven research that will

help determine the potential for, and

advance the field of, bioremediation as

a cleanup option for radionuclides and

metals in subsurface environments (both

vadose and saturated zones, below the

root zone) at the DOE sites.

Contaminants of particular interest are

the radionuclides uranium, technetium,

and plutonium and the metals

chromium and mercury. While the focus

of the NABIR Program is on field-scale

research, the research program will

support laboratory, theoretical,

modeling, and other non-field research

projects, if they fill gaps that would be

necessary to complete understanding

required for field-scale applications.

Problems characterized by large areas

with low-concentration of contaminants

are emphasized over problems of

localized, high concentrations. NABIR

research will focus on research leading

to immobilization rather than

mobilization scenarios for

bioremediation of metals and

radionuclides. Although the program is

directed at specific goals, it supports

research that is more fundamental in

nature than demonstration projects.

NABIR will not support research

leading to ex situ treatments, nor will

research on phytoremediation be

supported. Research on bioremediation

of organic contaminants, such as

solvents and complexing agents will not

be considered, except to the extent that

they influence the primary goal of

understanding the remediation of

radionuclides and metals. The NABIR

75682 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 233 / Monday, December 4, 2000 / Notices

Program will not support research to

evaluate the risk of contaminants to

humans or to the environment.

Research plans that involve the

potential release of nutrients, enzymes,

and/or chemicals to the field (both at

contaminated and non-contaminated

control sites) should discuss the

involvement of the public or

stakeholders in their research, beginning

with experimental design through

completion of the project. Applications

involving microbial amendments will be

solicited in a separate annuncement. 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).

A centrally-maintained database is

being developed to provide appropriate

data, such as site characterization and

kinetics data, needed by a broad

segment of investigators. Applications

shall include a short discussion of the

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

(QA/QC) measures that will be applied

in data gathering and analysis activities.

Successful grantees will be expected to

coordinate their QA/QC measures with

NABIR program managers.

Current Request for Applications

Research projects that address the

scientific aims of individual NABIR

elements, including Biogeochemistry,

Biotransformation, Community

Dynamics, as well as Assessment

projects supporting those three elements

are being solicited. Applications for

research on other elements will not be

addressed at this time. Applications for

research on Bioremediation and its

Societal Implications and Concerns

(BASIC) have been solicited under a

separate announcement (Notice 00–21).

Applicants for research projects within

individual program elements should

state which science element is most

closely aligned with the proposed

research. Applicants are encouraged to

propose interdisciplinary research that

transcends more than one research

element. However, a primary element

should be specified for the purpose of

merit review.

Biogeochemical Dynamics

The goal of this area 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

(Cr, Hg) and radionuclides (U, Tc, Pu)

between the aqueous and solid phases.

Contaminated subsurface

environments are complex.

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 hydrology, 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 cocontaminants. The research challenge is

to identify and prioritize the key

biogeochemical reactions that are

needed to predict the rate and extent of

reactions to immobilize radionuclides

and metals for long term stability. New

and creative scientific approaches are

sought that address the following

fundamental research questions:

• With the goal of increasing

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? What are the

thermodynamic and kinetic controls on

these reactions? How do factors such as

co-contaminants, sorption processes,

and the structure and composition of

minerals that serve as terminal electron

acceptors, influence these reactions?

• With the goal of decreasing the

possible re-mobilization of immobilized

radionuclides and metals, how can the

above questions be addressed? 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?

• What influence do hydrological

processes such as reactive transport,

advective/dispersive transport and

colloidal transport have on the

biological availability, transformation,

and movement of radionuclides and

metals?

Biotransformation

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 transformation of

radionuclides and metals to an

immobilized form. Knowledge of the

metabolic pathways for transformation

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. Research is needed to address

questions such as:

• What are the primary metabolic

pathways for biotransformation of

radionuclides and/or metals by

subsurface microorganisms at DOE sites,

such as the FRC?

• Can these biotransformations be

harnessed or accelerated to immobilize

radionuclides and/or metals in the

subsurface?

• 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

transformations in situ?

Community Dynamics and Microbial

Ecology

Fundamental research in Community

Dynamics and Microbial Ecology at both

the molecular and the microbial level is

needed to understand the natural

intrinsic processes of bioremediation at

contaminated sites. 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 transformation of

radionuclides and metals. A second

challenge is to optimize the community

structure and activity for

immobilization of radionuclides and

metals, and to determine the long term

stability of bioremediative communities.

Research is needed to address questions

such as:

• Is there sufficient biological activity

and diversity in subsurface

environments to support natural and/or

accelerated bioremediation of metals

and radionuclides?

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 233 / Monday, December 4, 2000 / Notices 75683

• What are the effects of metals and

radionuclides (or other environmental

factors) on microbial community

activity and diversity, particularly of

populations that transform

radionuclides and metals?

• What is the role of consortial

interactions on biotransformations of

metals and radionuclides in

contaminated subsurface environments?

Such interactions might include

competition for electron donors and

acceptors, or other consortial

interactions that affect the

transformation of metals and

radionuclides.

• What is the potential importance of

gene transfer in natural microbial

communities at subsurface sites

contaminated with radionuclides or

metals?

Assessment

The Assessment Element is a crosscutting element with a goal to develop

innovative methods to assess processes

and endpoints in support of the NABIR

Science Elements. In this call,

assessment projects that support the

Science Elements of Biogeochemistry,

Biotransformation, and Community

Dynamics/Microbial Ecology are being

sought. 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:

• Biogeochemical processes,

biotransformation processes and rates,

and microbial community structure and

function relative to bioremediation of

metals and radionuclides.

• Bioremediation end points, in

particular, the concentration, speciation

and stability of radionuclide and metal

contaminants.

Program Funding

It is anticipated that approximately $2

million will be available for multiple

awards to be made in late FY 2001 and

early FY 2002 in the categories

described above, contingent on

availability of appropriated funds.

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 projects in the four scientific

research element projects are expected

to range from $100,000 to $400,000 total

costs. 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.

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.

Non-federal reviewers will often 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. Renewal

applications must include a list of

publications resulting from prior NABIR

funding. 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).

Attachments should include short

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), 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 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; U.S. Department of

Energy; 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD 20874–1290, phone:

(301) 903–3338, fax: (301) 903–8519, email: 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 November

27, 2000.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director of Science for Resource

Management.

[FR Doc. 00–30767 Filed 12–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–1–U