Group items tagged

This Program Announcement provides the vehicle for Louisiana State University (LSU) to submit proposals with matching funds to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for consideration for funding in Fiscal Year 2019. This announcement identifies specific proposals that are invited based on a recently completed review of letters of intent submitted by LSU. The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the BOEM is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity through Louisiana Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) to LSU and other units within the LSU system that have the ability to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest of safe and environmentally sound energy production and meet the goals of the BOEM. This announcement is specifically to request proposals for the following selected research topics: 1) Investigation of an Ancient Bald Cypress Forest in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Phase 2, 2) Developing and Applying a Novel Morphodynamic Model to Predict Multi-Decadal Effects of Barrier Island Restoration, 3) Investigation of Fluid Mud's Impact on Benthic Ecosystem and Dredge Pits on Louisiana Shelf, 4) Geological and Geophysical Investigation of Mass Wasting on the Mississippi River Delta Front: Characterization of Spatial and Temporal Patterns, 5) Investigation of Increasing Seawater Barite from Oil Production on Gulf of Mexico Corals, 6) Impact of Hurricane Harvey on Sediment Dynamics and Water Quality Along Texas Louisiana Shelf, 7) Thermal, Evaporative, and Momentum Flux Impacts of the Lower Mississippi River on Near-Shore Environmental Processes, 8) Human Impacts of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industries in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Awards will be cooperative agreements. These involve substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct ecosystem research in topics that serve the public interest in the safe and environmentally sound energy development on the nation's outer continental shelf. BOEM is proposing to pursue an ecosystem based cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct scientific monitoring to examine long-term drivers of the Boulder Patch community during the Liberty Development Project located in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. This research will also test possible mitigation measures to replace habitat lost due to island construction activities. This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The OCSLA (43 USC 1345)authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information and joint utilization of available expertise. This announcement is specifically to announce to undertake the following project: Impacts of Sedimentation and Drivers of Variability in the Boulder Patch Community, Beaufort Sea. Open to: University of Texas, Austin (via the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit [CESU]) and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (via the North and Western Alaska CESU). No other proposals are requested at this time.

The goal of this Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) is to support the education of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather events and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. Many U.S. communities are increasingly contending with issues related to preventing, withstanding, and recovering from disruptions caused by extreme weather and other environmental hazards (U.S. Department of Commerce FY2014-FY2018 Strategic Plan). These hazards include but are not limited to severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, heavy precipitation events, persistent drought, heat waves, increased global temperatures, acidification of the ocean, and sea level rise (Weather-ready Nation: NOAA's National Weather Service Strategic Plan 2011; Melillo et al., 2014). These extreme weather and climate events put stress on infrastructure, ecological systems, and the humans that live in the impacted places.

The Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to evaluate implications of findings from a model wave energy project for feasibility studies in other coastal regions of Alaska, including extensions onto the OCS. The study will integrate and extend offshore environmental feasibility studies to fully assess the economic viability of wave energy projects in the remote coastal community of Yakutat, Alaska, and to support a State of Alaska effort to complete the feasibility studies initiated and funded by the Alaska Energy Authority and the City and Borough of Yakutat. The demonstration project will support meeting environmental regulatory requirements and thereby evaluate the implications for projects in other waters of coastal Alaska. The mission of BOEM is to manage the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources in a way that appropriately balances economic development, energy independence and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, and renewable energy development. The decision-making behind the management of the nation's offshore resources is supported through environmental reviews and associated studies. The Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded to the universities or eligible groups identified. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

The principal objective of the NOAA Coastal Resilience Grants Program is to implement projects that build resilience of U.S. coastal communities and ecosystems. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, this solicitation is seeking coastal habitat restoration projects that build resilience by conserving and restoring sustainable ecosystem processes and functions and reducing the vulnerability of coastal communities and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather events, climate hazards, and changing ocean conditions. This program supports activities that restore or create natural infrastructure and natural landscape features to provide valuable ecosystem functions and services, such as habitat for fish, improved water quality and quantity, flood reduction, and erosion protection. Proposed projects should also support sustainable fisheries managed by NOAA under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Managed Species), contribute to the recovery of protected resources managed by NOAA under the Endangered Species Act (Listed Species) - including species identified by NMFS as "Species in the Spotlight," and/or benefit native fish species of the Great Lakes.

The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, and NSF's Office of Polar Programs (OPP) provides operational research support for these projects. OPP's Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) supports research to 1) expand fundamental knowledge of the Antarctic region, 2) improve understanding of interactions between the Antarctic region and global Earth systems, and 3) utilize unique characteristics of the Antarctic continent as an observing platform. Antarctic fieldwork is supported for research that can only be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica. ANT encourages research, using existing samples, data, and models, that does not require fieldwork. ANT also encourages research that crosses and combines, disciplinary perspectives and approaches.

