B--The Department of Interior, National Park Service anticipates award to Ecosystems Research Group to "Develop Critical Loads for Aquatic and Terestrial Ecosystems in the Northeastern US Experiencing Deposition" See Description

The purpose of this project is to develop critical loads for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in the Northeastern U.S. to quantify the extent of ecosystems experiencing deposition in excess of critical load in order to develop efficient and effective multi-pollutant reduction strategies. Essential components of the project include 1) a stakeholder outreach and input process enabling state, federal, and public participants to engage directly with the project team in decision-making for assessment endpoints, 2) development of high-resolution atmospheric deposition estimates for New York and New England based on NESCAUM's MANE-VU CMAQ modeling of the combined effects of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule, Federal Fuel and Motor Vehicle Programs and State Implementation Plans, 3) a steady-state critical loads assessment for terrestrial ecosystems in New York, 4) integration of existing aquatic and terrestrial critical loads assessments for sulfur and nitrogen based on steady-state mass balance modeling and production of high spatial resolution integrated maps of aquatic and terrestrial critical loads and exceedances for sulfur and nitrogen deposition, 5) integration of MAGIC model dynamic simulation forecasts of ecosystem response to changing atmospheric deposition rates, into the assessment, 6) preparation of a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal describing the integrated steady-state terrestrial and aquatic critical loads assessment, and 7) preparation of a peer-reviewed technical report.