National Park Service Grant for Air Quality Data Analysis and Visibility Protection in National Parks

OVERVIEW

Through a Task Agreement against the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Cooperative Agreement, the National Park Service (NPS) and Colorado State University will continue in a cooperative effort to work on the Assistance for Visibility Data Analysis and Image Display Techniques project with the University¿s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Air pollutants can adversely affect visitor experience in the National Parks by degrading the vistas, affecting the natural ecosystems of these areas, and in some extreme cases, adversely affecting visitor health. Through this task agreement the overall goal is for the National Park Service (NPS) and Colorado State University (CSU) scientists to work together to better understand the scientific basis of these issues, providing that information to regulatory agencies at both the federal and state level, and interpreting it for the public.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University (CSU) agrees to:

– Conduct aerosol research, investigate nitrogen deposition, evaluate the impacts of oil and gas development in the Bakken shale region, data analysis and dissemination, regional air quality modeling, and the development of public outreach products.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

National Park Service (NPS) agrees to:

– Have NPS scientists from the Air Resources Division work directly on the various aspects of this project in conjunction with the CSU scientists.

– Participate in data analysis and/or modeling.

– Participate in report writing.

– Coauthor peer-reviewed publications with CSU.

– Provide access to air quality monitoring locations, equipment shelters, and specialized monitoring equipment, where applicable.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity.

Colorado State University¿s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere continues to work in the analysis of air quality data affecting sensitive ecosystems and visual resources in the National Park Service as well as image display for dissemination to the public. Through their past experience in this area, they are uniquely qualified to continue this work.