Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: The Nevada EPA-EPSCoR Program in the Fate, Transport and Cycling of Contaminants in Arid/Semiarid Regions
EPA Grant Number: R827622E01Title: The Nevada EPA-EPSCoR Program in the Fate, Transport and Cycling of Contaminants in Arid/Semiarid Regions
Investigators: Stetzenbach, Klaus , Batista, Jacimaria R. , Gustin, Mae Sexauer
Institution: University of Southern California , University of Nevada - Reno
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: August 9, 1999 through August 8, 2003
Project Amount: $87,669
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) improve the state's overall environmental research and training capabilities; and (2) specifically enhance competitiveness in research focused on the dynamics and fate of contaminants in arid and semiarid regions.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Systemic Improvement Plan (SIP)
The overall goal of the SIP was to establish Nevada as a nationally recognized center of research excellence in studies of the fate, transport, and cycling of contaminants in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Specific goals were to: (1) strengthen interinstitutional collaborations in targeted environmental research; (2) promote the development of the state's human resources in environmental sciences and engineering; (3) strengthen interactions between the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) environmental researchers and industry; and (4) enhance the communications of UCCSN researchers with environmental agencies and state leadership.
In addition, Goal 2 includes specific objectives to: (1) develop the competitiveness of junior faculty in the environmental sciences through mentoring/support activities; (2) attract, support, and retain high-quality graduate students in environmental sciences and engineering; (3) stimulate the interests of undergraduate students in environmental sciences and engineering, and provide them with research experiences in these areas; (4) strengthen K-12 education in environmental sciences, and stimulate the interests of students in these areas; and (5) improve community outreach in environmental sciences.
The Nevada U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Office has developed numerous activities to support these goals. Several of the activities can be seen at http://www.nevada.edu/epscor/epapage.html Exit . A scientific advisory panel—the Nevada Environmental Science and Technology Advisory Council (NESTAC)—was established to improve communication concerning environmental sciences in Nevada. The NESTAC is composed of senior scientists and science administrators representing environmental programs at the three research institutions in the UCCSN, as well as ex officio members from federal and state environmental agencies. This council met quarterly to facilitate networking and collaboration among researchers/programs to provide advice and support to the state U.S. EPA-EPSCoR Project Director (PD) on activities associated with the SIP to meet the above outlined goals. Several seminars were held at the participating UCCSN institutions that have incorporated outside speakers or used UCCSN employees to assist faculty with writing of grant proposals. The U.S. EPA-EPSCoR funds also have been used to offer competitive U.S. EPA-EPSCoR fellowships/stipend supplements to make UCCSN competitive in attracting top doctoral students with interests in environmental sciences/engineering. These funds also provided for travel grants for faculty and graduate students to attend national and international meetings and visits to U.S. EPA Laboratories/Program Offices and other environmental research facilities. A number of activities proposed in the SIP were eliminated because the limited funding originally applied to them proved to be inadequate.
Science, Engineering, Environment and Research (SEER) 1
This research project focused on determining the role of plants and soils in controlling the fate and transport of mercury (Hg) in the environment at the ecosystem level. Due to natural variability and environmental complexity, the use of field studies to understand mechanisms controlling contaminant fluxes between environmental compartments is difficult. A major objective of this study was to use experimental designs at three scales: large mesocosms, smaller multiple plant exposure chambers, and a single-plant gas exchange system to investigate the exchange of Hg between plants, soils, and the atmosphere.
SEER 2
This research project examined the extent of perchlorate interaction with various environmental components and their effects on the fate and migration of perchlorate in the surface and subsurface in the highly contaminated site in Henderson, NV. The specific objectives of this research project were to: (1) model the subsurface transport of perchlorate from the contaminated site to the Las Vegas Wash; (2) investigate the role of indigenous microbial communities on the biodegradation of perchlorate in the site; and (3) evaluate the influence of soil sorption on the migration of perchlorate, and assess the potential of chemical (abiotic) reduction of perchlorate in the contaminated site.
Supplemental Keywords:
mercury, carbon dioxide flux, water vapor flux, plant photosynthetic rate, carbon limited, nitrate interference, indigenous microorganisms, incubation, frozen samples, Las Vegas Wash, Lake Mead, Basic Management Complex, Kerr McGee, Henderson, Sulfate, watersheds, groundwater, atmosphere, soil, plants, exposure, heavy metals, organics, biogeochemical cycling, fate, transport, arid ecosystems, Southwest, atmospheric deposition, bioavailability, biochemistry, biodegradation, biogeochemical cycling, bioremediation of soils, contaminants in soil, contaminated sediment, contaminated soil, degradation, emissions, fate and transport, modeling, natural recovery., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air Quality, Contaminated Sediments, Microbiology, Fate & Transport, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology, Hazardous Waste, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Bioremediation, degradation, fate and transport, bioavailability, biodegradation, contaminated sediment, modeling, contaminated soil, emissions, contaminants in soil, bioremediation of soils, natural recovery, biogeochemical cycling, biochemistry, phytoremediation, contaminated soilsRelevant Websites:
http://www.ce.unlv.edu/fac/Jaci_Batista.html Exit
http://www.ag.unr.edu/ers/directory/Gustin.htm Exit
http://www.nevada.edu/epscor/epapage.html Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.