Geologic Mapping in Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

The summary for the Geologic Mapping in Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Park Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Geologic Mapping in Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P15AS00243
Project Title Geologic Mapping in Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Recipient NY State Department of Education NY Geological Survey
Total Anticipated Award Amount
Cost Share None
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award for five years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award for five years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) & 16 USC 1281 (e)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 [email protected]

OVERVIEW

Natural Resource Inventories, prescribe a digital geologic map as one of twelve essential data sets for parks. To meet this goal, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division (I&MD) has undertaken a Geologic Resource Inventory of 270 natural area parks. UPDE is identified as one of those parks. The Geologic Resources Division administers the Geologic Resources Inventory Program (GRI) and is charged with providing each park with:

1) An evaluation of park geologic resources and issues,
2) An assessment of geologic map coverage and production of digital products, and
3) A compilation of a geologic report with basic geologic information, hazards and issues, and existing data and research relating to the park.

At a geologic scoping meeting at UPDE, geologic mapping on the New York state side of the river was identified as being necessary to provide a complete geologic map of the park.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Project Description:

Task 1 of this project will produce geologic mapping to include 1:24,000 geologic mapping for the Hancock, Fishs Eddy, Long Eddy, Callicoon, Damascus, and Narrowsburg 7.5 minute quadrangles. Most of the areas to be mapped consist of partial quadrangles and in total equate to slightly more than three entire 7.5 minute quadrangle maps. From a research perspective this partnership with NPS provides an excellent opportunity for the NYSM to apply modern geologic mapping practices to a portion of the state where the NYSM has not had much activity in the last century. Regarding our understanding of deglaciation and glacial events we know very little except that this region is supposed to close to the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM- the furthest southern extent) of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) during the most recent Ice Age (Wisconsin Episode). In fact in the area proposed for mapping there has no published data of the chronology of ice retreat.

Task 2 of this project, assuming funding is available, will continue the same mapping approach in the Eldred, Shohola, Pond Eddy, and Port Jervis North quadrangles.

Public Purpose:
Geologic mapping is the foundation of the geosciences and as such provides directs benefits to the public-at-large. Detailed mapping along the Upper Delaware River, currently lacking, will
1) identify areas susceptible to slope failure, mass movement, landslides and rock fall that pose potential threats to the health and human safety of travelers on the numerous roads paralleling the river;
2) provide a greater understanding of the regional geologic framework and its potential for energy development or other commercially viable products;
3) expand the knowledge of groundwater aquifers and their replenishment pathways as well as the regional surface watersheds;
4) unravel the river's flood history through their deposits to shed light on possible future flooding events;
5) provide increased awareness of the area's geologic resources such as paleontological items, any cave or karst presence, or other unique geologic features

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Produce geologic maps in the area identified as all or portions of the Hancock, Fishs Eddy, Long Eddy, Callicoon, Damascus, Narrowsburg, Eldred, Shohola, Pond Eddy, and Port Jervis North 7.5 minute quadrangles. The final products will ensure that all geologic features present on the published map(s) are present as GIS data, and are fully attributed shape files to standards as identified in Part I d of the USGS-NCGMP 2004 STATEMAP program announcement No. 04hQPA0003.

2. Deliver these as digital geologic maps in ESRI ArcGIS 9.x or latest version with:
An ESRI geodatabase (.mdb) for each digital geologic-GIS map with a Geologic Unit Information table and Source Map Information table, where applicable
Accompanying text and graphics containing map explanatory information
A description of map units
A stratigraphic column depicting stratified units
Where applicable, a correlation diagram showing age relationships of map units
An explanation of map symbols
FGDC compliant metadata for all files developed


3. Confer with UPDE staff prior to any field activities to identify areas of significant natural or cultural resources and develop a plan to avoid any adverse impact of these resources

4. Confer with UPDE staff to update them on the progress of mapping and identification of new or unique geologic resources found during the mapping process which can be utilized for interpretive or educational purposes

5. Update GRI Program manager on mapping progress

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

1. Collaborate with the NYGS staff to develop the goals for the project

2. UPDE staff provides NYGS staff with orientation to significant resources and any relevant safety training

3. Provide the NYGS with all relevant NPS UPDE GIS data sets and other associated data that may be important to geologic mapping and data interpretation. Such data sets may include, but are not limited to, park boundaries, and infrastructure and facilities, etc.

4. Provide the NYGS all relevant LIDAR imagery and aerial imagery that is in the possession of UPDE or the Eastern River and Mountains Network.

5. Provide natural resource management staff from the NPS-Geologic Resources Division-Denver and from the participating park units to collaborate with the NYGS on project study design.

6. Frequently consult with the NYGS on the creation of the map legends/map categories, and to review all preliminary, interim, and final documents associated with the project.

7. When available, provide logistical support to facilitate the conduct of mapping activities in UPDE, such as, but not limited to, access to remote areas, assistance with the NPS permitting process, and assistance with field data collection.

7. Provide, through the Geologic Resources Division, assistance required by the Principal Investigator and his associates to create the geologic maps in a Geographic Information System (GIS) using state-or-the-art ESRI ARCGIS software.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS
Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.
In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;
(2) Continuation The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;
(3) Legislative intent The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;
(4) Unique Qualifications The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;
(5) Emergencies Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(4) Unique Qualifications:

The Commissioner for the New York (NY) State Education Department under the direction of the Board of Regents serves as the President of the University of the State of New York (USNY). http://www.nysed.gov/about/about-usny this includes the NY State Museum and the Geological Survey. As part of our Natural History Mission the applicable education mandate appropriate for this cooperative agreement States:

NY Education Law 235 There shall be maintained in the university a science service which...shall cooperate with scientific units or agencies of other states, the federal government, educational institutions and industry in the discovery, analysis and dissemination of scientific information."

The mission of the NYSGS is to conduct geologic research, evaluate mineral resources and geologic hazards of the State of New York, and make the data and advice derived from that research available to State and Federal agencies, the educational community, and the public for the health, safety, and economic welfare of the citizens of the State. Responsibilities of the NYSGS include maintaining a comprehensive inventory of the geologic resources, conducting research into the characteristics of, and processes operating in, the earth's crust, and making the resulting geologic knowledge readily available. The guiding principles require that the work of the NYSGS be synoptic and comprehensive throughout the State, be applicable to addressing the geologically related issues facing the citizens of the State, and be assembled in useable formats. Descriptions of various aspects of the State's geology are presented in the Museum Bulletin, Memoir, Map & Chart, Miscellaneous Publications, and Circular series publications. The NYSGS is the only agency in the state with the specific mission to produce geologic maps.