IC Justification

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Projects” (OMB Control Number: 2080-0083)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION:

Citizen Scientists Measuring Coastal Acidification in Estuaries

PURPOSE:

This project provides high quality, and more affordable, new technology to citizen scientist organizations to measure variability of coastal acidification among estuaries in New England. Organizations will measure pH and collect water samples for total alkalinity. We will also collaborate with a complementary citizen science project organized by the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (NECAN).

NEED AND AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTION:

Data collected under the auspices of the Clean Water Act. For example, CWA §104, authorizes EPA to encourage, cooperate with and render technical services to individuals, including the general public, to promote the coordination and acceleration of demonstrations, studies and training relating to the causes, effects, prevention and elimination of water pollution. CWA §320, which establishes the National Estuary Program, also authorizes research and monitoring activities, and CWA §304, authorizes research to determine factors that impact aquatic life. This project is coordinating with research conducted by ORD under the research theme SSWR (sustainable water resources).

USES OF RESULTING DATA:

Results from measurements of these parameters will help estimate levels of carbonate saturation in coastal waters at selected estuaries.

DATA COLLECTION METHODS:

Participants will collect water samples from docks and piers using bottles and a protocol provided by EPA Region 1. The samples will be delivered to EPA Region 1 Regional Laboratory for analysis of Total Alkalinity. Participants will also record observations of pH in the same water sample using a meter provided by EPA Region 1. Participants will also record observations of temperature, salinity and oxygen using their own water quality sensors. EPA Region 1 will provide a data form to record observations. We expect that the training will begin around July 2019, initial samples will be collected in August and September of 2019, and most samples will be collected in 2020. The project will wrap up in the fall of 2020.

PARTICIPANT UNIVERSE:

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Participation Time per response	Burden Hours
Training of volunteers, including citizen science organization staff	10 to 20	1	8 hours	80 to 160
Data collection by volunteers, including citizen science organization staff	10 to 20	5 to 15	1 to 3 hours	50 to 900
Totals	10 to 20			130 to 900

AGENCY COST:  The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $50,000 for the internal Regional-State Innovation Project grant, plus additional costs for purchase of equipment and supplies totaling an additional $10,000. Finally, we estimate 0.5 FTE for two EPA staff, costing approximately $100,000. Total: $160,000

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

EPA Region 1 will compile the data, and conduct the statistical analyses of the data. We will calculate standard population statistics, such as mean, median and measures of variability. Analysis of variance will be employed to evaluate factors that contribute to the variability of results, including estuary, temperature, salinity, and other factors.

DATA QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES:

EPA Region 1 will review data to evaluate whether data quality objectives were met and evaluate whether data quality indicators (for example, precision, accuracy, sensitivity, completeness) and performance goals were met. EPA Region 1 will develop and approve a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for this project. We will be assisted by on-site contractors (Techlaw, Inc., under the Environmental Services Assistance Team (ESAT) contract, as well as colleagues at the EPA Atlantic Ecology Division (AED) Laboratory in Narragansett, RI.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTRUMENT: (Check all that apply)

[ ] Web-based or Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[x] In-person

[ ] Mail

[x] Other, Explain

The instrument is a pH sensor, linked to a data analyzer that records observations. The system does not automatically log data. As the project progresses, however, we may be able to connect a tablet or other computer to the data analyzer and log data, depending on funding and technical capacity. All water quality measurements (described above) will be recorded on paper data sheets. Total Alkalinity will be measured in the EPA Region 1 laboratory. The ESAT contractors will assist with development of the sampling protocols.

INSTRUMENT: See attached draft of the submission template. A final version will include an EPA Form Number, the OMB Control Number and expiration date, and a Burden Statement.

CONTACT NAME: Matthew Liebman EMAIL: [email protected]

Coastal Acidification Network 2019 Field Datasheet

Name of organization _________________________________________________________________

Sampler name(s) _____________________________________________________________________

Site information

Date _____________________________ Time (24 hours) ___________________________

Station ____________________________________________________________________________

Site Description ______________________________________________________________________

Latitude _________________________________ Longitude ________________________________

Weather/Conditions __________________________________________________________________

Sample Water Depth (m) ______________________________________________________________

Organization data (if not filled out on separate organization sheet)

Sonde used: (YSI model number, e.g.) _____________________ Calibrated? ____________________

Observed tidal stage (flooding, ebbing, slack high or low) ____________________________________

Temperature (^○C) ________________________ Salinity (ppt, or psu) ________________________

Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) ___________________ pH _______________________________________

Chlorophyll a (if available) _________________ Secchi depth (m) ___________________________

Sonde Data logged? (yes/no) _______________ File name ________________________________

Coastal Acidification Network data

DuraFET reading pH units (report to .001) _________________________________________________

DuraFET reading period time start ____________________ time end __________________________

Total Alkalinity bottle sample label ID ________________

QC sample? (duplicate, blank) ______________________ Chain of custody form filled out? _______

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