This LaMP/RAP Specific Request for Proposals (RFP 2) totals $1,752,000 to be awarded in the summer and fall of 2003. EPA has worked extensively with States, Tribes, and other partners in development and implementation of the Lakewide Management Plans and Remedial Action Plans. The uniqueness of the individuals and organizations involved with the LaMPs and RAPS have resulted in varying needs, priorities, and schedules; consequently, funding priorities identified in this Funding Guidance vary from Lake to Lake. RFP 2 includes 29 descriptions of specific projects furthering the Lakewide Management Plans and Remedial Action Plans. Applicants should only apply under RFP 2 for the projects specifically described here; general requests for Proposals are addressed in RFP 1 and RFP 3.

RFP 2 has two Parts, one difference being that only State, Tribal, and interstate or intertribal agencies are eligible for Part B. For both Parts, work would generally be done during FY2004 and evaluations will be done only by USEPA.

Project Selection Criteria. Proposals will be evaluated using the descriptions of the requested projects, the General Criteria, and the following Specific Criteria with respect to each Lake and its Areas of Concern.

Part A. LaMP/RAP Development and Implementation. 
USEPA requests Proposals for the following specific projects that further Lakewide Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan implementation and development. State pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations are eligible; "for-profit" organizations are not.

1. LaMP Outreach - $70,000 targeted for one project. Cooperative development and implementation of public outreach and involvement under the Lake Erie LaMP and related activities such as: coordination of the Lake Erie Public Forum which includes facilitation of at least two Forum meetings, invitations, note-taking and follow-up; maintenance of the Forum web site; and development of the Public Outreach and Involvement section of the 2004 LaMP document.
2. Human Health Dialogue - $50,000 targeted for 1 project. Conference, workshop, or other effective dialogue addressing human health and chemical usage, resulting in practical tools for reducing chemical usage in the Lake Erie Basin.
3. Technical Transfer - $80,000 targeted for 1 project. Coordination of the Lake Erie Public Forum's three technical sub-committees (human health, land-use, and emerging issues) which includes facilitation of the sub-groups’ meetings, including note-taking and follow-up. The project would include development of a technical transfer document to explore how to apply lessons learned from each of the sub-committee's projects to other watersheds.
4. Land-use Assessment Methodology - $50,000 targeted for one project. Develop and/or implement a land-use assessment methodology to evaluate sub-watersheds against the goals of Lake Erie LaMP section 10; identify land use needs with respect to implementing LaMP Ecosystem Alternative 2; and apply Lake Erie LaMP indicators as developed.
5. Coastal Community Best Management Practices - $50,000 targeted for 1 project. This pilot project would prioritize a specific coastal community’s suite of emerging issues (as defined in Section 5.2 of the Lake Erie LaMP) and test potential best management practices. Priority will be given to projects in Areas of Concern which are transferable to other coastal communities.

Binational Partnership /RAP Development and Implementation - $40,000 targeted for 1 project. Cooperative development and implementation of Lake Huron LaMP and RAP activities, including: development of the 2004 Lake Huron Binational Partnership (LHBP) update; development of a State of Lake Huron Conference involving multi-organizational presentations of latest science data, pollutants updates, and habitat restoration activities in Lake Huron basin; active participation in LHBP and any relevant subcommittees; develop and provide updates to the LHBP web site and other LHBP tracking databases which describe and track the progress; coordinate LHBP activities with associated RAP activities, including acting as liaison for Saginaw River/Bay RAP and for bi-national St. Marys River RAP; assist coordination of monitoring in Lake Huron.

A.iii. Lake Michigan Projects: LaMP Implementation, Watershed Training, Environmental Education Boat Tour, RAP / Tributary Monitoring.

1. Habitat Prioritization - $60,000 targeted for 1-2 projects. Development of a framework for a prioritization strategy which would be used to target future habitat restoration and conservation. Proposals for such a framework, or early stages of such a framework would be considered, including development of an inventory of all past and ongoing assessment, restoration, and conservation projects being carried out by all agencies and environmental groups working in the Lake Ontario basin. The inventory would include: (i) a synthesis of findings from these projects, for each habitat type (for example, through the construction of GIS maps, or the modification of existing maps, for each habitat type that includes the location and condition of existing habitats and the location of past and present habitat restoration and conservation projects); (ii) a gap analysis that can be used to target future assessment projects; and (iii) the identification of vital habitats that can be used to prioritize and target future restoration or conservation efforts. Habitat Prioritization projects should be submitted under Request for Proposals 1C for Ecological (Habitat) Protection and Restoration projects.
2. RAP Coordination/Management - $100,000 total targeted for 1-3 projects. Lake Ontario RAP coordination and oversight of the following New York State RAPs: Buffalo River; 18 Mile Creek; and Rochester Embayment. Proposals may address more than one RAP. The Proposal should specify the work that would be done over a 1 year period for a budget of up to $100,000. The "Proposed Work/Outcome" section of the Proposal should also describe work that could be accomplished over a project period of up to five years for a budget of up to $100,000 annually. The Proposal should address the following tasks associated with the development and implementation of the RAP strategy(s), including:
   1. Tracking and coordination activities, e.g.,

