U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmentatl Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333

A -- ESTABLISHING REFERENCE CONDITION FOR WETLANDS PROTECTION IN URBAN LANDSCAPES Due 042895. Contact Richard Sumner, 503/754-4444. Requirements--The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Wetlands Research Program (WRP), managed from the USEPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, anticipates funding a cooperative agreement research study. The purpose of the study is the development and documentation of a process for monitoring the function and condition of freshwater wetlands within urban or urbanizing landscapes, and based upon an established reference condition. Specific work funded under the agreement will be the characterization of natural (reference) wetlands within either the mid-to-upper Hudson River Valley or areas contiguous to the transportation corridors of central and northern New Jersey. Information gathered from the wetlands should be suitable for the assessment and monitoring of the function and condition of wetlands across the region of study. Also, the information should prove useful to local and state authorities and their development of criteria for wetlands protection and restoration. The study will be a cooperative effort involving scientific staff at WRP and the investigator(s) selected through this solicitation. Additional participation is expected from EPA Region 2 (New York) and their cooperators. Funding is anticipated in September 1995, with a planned project period of 16 to 24 months. The project is a ``pilot study'' for which EPA funding during FY1995 is estimated at $75,000. Additional funding may become available in 1996. The fully completed Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424 and proposal must be received by April 28, 1995. Proposals will be evaluated according to criteria outlined in the full Request For Assistance. Interested applicants must be eligible to receive federal assistance under the federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 30-General Regulation for Assistance Programs and Part 40-Research and Demonstration Grants. Only state and local governments, nonprofit institutions of higher education, individuals, or nonprofit research organizations eligible to receive federal assistance under this Act should submit proposals. EPA reserves the right to fund all or parts (options) of one or more proposals, and/or fund the options incrementally, or not to award funding. To obtain a more detailed statement of work and application materials, contact Richard Sumner, USEPA, Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (503) 754-4444, FAX (503) 754-4716. (072)

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