Great Lakes Air Deposition Program

Program Priorities

Reducing input of toxic substances to the lakes and the mitigation of impacts from these substances on human health and wildlife are major priorities for restoration efforts in the Great Lakes basin. Of greatest concern are those chemicals that are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulate as they move up the food chain and are toxic to humans or wildlife (referred to as persistent bioaccumulative toxics or PBTs). Many such chemicals enter Great Lakes waters in substantial amounts through deposition from the atmosphere. Despite much progress, further scientific assessment and technological developments are needed to enable ffective management of the problems posed by deposition of toxic substances to the region’s waters. Toward this end, the GLAD Program supports scientific projects to identify and quantify the sources, environmental transport processes, deposition rates, fate and impacts of these chemicals. The program operates with the goal of assisting the Great Lakes states and their partners in forming scientifically sound policies regarding this issue, including regulatory and non-regulatory pollution control and prevention programs.

Described below are the current project priorities of the GLAD Program. Applicants are encouraged to propose any projects they believe are consistent with the goals and principles of the GLAD program. Projects are encouraged which build upon and enhance current regional efforts. Project proposals should specify how the proposed activities will enhance other scientific or policy efforts.

The GLAD program pursues projects involving one or more of the following five Focus Areas:

A. Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring
B. Emissions Inventory Development
C. Source Identification and Characterization
D. Atmospheric and Multi-Media Modeling
E. Assessment of Effects on Wildlife and Human Health

Each focus area is described in detail below. Each Focus Area is an equal part of acomprehensive strategy to address atmospheric deposition issues n the Great Lakes region. Balance of projects among the Focus Areas will be a consideration in making project selections.

A. Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring

Monitoring of atmospheric deposition is required for high-quality, quantitative estimates of the flux of PBTs between the atmosphere and the waters, soils, sediments and biota of the region. Monitoring provides an information base for activities in other focus areas, including source characterization, modeling and impact assessment. In particular, the program seeks to build the region’s capacity to monitor for pollutants of concern to support trend studies, perform source apportionment analyses, calibrate atmospheric deposition models, and evaluate emissions reduction strategies and recovery trajectories.

B. Emissions Inventory Development

An accurate assessment of the magnitude and locations of atmospheric contaminant emissions is a vital foundation for other GLAD Focus Areas. The Great Lakes Air Toxics Emissions Inventory,which will continue to be supported, provides baseline regional emissions data and supports national inventory efforts. Continuing enhancement of the inventory efforts and improved integration of inventory data with other research and policy activities are needed, including development of capabilities for inventorying emissions from currently non-quantified sources and of currently nonquantified pollutants. Proposed projects are encouraged to closely integrate activities with the Great Lakes Air Toxics Emissions Inventory and/or other relevant emissions inventories to ensure incorporation and longevity of results.

C. Source Identification and Characterization

Understanding what sources ultimately contribute to PBTs entering the Great Lakes is a vital step toward reducing these loadings. Therefore, efforts to further determine source types, processes, and locations/regions that contribute PBTs through atmospheric deposition to the lakes are a priority. Potential projects include receptor-based monitoring and source apportionment, assessment of sources and transport based on enantiomeric fractions, review and/or revision of emission factors, and better determination of spatial and temporal trends, among others.

D. Atmospheric and Multi-Media Modeling

Projects are encouraged which will enhance the region’s modeling capabilities to better understand the sources, transport, fate and exposure routes for pollutants of concern. By integrating activities under the other program focus areas, models can predict how changes in emissions and/or ambient concentrations will affect future trends in receptor concentrations and the resultant impacts.

E. Assessment of Effects on Wildlife and Human Health

Project proposals are encouraged which study the linkages between emissions, deposition and environmental or human health effects of PBTs. Projects should focus on what human and environmental impacts are caused by PBTs, what portion of these impacts can be attributed to atmospherically deposited PBTs, and/or how reductions in emissions (either of a particular chemical, from a particular source class, or from a particular region) can alleviate these impacts. When possible, information from other GLAD focus areas - such as monitoring, emission inventory, and modeling results - should be leveraged.

Other Focus Areas:

In addition to those priorities listed above, additional activities may also qualify for support if they are shown to further the program goals as outlined above. All applicants are encouraged to clearly identify the benefits of the proposed projects as they relate to the goals of the GLAD program.

More Details and Current Projects:

Additional detail on program priorities and the application process are available in this year's Request for Proposals. Those issued in the future may differ somewhat from prior RFPs.

Numerous projects are currently taking place to advance the priorities listed above. Click here for details on our current list of projects.