The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications for its Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge Treatment and its Impact on the Environment.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/16/2023
Size of the Grant: $2,375,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
In recent years, concern has increased about the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) that could make it more difficult to treat certain infections in animals and people. Wastewater treatment facilities are believed to be potential receptors and sources for ARB and ARGs and can act as a bridge to the environment. This RFA seeks research that will address knowledge gaps in the occurrence, fate and transport, and persistence of antimicrobial resistant organisms and genes found in municipal wastewater effluent and biosolids. The RFA also requests research on combined sewer overflows, septic systems, and small wastewater systems. Research should provide a better understanding of the impact of ARB and ARGs on receiving waters including information on the relative contribution of ARB and ARGs from wastewater as compared to other sources such as animal agriculture, animal husbandry, hospital sources, and direct industrial sources. Research should also support the development of frameworks and methodologies for quantifying risk related to AMR in treated wastewater discharge, water reuse, and biosolids (and biosolids products) land application and beneficial use.
The Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Consolidated Research/Training/Fellowships program supports research and development to:
- determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides;
- Identify, develop, and demonstrate effective pollution control techniques;
- perform risk assessments to characterize the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to environmental hazards; and
- facilitate training and program participant support in these areas.
For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs)
- Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs)
Research Areas
- Research Area 1: Understanding the selection and removal of antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria throughout wastewater and biosolids treatment trains.
- Research Area 2: Understanding the environmental burden and public health impact of antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria from different municipal wastewater sources on downstream applications and from biosolids use on the environment.
Expected Outputs/Outcomes
Expected Outputs: Some examples of desirable outputs are listed below:
- Bench, pilot, or full-scale testing at wastewater facilities and biosolids land application sites.
- Knowledge development on risk from effluent discharge and biosolids land application and other beneficial uses.
- Development of appropriate frameworks and methodologies for quantifying risk related to AMR in treated wastewater discharge, water reuse, and biosolids (and biosolids products) land application and beneficial use.
- Assessment of the significance of the wastewater discharge sources and biosolids use on AMR proliferation in the environment in comparison to other non-wastewater sources in different watersheds.
- Research and testing reports and peer reviewed publications pertaining to the research areas listed above.
- Workshops and webinars to disseminate information to states and utilities.
- Guidance documents for utilities and states including targets and ways to integrate with other networks. o Guidance to mitigate the sources of ARB and ARGs, particularly those that may persist and/or accumulate in the environment.
- Risk assessments along with development of risk models and source apportionment studies.
- Data on wastewater effluent quality as impacted by various processes and geographical variation.
- Survey frameworks for the longitudinal monitoring of AMR in wastewater effluents.
- Guidance on effective treatment processes and operational configurations for the management of ARB and ARGs in wastewater.
Expected Outcomes
- Better understanding of the nature, extent, selection, and removal of ARB and ARGs found in municipal wastewater effluent and biosolids as well as the conditions associated with their occurrence and growth.
- Improved understanding of the environmental burden and public health impact of ARB and ARGs from different municipal wastewater sources on downstream applications and from biosolids use on the environment.
- Better planning and increased ability for States, municipalities, and wastewater treatment facilities to identify and manage human health and ecosystem risks from ARB and ARGs.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $9,500,000
- Award Ceiling: $2,375,000
Project Period
The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- This solicitation is available to public and private nonprofit institutions and public and private universities and colleges located in the United States and its territories or possessions. Foreign entities, U.S. States, territories and possessions, the District of Columbia, State and local government departments, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments of the U.S., are not eligible to apply under this RFA. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.
- Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization.
- Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.
For more inforamtion, visit Grants.gov.