The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, and NSF’s Office of Polar Programs (OPP) provides operational research support for these projects. OPP’s Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) supports research to 1) expand fundamental knowledge of the Antarctic region, 2) improve understanding of interactions between the Antarctic region and global Earth systems, and 3) utilize unique characteristics of the Antarctic continent as an observing platform. Antarctic fieldwork is supported for research that can only be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica. ANT encourages research, using existing samples, data, and models, that does not require fieldwork. ANT also encourages research that crosses and combines, disciplinary perspectives and approaches.

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks opportunities to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, and scaling of innovative interventions for effectively mitigating air, water, and soil pollution, including ocean plastic pollution, electronic and other forms of solid waste in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites organizations, companies, academic and research institutions, and investors to propose innovative approaches for preventing and mitigating pollution in countries to promote healthier populations, cleaner environments, and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. USAID's Office of Energy and Infrastructure (E&I) within the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3/DDI), in cooperation with regional and Global Health Bureaus and selected Missions, developed this BAA for Pollution Prevention & Mitigation to improve the Agency's ability to assist partner countries in solving complex pollution problems that threaten sustainable development. This BAA seeks to engage with a wide range of actors within the global pollution sector to provide innovative interventions and technologies that further the U.S. Government's commitment to improving human health and the environment. Specific opportunities to do so will be provided through Addenda issued under this BAA.

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs' (OES) Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") for activities under the "Building Air Quality Management Capacity in Central Asia" project. The agreement awarded will use U.S. Fiscal Year 2019 Economic Support Funds, subject to Congressional approval and availability of funds. The "Building Air Quality Management Capacity in Central Asia" project intends to strengthen regulatory and monitoring capacity of government actors and expand awareness of air quality issues among decision makers and the general public in at least one Central Asian country. More specifically, the project would target key host government entities to develop and enhance air quality monitoring capacity with low cost sensors, educational materials on AQI PM2.5 and PM10, formal expert workshops, and through the services of a professional monitoring and evaluation expert to develop and design a monitoring and evaluation plan to be used by key agencies.

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to complete studies on the movements of low trophic level feeding elasmobranchs, such as Manta birostis.The purpose of this study is to understand movements, site fidelity and behavioral ecology of understudied highly migratory species, such as M. birostris, and the associated risk of interaction with BOEM permitted activities.Innovative methods will be used including, but not limited to: autonomous sensor platforms and improved animal bourne telemetry techniques which can relay data from neighboring animals, and/or which leverage the target species as mobile oceanographic platforms.Under the Use of Cooperative Agreements authority (43 U.S.C. §1457b), to enter into cooperative agreements with a state or political subdivision (including any agency thereof), or any not-for-profit organization.The general goals of this project is to understand movement drivers and site residency and fidelity of M. birostis, as it relates to sand shoals, particularly in the Canaveral Shoals, Florida Atlantic Coast region.Specifically, the objectives of this study are to understand the movement ecology of M. birostis in the US OCS and the impact fine scale behavior has on the risk of interaction with marine mineral activities, especially preventative trawling.

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to complete a demonstration project on Integrating DNA Profiles, Genomics and Photo-Identification data. The objective of this study is to improve the current computation capabilities for integrating DNA profiles with photo-identification records for assessment and long-term monitoring of marine mammal populations, to provide a standardized database architecture, with associated tools for primary analyses and visualization of individual genetic and genomic profiles as well as spatial-temporal records. An important component of this objective is to develop "community standards" that can be applied across multiple species, as well as multiple investigators, and that promotes data sharing and archiving. Continuation of the development of previously funded work on GeneGIS towards the development of a Web-based, collaborative collection could form a model for similar developments with other species of interest to BOEM. Section 1346 of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, and formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded to a qualified organization within the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity through the University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) to units within the University of Alaska system that have the ability to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest of safe and environmentally sound energy production and meet the goals of the BOEM. The general types of studies that may be funded include scientific studies for better understanding marine, coastal or human environments affected or potentially affected by offshore oil and gas or other mineral exploration and extraction on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); modeling studies of environmental, social, economic, or cultural processes related to OCS oil and gas activities in order to improve scientific predictive capabilities; experimental scientific studies for better understanding of environmental processes, or the causes and effects of OCS activities; projects which design or establish mechanisms or protocols for sharing data or information regarding marine or coastal resources, or human activities to support prudent management of oil, gas and marine mineral resources; and synthesis studies of scientific environmental or socioeconomic information relevant to the OCS oil and gas program. The most relevant geographic areas are potential OCS oil and gas lease areas off Alaska, including the Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet. Projects in other areas of the Alaska Region may be considered if applicable to CMI priorities. Following the submission of letters of intent (LOI) from the University of Alaska, the BOEM, in discussion with representatives from the State of Alaska, have selected the LOI topics listed below for development of full proposals. This request is not a guarantee of funding.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through the Environmental Studies Program (ESP) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to complete a demonstration project on Understanding of Atlantic Sturgeon Migratory Patterns: Integrating Telemetry and Genetics for Distinct Population Segment-specific (DPSs) Insights. The study is to provide a better understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the mid-Atlantic in order to characterize, reduce and mitigate risks to the species due to offshore wind development.

