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Project Title: National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site – Site Management
Project Number: GC11NQ000KC0100 - 86070KC01
Project Chief: Erickson, Mindy
Project Start Date: Feb 2009
Project End Date: Feb 2014
Cooperators: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Enbridge Energy, Beltrami Co.

Project Objectives:
Support the advancement of science, research, and education on the fate, transport, and natural attenuation of crude oil contamination in the subsurface. Support research on crude oil contamination remediation strategies

Progress during FY10
A draft Request for Proposal (RFP) was developed and submitted to MPCA staff for comment. The RFP was approved by the Steering Committee and let in late February 2010. Numerous RFP-related questions were fielded by potential proposers. Severn proposals were received in response to the RFP, developed technical reviews of the proposals, and presented our review at the May Steering Committee meeting. The Steering Committee made the final decision on funding proposals, and all seven proposals were funded. We worked with the successful proposers in preparation for the July field season. We hosted the July site field season and had approximately 40 researchers working on-site over the course of the two week field season. New research activities were conducted by many new-to-the-site researchers during the field season, as a result of the spring RFP. The RFP was produced, and selected proposals were funded, via monies provided by Enbridge Energy to USGS and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) through the four-party Collaborative Agreement signed in 2009. The Agreement parties are USGS, Enbridge Energy, MPCA, and Beltrami County. Approximately $45,000 was awarded to fund six projects.

Plans for FY11
Another RFP will be developed and let in FY11. Proposals will be reviewed in response to the RFP, technical reviews of the proposals will be identified, and proposals will be presented to the Steering Committee for final decision on funding proposals. We will work with the successful proposers in preparation for the 2011 site field season.