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10/12/2012 NJDEP's Office of Science - Update on Current and Recently Completed Research Projects Gary A. Buchanan, Ph.D. Manager Office of Science NJDEP October 12, 2012
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NJDEP Vision Statement
Regulations that are balanced, incorporate science, provide flexibility and accurately evaluate potential impacts including cost‐benefit analyses. We must make permitting and inspection of individuals, businesses, governmental bodies and other organization both timely and predictable, basing our decisions on science, data, facts and cost‐benefit analyses. Science‐based decisions based on input from our Science Advisory Board and the State’s colleges and universities.
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Office of science Goals:
Provide the department with, and access to, expertise and information that supports its technical, program and policy needs. Act as liaisons to the Science Advisory Board and Standing Committees that will help provide the Department with outside expertise on scientific issues. Perform research to meet the information and problem-solving needs of the department, and to identify and understand emerging issues that require the department's attention and response. Advocate and integrate the multi-disciplinary perspective into the department's identification, analysis and resolution of environmental issues.
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Office of Science Program Support Science Advisory Board
Technical Support Research Support Science Advisory Board Multidisciplinary Sound Science - Basis for Decisions
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Experience –Science Based Support
Air Monitoring/Modeling Fish Monitoring & Consumption Advisories Human Health Risk Assessment Standards Development Data Analysis & Interpretation Literature Reviews
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Experience –Science Based Support
Spatio-temporal Modeling/GIS Mapping Environmental Trends Analysis Water Quality Indicators Method Development (e.g., analytical) Emission Inventory Development
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Science Advisory Board
NJDEP COMMISSIONER OFFICE OF SCIENCE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD CLIMATE & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES COMMITTEE ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WATER QUALITY & QUANTITY COMMITTEE AD HOC COMMITTEE(S) DEPARTMENT STAFF PUBLIC
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Staff Expertise Toxicologists/Risk Assessment Biologists/Ecologists
Air Quality/Modeling Specialists Water Quality Specialists GIS Chemist Statistician Microbiologist Environmental Scientists
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Research Variety reflects scope of NJDEP programs Drinking Water
Unregulated Contaminants: e.g., Pharmaceuticals and PCPs Hexavalent Chromium Oil Spill Barnegat Bay
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Recent Research Crumb Infill and Turf Characterization for Trace Elements and Organic Materials New Jersey Private Well Testing Act – Results by County/Municipality (June 2012) Ocean Wind/Power Ecological Baseline Studies
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Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies
2 Year $7M Study Birds, Marine Mammals & Sea Turtles Environmental Suitability for Renewable Energy
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Activities & Photos conducted under NMFS Permit No. 10014-01
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Barnegat Bay Other Studies Active Research
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Barnegat Bay
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Governor’s Comprehensive Plan of Action
10 point plan Plan 9: Producing more Comprehensive Research Support water quality improvement (nutrient criteria) Establish the baseline conditions of the bay Fill in critical data gaps Advance habitat restoration on the Bay
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Benthic Invertebrate Community Monitoring and Indicator Development
Gary Taghon, Judy Grassle, Charlotte Fuller, Rosemarie Petrecca Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
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Barnegat Bay Nutrient Inference Model
Mihaela Enache, Don Charles; Patrick Center for Environmental Research Marina Potapova; Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution Academy of Natural Sciences
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V. Monica Bricelj, John Kraeuter, & Gef Flimlin
Benthic-pelagic coupling: Hard clams as indicators of suspended particulates in the Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) estuary V. Monica Bricelj, John Kraeuter, & Gef Flimlin
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Phytoplankton and Harmful Algal Blooms
Barnegat Bay Phytoplankton and Harmful Algal Blooms Ling Ren & Donald Charles Patrick Center for Environmental Research ANSP
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BASELINE SURVEY OF ZOOPLANKTON OF BARNEGAT BAY September 29, 2011
Mr. James Nickels, Marine Scientist, Urban Coast Institute* Dr. Ursula Howson, Assistant Professor* Dr. Thomas Noji, NOAA, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Director,* * Dr. Jennifer Samson, NOAA, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Chief, Marine Chemistry Branch** * Monmouth University ** James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, Sandy Hook
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Barnegat Bay Research Assessment of Fishes and Crabs Responses to Human Alteration – K. Able, T. Grothues, Rutgers University & Paul Jivoff, Rider University Assessment of the Distribution and Abundance of Stinging Sea Nettles (Jellyfishes) – Paul Bologna and Jack Gaynor, Montclair State University Ecological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area – Paul Jivoff, Rider University
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OFFICE OF SCIENCE Other research
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Delineation of a Potential Gaseous Elemental Mercury Emissions Source in Northeastern NJ
Goal: Determine source of periodic increased concentrations of Hg. July Principle investigators: John Reinfelder, Rutgers University and William Wallace, College of Staten Island (CSI) Hg0 data are being collected with Tekran unit at CSI, will be augmented by near-field measurements with Lumex unit Initial analyses started, will include comparison with weather data
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Elizabeth site, elemental >= 3.0 ng/m3
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N.J. Dept. Environmental Protection
Radionuclides in Northern New Jersey Fractured-Rock Aquifers, Geological and Geochemical Indicators of Variability, and Regional Implications U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with N.J. Dept. Environmental Protection Zoltan Szabo, Judith Louis, Steve Spayd
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Nutrient References Conditions in NJ Lakes
Assess natural or reference conditions of NJ lakes to support development of numeric nutrient and other biological criteria Sediment cores – nutrient levels Diatom-based inference models Quantify pre-settlement trophic conditions Quantify change to present
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Examination of Local Mercury Concentrations during Reductions in Mercury Emissions in New Jersey- Phase II Goal to confirm decline of Hg in fish tissue due to elimination & reduction of local Hg sources Examining Hg levels in 2 year old largemouth bass in five lakes in NJ and watershed leaf samples 2007, 2009, 2011 completed 2013 planned
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REMOVAL OF UNREGULATED ORGANIC CHEMICALS IN FULL-SCALE WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES
Team Approach: Catherine Dipietro & George Budd, Black & Veatch Dr. Judy Louis, NJDEP Laura Cummings, PVWC John Dyksen and John Ludington, United Water Joe Maggio, Brick Township MUA Investigate the effectiveness of full scale conventional and advanced water treatment processes for removal of organic chemicals
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Use of innovative diagnostic tools for site assessment/closure
Environmental Molecular Diagnostics (EMDs) New tools for site monitoring and management PCR/qPCR (polymerase chain reaction) DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) Sequencing Publicly funded sites Use EMDs to direct bioremediation Support site closure
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Future research Barnegat Bay – Year 2 Drinking Water Hazardous Waste Emerging Contaminants
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Office of Science http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/
Information and Publications:
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