Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #186:Biorestoration of contaminated soils and sediments near scientific stations in polar regions  (Polar Biorem)

Outline
Scientific and military stations in polar and sub-polar regions have been and are still dependent on fossil fuels for their unique source of energy. The result has been the accidental contamination of soils surrounding stations mainly by diesel fuel and sometimes the nearby marine ecosystem by small or large oil spills from shipping activities. Furthermore, many stations had burned and often are still burning wastes on the site spreading polyaromatic hydrocarbons and soot in the vicinity of stations. Cleanup and restoration of hydrocarbons contaminated soils are difficult tasks in polar regions due to extreme fragility of soil and nearshore ecosystems, low temperature and limited access to heavy cleanup equipment. The approach now adopted by most countries already active in restoring contaminated sites is to develop «in-situ bioremediation methods» which consist in encouraging natural microbial communities to degrade oil residues and PAHs by adding nutrients or selecting highly performing bacteria collected from these sites. Scientific progress has been important in the last decade, but not enough fast to face the emergency case we are now facing with the fast warm-up of both polar regions. In many cases, water soluble oil and PAHs components (the most toxic ones) have slowly migrated to permafrost level and persisted there. As permafrost layer will go down and eventually disappear in some regions, there is an urgent need to speed up research and development of efficient methods for «biorestoration» of hydrocarbons contaminated soils and sediments in polar stations and transfer these techniques to countries without expertise and financial support in bioremediation technology. Taking the opportunity of the IPY 2007 and the increasing awareness of world population about the importance of preserving and restoring fragile polar environments, we propose to develop a world R&D network on the best technologies to be use in a very near future to biorestore and protect soil and nearby marine ecosystems from fossil fuels and PAHs from on-site burning. Such a network is already partly in place as our team at ISMER (Université du Québec à Rimouski) is working with France (Institut Paul-Émile Victor, IPEV) for over 10 years and with Argentina Antarctic Institute for 4 years. The project will consist in conducting one-year comparative bioremediation experiments in various sites using emerging techniques from participating countries and determining key factors which control the success or the failure of proposed techniques. The final step will be to transfer successful technologies to demanding countries.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
All countries involved in the network will have to provide the environmental status of their own past and present polar stations in order to establish where bioremediation experiments will be conducted. The extent and intensity of the contamination will be determining factors to decide were experiments will be conducted. The project will have to locate permafrost level (if any) and estimate any change occurring in present years compared to previous decades. Experiments will be conducted in both Arctic and Antarctic stations in order to compare capacity of local bacterial communities to degrade fossil hydrocarbons under comparable weather conditions. The project will involve «bioaugmentation experiments» using selected bacterial consortia from contaminated sites and their re-introduction at the same site with optimum conditions.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
From Canada: Dr. Émilien Pelletier, project leader, Can. Res. Chair in Molecular Ecotoxicology Applied to High Latitude Coastal Environments. From France: Dr Danile Delille, CNRS microbiologist supported by IPEV From Argentina, Dr. Walter MacCormack, microbiologist attached to the Argentina Antarctic Institute. Ongoing discussions with Belgium, UK, Norway, Brazil and Italia.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
One-year trials to be settled in Antarctic Peninsula (at least 2 Argentina stations), Kerguelen Islands, Crozet and Dumont d’Urville station (IPEV, France) and in Svalbar Islands (NPI, Norway). Experiments should also be conducted at Terra Nova (Italia) and some other locations in the Peninsula if more participating countries are found.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: June 2007 to August 2008            
Antarctic: December 2006 to April 2008            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
France and Argentina (and hopefully Italia, Norway and Brazil in the future) already provide hosing and facilities at their own polar stations to conduct proposed experiments using in-situ contaminated soils. This project will have to support travelling expenses for the Canadian teams and transportation of equipment such as sampling and analytical apparatus, computers and samples back to Canada.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project includes the settlement of a permanent Canada/Argentina laboratory at Esperanza station where two large houses (formally used by officers) are already available for scientific activities around the year. If Argentina provides hosing, electricity, sampling boats and transportation to Ushuaia, the contribution from Canada is expected to provide scientific instruments and sampling means to be permanently present on the station.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project has been discussed by scientists from involved countries but not officially endorsed by national authorities. However, long term co-operation with France and Argentina ensures a warm reception of this project because the establishment of a network has been suitable for a long time. A Canadian team will be particularly in good position to succeed in this project for political reasons. Canada is not claiming any territories in Antarctica and has not been involve in past disputes and wars between some of the countries to be involved in the project. Participation of Norway is highly suitable as a second northern country. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems: Contaminants

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
yes
This project is a world wide extension of ongoing programs on bioremediation and biorestotarion of oiled soils and sediments conducted by France and Argentina in co-operation with a Canadian team. One Canadian PhD student is presently at Juvany station with MacCormack team. Principal Canadian investigator will be at Kerguelen and Crozet Islands in January 2006. In all cases, the Canadian team is responsible for chemical and toxicological analysis.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Canadian team under the supervision of Dr. Émilien Pelletier (ISMER/UQAR) will take the lead of the project and manage the network by maintaining direct contact with all involved scientists, leading a scientific committee responsible for establishing research program, and planning field activities. We foresee a simple and flexible structure to maintain low-cost management. Six to 8 countries are expected to joint the network for the IPY field trials in 2007-2008. The network structure will be maintained after IPY and newcoming countries will be invited to joint the R&D program specially for technology transfer to demanding countries. Business opportunities will be created for Canadian and foreign companies working in field restoration and environment assessment

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Setup of a website dedicated to the network providing all available information on the activities and results of the network. Publication of technical and scientific results of field trials in international peer-reviewed journals. Participation to international conferences and symposia Interviews to newspapers and electronic media Public education through agencies exploiting tours in Antarctic Peninsula (particularly those departing from Ushuaia (Arg.) and Punta Arena (Chile)) to North Pole via Spitzbergen and Greenland.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Ecological, microbial, toxicological and chemical data will be managed by the network program committee in an attempt to make all data available to members of the network and the scientific community at large. Data describing the environmental status of polar stations (including those already available and those to be collected) will be organised and made available on the website of the network.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Each participating country will have to provide funds for their own facilities and activities of their scientists as it is already the case for France and Argentina. Field trials might be integrated in current operations of polar stations. Funds will have to be find for the Canadian team from NSERC and other funding agencies. On going work is supported by the CRC of professor Pelletier Needs: Management of the network (secretary, website, communication, travel): 50K$ Travels to field trials: 50K$ Toxicological and chemical analysis (one year technician + expenses) 80K$ Instruments for the Canada/Argentina laboratory and operation: 120K$

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof  Emilien Pelletier
Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (ISMER)
Université du Québec à Rimouski, 310 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Quebec
G5L 3A1
Canada

Tel: 418-723-1986 ext 1764 or 1601
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Fax: 418-724-1842
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