Energy Research Financial Assistance Program; Atmospheric Chemistry Program

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Research

[Notice 97-12]

Energy Research Financial Assistance Program; Atmospheric

Chemistry Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) of the

Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hereby

announces its interest in receiving applications to support the

continuation of its Atmospheric Chemistry Program (ACP). The

applications should address the continuation of experimental and

theoretical study of atmospheric chemistry processes affected by

energy-related air pollutants (i.e., sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides,

aerosols, and ozone). These studies are intended to be in support of

DOE information needs under the National Energy Policy Act (Public Law

102-486).

DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in Fiscal Year 1998,

formal applications submitted in response to this notice should be

received by 4:30 p.m. E.D.T., June 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Formal applications referencing Program Notice 97-12 should

be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research,

Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road,

Germantown, MD 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 97-12. 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. An original and seven copies of the

application must be submitted; however, applicants are requested not to

submit multiple application copies using more than one delivery or mail

service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rickey Petty, Environmental

Sciences Division, ER-74, Office of Health and Environmental Research,

Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown

Road,

[[Page 12627]]

Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone: (301) 903-5548, E-mail:

[email protected], fax: (301) 903-8519.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atmospheric Chemistry Program is part of

the DOE's Global Change Research Program and is closely linked with

other national and international programs. Collaborations are

maintained with global change counterparts in other agencies,

particularly NASA, NOAA, and the NSF. Internationally, the DOE ACP

links with the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Global

Atmospheric Watch (GAW) program, particularly through the North

American Regional Experiment (NARE), the Aerosol Chemistry Experiment

(ACE) 1 and 2, North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone

(NARSTO), and the Southern Oxidant Study (SOS).

Detailed descriptions of ACP plans, rationale, and foci are

provided on the DOE ACP homepage at: http://www.atmos.anl.gov/ACP.

Research applications that demonstrate the continuity and progress

of the DOE ACP during the 1993-1997 period (see research abstracts in

http://www.atmos.anl.gov/ACP) addressing midlatitude tropospheric ozone

and heterogeneous chemistry, atmospheric chemical-conversion processes,

and wet-removal and air/surface exchange is encouraged. More so,

applications addressing ozone research that is in support of the NARSTO

are also encouraged.

In coordination with other federal agencies, the DOE is addressing

recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences report, ``Aerosol

Radiative Forcing and Climate Change.'' Thus, projects that enhance

ongoing aerosol research, such as coupled aerosol-oxidant research

through modeling, laboratory and field studies, are encouraged.

This notice requests applications for grants to support:

(Category 1): Research to understand the fundamental scientific

phenomena associated with atmospheric ozone formation and removal

processes. Such fundamental studies can take the form of modeling,

laboratory, field, and theoretical investigations and analyses of

mechanistic behavior. The research should also address the possible

catalytic/inhibition effects of aerosols (especially in the lower

stratosphere), and possible new chemical mechanisms influencing ozone

behavior in the remote free troposphere, and a variety of scientific

topics aimed at enhancing our ability to manage midlatitude regional-

scale tropospheric ozone pollution. Field activities may be conducted

cooperatively with major ACP field campaigns. ACP field campaigns may

also include using the ACP G-1 Research Aircraft Facility.

(Category 2): Ozone and UV-B trend analysis, using past and

emerging data sets. Of special interest in this category are

investigations of interactions among ozone and ultraviolet (UV)

radiation with regards to competing/compensating effects of other trace

gases, aerosols and clouds, and their obscurance of ozone trend

evaluations and associated UV-B impacts.

(Category 3): Research to understand the fundamental scientific

phenomena associated with aerosol radiative forcing and climate change.

Such studies should include research on aerosol forcing of climates

that advances knowledge in the representation of aerosols in global

climate models, particularly with respect to indirect climate effects;

laboratory and theoretical research on aerosol optical properties;

identification of aerosol molecular composition, particularly the

organic fraction; development of an understanding of aerosol formation

and growth in the atmosphere; studies elucidating the aerosol-CCN-cloud

droplet-albedo relationship; execution of atmospheric closure

experiments to test theoretical understanding; application of

instrumentation technology for measuring aerosol properties in situ;

and system integration and assessment utilizing sensitivity/uncertainty

analyses.

It is anticipated that approximately $3 million will be available

for multiple grant awards in FY 1998, contingent upon 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 are

expected to range from approximately $50,000 to $500,000. Applications

should include detailed and justified budgets for each year of support

requested. The technical portion of the application should not exceed

twenty-five (25) double-spaced pages. Lengthy application appendices

are not encouraged.

Applications will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review)

and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria 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.

The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the

relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and

an agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are

selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence

of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers will often be

used, and submission of an application constitutes agreement that this

is acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution.

To provide a consistent format for the submission, review and

solicitation of grant applications submitted under this notice, the

preparation and submission of grant applications must follow the

guidelines given in the Application Guide for the Office of Energy

Research Financial Assistance Program 10 CFR Part 605. Access to ER's

Financial Assistance Application Guide is possible via the World Wide

Web at: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.

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 March 5, 1997.

John Rodney Clark,

Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.

[FR Doc. 97-6587 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]

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