• development of RAP quarterly updates and annual RAP status reports that describe and track remediation efforts aimed at eliminating beneficial use impairments identified for each RAP and moving the AOC towards delisting;
• organization of quarterly meetings of the remedial advisory committees and distribution of meeting minutes to EPA, NYSDEC and Remedial Action Committee participants;
• coordination of RAP activities with other GL programs such as the Lake Ontario LaMP and the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan; and,
• coordination of RAPs with related organizations such as the International Joint Commission (IJC) and USEPA/GLNPO; participation and co-operation with any IJC RAP assessments as necessary.

2. Undertake remediation and ecosystem restoration efforts aimed towards AOC delisting, including:

• coordinate and implement the remediation of environmental problems as identified in the RAP;
• coordinate and implement ecosystem restoration efforts as identified in the RAP; and,
• periodically re-evaluate beneficial use impairments and adjust remediation strategies and ecosystem restoration efforts as necessary for the elimination of impairments and AOC delisting.

3. Contaminant Source Trackdown - $60,000 total targeted for 1-4 projects. Sampling related to the trackdown of contaminant sources in the Niagara River basin. A recent analysis of existing ambient, sediment and biota contaminant data indicated potential sources of contamination in the following tributaries of the Niagara River. Proposals are requested for further trackdown related sampling that can lead to contaminant source identification, trackdown and remediation. Tributaries are listed in order of priority:
   1. Scajaquada Creek (elevated PCBs in juvenile fish tissue sample);
   2. Little Niagara River above Cayuga Creek mouth (elevated dioxins in sediment);
   3. Black Rock Canal (elevated PCBs in sediment); and,
   4. Bergholtz Creek, a tributary to Cayuga Creek (elevated PCBs in juvenile fish tissue sample).
4. Tributary Load Monitoring - $110,000 total targeted for 1-5 projects. To support the Lake Ontario mass balance model, information on tributary loadings from the Black, Oswego, Genessee and Salmon Rivers and 18 Mile Creek is needed for 6 critical Lake Ontario pollutants ( PCBs, Hg, dieldrin, DDT, mirex, dioxins/furans). Proposals for monitoring should include:

• the development of monitoring plans;
• seasonal monitoring of Lake Ontario critical pollutants and tributary flows; and,
• the calculation of seasonal and annual loadings of Lake Ontario critical pollutants.

5. Atmospheric Mercury Deposition to Lake Ontario - $70,000 targeted for 1 project. Conduct intensive sampling for atmospheric mercury deposition to Lake Ontario to determine source allocation, and collect data for inclusion into the Lake Ontario mass balance mercury model. Objectives include:

• Conduct intensive sampling for atmospheric mercury deposition into Lake Ontario;
• Determine source allocation and source regions of deposition; and,
• Estimate loadings of mercury for inclusion of data into the Lake Ontario mass balance model.

1. LaMP Development - Aquatic System. $50,000 targeted for 1 project. Active participation and representation on behalf of Lake Erie State(s) in (i) the Lake Erie Workgroup and any relevant subcommittees, particularly regarding technical knowledge of the Lake Erie aquatic system, including fisheries and (ii) contributing to writing relevant sections of Lake Erie 2004 LaMP.
2. LaMP Development - Detroit River. $30,000 targeted for 1 project. Active participation and representation on behalf of Lake Erie State(s) in (i) the Lake Erie Workgroup and any relevant subcommittees, particularly regarding technical knowledge of the Detroit River and the connecting channels and (ii) contributing to writing relevant sections of Lake Erie 2004 LaMP.
3. LaMP Development - Ohio AOCs. $75,000 targeted for 1 project. Active participation in the Lake Erie Workgroup and any relevant subcommittees from individual or individuals with extensive knowledge of Ohio Areas of Concern. Development and implementation of an outreach strategy for coordination of each of these AOCs in conjunction with priorities in Lake Erie LaMP Section 2.2 and the outreach priorities of the Lake Erie RAPs.
4. LaMP Development - General. $25,000 targeted for 1 project. Active participation on behalf of Lake Erie State(s) in mutual development and technical writing of the Lake Erie 2004 LaMP, including active participation in the Lake Erie Workgroup and any relevant subcommittees.

