Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment 8623D, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460

A -- CONTRIBUTION OF SEMIVOLATILE PARTICULATE MATTER TO AMBIENT SUSPENDED FINE PARTICLE MASS SOL NCEA-RTP-01 DUE 091898 POC Diane H. Ray, (919) 541-3637 E-MAIL: click here to e-mail the contact person, ray.diane@epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for Environmental Assessment located at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (NCEA/RTP) is planning to issue a Request for Assistance (RFA) for a competitive Cooperative Agreement (as authorized by the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, as amended) to stimulate collaborative research to measure the contribution of semivolatile particulate matter [not measured by the Federal Reference Method (FRM)for PM2.5] to ambient suspended fine particle mass. There has been concern in some parts of the scientific community for a number of years that certain components of ambient, suspended PM are under measured by the current techniques for measuring PM, including the Federal Reference Method for PM10 and PM2.5. Certain PM components, such as ammonium nitrate and certain organic species, exist in a state of equilibrium between gaseous and condensed phase components. Losses of particle mass, due to volatilzation of such semivolatile components, may occur during sampling, transport, storage, or equilibration at the fixed temperature and relative humidity conditions specified by the FRM in order to remove particle-bound water. Recent studies have indicated that significant amounts of both ammonium nitrate and organic PM may be lost. Within the last few years two new techniques have been developed (by workers at Harvard School of Public Health and at Brigham Young University) that give promise for measuring both semivolatile and nonvolatile mass. Other techniques may also exist. The research question to be addressed by this RFA is, "What fraction of suspended, fine PM is not measured by current sampling and measurement techniques?" The successful applicant will have research credentials in research measurements of atmospheric aerosol and its components. Demonstrated experience, skill, and interest in measuring the semivolatile components of ambient, suspended PM will be a consideration. Information on the two techniques above as well as the formal evaluation criteria will be incorporated in the final RFA. The anticipated duration of the cooperative research agreement is 3 years. The anticipated funding for the cooperative agreement will be approximately $120,000 per year for a total (direct plus indirect) cost of $360,000. Funding for the third year will be contingent on an acceptable progress report being submitted 6 months before anticipated beginning of the third year. In response to electronic or written requests, NCEA/RTP will mail out a solicitation package on or after August 7, 1998, which will describe the requirements of the RFA. Electronic requests should be mailed to "ray.diane@epa.gov." Written requests may be mailed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment, MD-52, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Attn: Diane Ray. Responses to the RFA are due at NCEA/RTP not later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) Eastern Daylight Savings Time, September 18, 1998. Posted 07/17/98 (W-SN225007). (0198)

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