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of East Asia Pacific Affairs (EAP) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a series of small environmental awards to support local and regional small-scale environmental projects in eligible countries in the Pacific Islands region, via the Regional Environmental Office in Suva, at $24,999 or less per award. Since FY 2007, EAP and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) have worked together to award and administer small environmental grants in the EAP region. These awards are funded through EAP regional foreign assistance funds, and managed by the OES Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Officer for the Pacific Island states posted to Suva.Projects should address one or more of the following environmental areas of focus:* Food security: agriculture and/or fisheries* Sustainable economic development* Adaptation to changing environmental conditions, e.g., coastal management* Waste management, including marine litter* Air quality* Maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems * Creation and/or management of marine protected areas * Environment or health-related education (particularly for underserved groups)* Capacity building for scientific research on environmental issues* Deployment of new technology for application to environmental issuesProjects may propose activities targeted through this solicitation in the following countries: Fiji; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia; Nauru; Palau; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Tuvalu; or Vanuatu.Projects

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958), provides funding to prevent the introduction of marine debris into the marine and coastal environment. Projects awarded through this grant competition will encourage changes in behavior of a target audience (such as students, teachers, industries, or the public) to address a specific marine debris issue, and will actively engage these groups in hands-on personal participation. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $1,500,000 is expected to be available for Marine Debris Prevention grants in FY2018. Typical awards will range from $50,000 - $150,000. Funding for this purpose comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.This solicitation is focused on efforts to prevent marine debris from entering the environment through targeted behavior change. It is not intended for large-scale debris removal projects, deployment of catchment basins, or scientific research.

This ROSES NRA (NNH17ZDA001N) solicits basic and applied research in support of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD). The NRA covers all aspects of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences, including, but not limited to: theory, modeling, and analysis of SMD science data; aircraft, scientific balloon, sounding rocket, International Space Station, CubeSat and suborbital reusable launch vehicle investigations; development of experiment techniques suitable for future SMD space missions; development of concepts for future SMD space missions; development of advanced technologies relevant to SMD missions; development of techniques for and the laboratory analysis of both extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft, as well as terrestrial samples that support or otherwise help verify observations from SMD Earth system science missions; determination of atomic and composition parameters needed to analyze space data, as well as returned samples from the Earth or space; Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support SMD science missions; development of integrated Earth system models; development of systems for applying Earth science research data to societal needs; and development of applied information systems applicable to SMD objectives and data.

This program element solicits scientific investigations that require the accurate and extensive vector wind and backscatter measurements provided by QuikSCAT, RapidScat, COWVR, and other international scatterometers, such as ASCAT (from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites; EUMETSAT) and OSCAT (from the Indian Space Research Organization; ISRO).

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act, codified at 33 U.S.C. 1951-1958, supports the development and implementation of locally-driven, marine debris prevention, assessment, and removal projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Projects awarded through this grant competition will create long-term, quantifiable ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources through on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with priority for those targeting derelict fishing gear and other medium- and large-scale debris. Projects should also foster awareness of the effects of marine debris to further the conservation of living marine resource habitats, and contribute to the understanding of marine debris composition, distribution and impacts. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $2,000,000 is expected to be available for Community-based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants in Fiscal Year 2018. Typical awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000. Funding for this grant competition comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.

The Fellowship Program expects to award at least three new Ph.D. Fellowships in 2018 to students who are interested in careers related to marine ecosystem and population dynamics, with a focus on modeling and managing systems of living marine resources. The emphasis will be on the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing marine ecosystems, for assessing the status of fish, invertebrate, and other targeted species stocks and for assessing the status of marine mammals, seabirds, and other protected species. Fellows will work on thesis problems of public interest and relevance to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the guidance of NMFS mentors at participating NMFS Science Centers or Offices. The NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics meets NOAA's Healthy Oceans goal of "Marine fisheries, habitats, biodiversity sustained with healthy and productive ecosystems".

The goal of this Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) is to support the education of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather events and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. Many U.S. communities are increasingly contending with issues related to preventing, withstanding, and recovering from disruptions caused by extreme weather and other environmental hazards (U.S. Department of Commerce FY2014-FY2018 Strategic Plan). These hazards include but are not limited to severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, heavy precipitation events, persistent drought, heat waves, increased global temperatures, acidification of the ocean, and sea level rise (Weather-ready Nation: NOAA's National Weather Service Strategic Plan 2011; Melillo et al., 2014). These extreme weather and climate events put stress on infrastructure, ecological systems, and the humans that live in the impacted places. U.S. communities can become more resilient to such events by exploring the hazards they face, assessing their specific vulnerabilities and risks, considering options, prioritizing and planning, and finally taking action (U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit). This process is typically performed by scientists and municipal planners, but in order for resilience to occur, other members of a community must have some understanding of the hazards they face and how to mitigate them, both at the individual and the community level.