1. State LaMP and RAP Implementation. $173,000 targeted for 1 to 3 projects. LaMP and RAP implementation and coordination on behalf of the States of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with special emphasis on addressing LaMP commitments for reduction of critical pollutants and implementing top priority pollutant reduction projects and a focus on the implementation of specific LaMP and RAP projects. Collectively, the project activities would include:

1. Point of Contact for State LaMP implementation.
2. Identification of the highest priority State LaMP and RAP commitments and help in implementing these projects in coordination with other Federal, State, Provincial and Tribal partners. Help in developing implementation or action plans for other LaMP projects, and identifying and resolving additional environmental problems with State, Provincial and Federal partners in the basin.
3. Track source and release information for the purpose of refining chemical reduction baseline estimates and estimating progress in reducing releases of critical pollutants.
4. Seek funding, coordinate and manage implementation projects for the forty Lake Superior LaMP critical pollutant commitments. Specifically, help manage the implementation of the joint Superior Workgroup/Forum projects on mercury outreach/education, abandoned white goods and burn barrels. We especially seek project coordination with burn barrel projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
5. Provide updates to the LaMP web site <http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakesuperior/index.html> and other LaMP tracking databases which describe and track the progress on carrying out the commitments in the LaMP.
6. Contribute to the development of the LaMP 2004 report with regard to tracking LaMP commitments for individual States.
7. Identify and implement mercury load reduction opportunities through participation in the State Mercury Task Force (where feasible) and the mercury TMDL process.
8. Review permits and environmental assessments that impact toxic releases into the Lake basins. Work with State permit staff in developing and reviewing Toxics Reduction Plans.
9. Attend the respective LaMP Workgroup/Technical meetings, conferences and relevant conference calls.
10. Coordinate LaMP activities with associated RAP activities, including acting as liaison for Minnesota with the St. Louis River RAP and for Michigan with the Torch and Deer Lake RAPs.
11. Serve on the chemical committee for Lake Superior, and other committees where necessary.
12. Help prepare Binational Executive Committee and US Policy Committee briefing materials where necessary. Brief respective senior State environmental managers.

2. Tribal LaMP and RAP Implementation. $104,000 targeted for 2 to 5 projects. LaMP and RAP implementation and coordination on behalf of Tribal interests, with emphasis on addressing LaMP commitments for reduction of critical pollutants, and implementing top habitat, terrestrial, and aquatics commitments of the LaMP and RAPs:
   1. LaMP Critical Pollutant activities would include:
      1. Active participation on the Superior Workgroup and the Work Group's Chemical Committee. Participate in conference calls, meetings, and conferences. Assist in the implementation of the LaMP's top priority projects from a ceded territory position.
      2. Help manage and implement the joint Superior Workgroup/Forum abandoned white goods project, mercury outreach/education and burn barrels outreach/education.
      3. Coordinate Tribal participation on the Binational Program Task Force and Superior workgroup. Update and inform Tribes on Chemical Committee activities and issues.
      4. Review scientific papers, attend meetings and conferences related to Lake Superior contaminant issues, especially as they relate to fish consumption advisories and human health.
      5. Participate in the development of a coordinated contaminant monitoring strategy for Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.
      6. Assist in the development of tools to evaluate and communicate contaminant data to member Tribes.
      7. Participate in the development and implementation of the Great Lakes Human Health network and in the dissemination of relevant human health information to Tribes.
      8. Assist in the development of Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission fish contaminant monitoring programs, ensuring consistency with LaMP priorities and goals.
      9. Attend Work Group, Task Force, IJC and SOLEC meetings; help prepare relevant briefing documents.
   2. LaMP habitat activities would include:
      1. Active participation on the Superior Workgroup and the Work Group's Habitat Committee. Participate in conference calls, meetings, and conferences. Assist in the implementation of the LaMP's top priority Habitat projects from a ceded territory position.
      2. Work with Tribes and the Habitat Committee to ensure that key habitats supporting treaty harvests are considered in the development of management strategies for those habitats. Ensure that these strategies are reflected in the LaMP.
      3. Continue development of data on key habitat sites.
      4. Prepare documents and attend meetings for the Superior Workgroup, Task Force, BEC, IJC, SOLEC and other meetings as necessary.
      5. Conduct outreach and education efforts to the Tribal community to support habitat restoration and protection projects.
      6. Help to develop a comprehensive set of ecosystem targets
      7. Work on balancing effective control measures for exotic species, with preservation and restoration of native species.
      8. Help to implement the "Great Lakes Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species".
   3. LaMP Aquatics activities would include:
      1. Pursuing funding for, and developing and implementing, high priority LaMP and RAP aquatics commitments including acoustics sampling of the pelagic fish community, mapping of important fish spawning habitat, and habitat rehabilitation of walleye, sturgeon and brook trout.
      2. Participation in St. Mary's River RAP Advisory Council; serve as liaison between RAP and Superior Work Group committees, i.e., Aquatics/Habitat.
      3. Active participation on the Aquatics Committee of the Lake Superior Work Group. Participate in conference calls, meetings and conferences.
      4. Communication of Binational Program/LaMP goals and priorities to constituent Tribal governments; promotion of LaMP goals and priorities to the local community.