EPA Renews Contract for
Statistical and Technical Support

In February 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Battelle a $20 M, five-year contract to provide statistical, mathematical, and technical analysis support and planning, as well as field data collection and laboratory analysis, to a wide range of programs in EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT). Since 1982, Battelle has continuously held task-order contracts with OPPT to provide statistical and technical support for the assessment of toxic substances. This contract renewal continues Battelle’s long relationship with OPPT and emphasizes the importance that OPPT places in Battelle’s broad base of technical staff, facilities, and equipment to support their risk management and regulatory needs.

Battelle will continue to provide support on this new contract to EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Program, which aims to significantly reduce the incidence of lead poisoning in U.S. children. Battelle also will continue supporting EPA programs that focus on other national program chemicals such as mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and asbestos/fibers. The contract’s broad technical program support component offers many opportunities to engage Battelle in program design, evaluation, and outreach efforts for EPA and to perform activities that provide a scientific basis for policy decisions.

For more information regarding Battelle’s contracts with OPPT, please contact Dr. Bruce Buxton at (614) 424-4547, buxtonb@battelle.org.

Arctic Oil and Gas Monitoring Contract Awarded

Battelle’s Coastal Resource and Environmental Management and Safety group was recently awarded a $1.0 M, five-year contract with the U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) in Anchorage, Alaska, as part of the Continuation of Arctic Nearshore Impact Monitoring in the Development Area (cANIMIDA) Program. The original ANIMIDA program was initiated as a long-term study to monitor the potential impacts of the first offshore oil and gas developments in the Federal waters of the Arctic—Northstar Island (which began oil production in 2001) and Liberty Prospect (proposed for future development). The cANIMIDA program continues the monitoring studies and incorporates seven task orders including hydrocarbon and metal chemistry studies, suspended sediment studies, an assessment of subsistence whaling impacts, regional biota contaminant assessment, and a study of a unique benthic biological community in the nearshore Beaufort Sea.

Battelle will provide MMS with core contractor services, including overall project coordination and management, field logistics for summer and winter sampling surveys, development of cANIMIDA database design and analysis tools interfacing with the MMS Coastal and Offshore Resource Information System (CORIS) database, and preparation of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles.

For more information about this program, please contact Mr. John Brown at (781) 895-4847, brownjs@battelle.org.