Aquatic Resources Impacts Internship

*Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis and this posting could close before the deadline. Click here for information about the selection process.

EPA Office/Lab and Location: A research associate opportunity is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Dallas, Texas in the NPDES/Wetlands Review Section. The Wetlands Section is responsible for administering EPA’s wetland protection program within the region. Program responsibilities are mainly related to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and related regulations by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, EPA is charged with oversight of the COE permitting program which regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

Research Project: Research, review, summarize and compile meaningful ecological performance standards for compensatory mitigation banks and recommend improvements to existing approaches to established standards. The assessment would include an evaluation of the various aquatic resource habitat types found in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast Region. Mitigation bank types evaluated may include a combination of restoration, establishment, enhancement and preservation of marsh, wetland, stream and riparian areas. The effort would include the evaluation of existing performance standards, monitoring reports, and potential field verification within the TX/LA Gulf Coast Region and nationwide as appropriate. Existing databases and similar studies may also be utilized to guide the effort along with existing models, tools, methods, or protocols, for assessing aquatic resources. The effort would address a critical need to identify and develop robust mitigation bank performance standards to help ensure successful compensatory mitigation projects in support of Clean Water Act Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation Bank Program. The effort will include coordination with the appropriate resource agencies (e.g., Corps of Engineers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) to solicit input regarding aquatic resource criteria.

Additionally, there is an opportunity to participate in the development of regional streamflow duration assessment methods (SDAMs), an ongoing project. EPA HQ is currently testing the Pacific Northwest and New Mexico methods and several additional indicators at sites across the Arid Southwest and Western Mountains. The team is concurrently working to identify regionally specific indicators, and intermittent and ephemeral sites for field testing in the Northern and Southern Plains. The effort will include coordination with the appropriate state resource agencies to obtain the necessary expertise for development of information about assessments. Based on the outcome of this research and assessments, a collection of models, methods, or protocols will be developed for Clean Water Act Section 404 permit applicant use in identifying the appropriate impact assessment method for stream flows. The assessment will also consider the extent to which the tools are appropriate for identifying impacts, in the context of Clean Water Act Section 404 permit evaluations which will address the resource factors identified in the Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) Guidelines.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance from a mentor, the research participant will gain experience in any or all of the following areas

Mentor(s): The mentor for questions about this opportunity is Paul Kaspar (kaspar.paul@epa.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 2021. All start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. Click here for detailed information about start dates.

Appointment Length: The appointment may initially be for one year and may be renewed up to three additional years upon EPA recommendation and subject to availability of funding.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full-time.

EPA Security Clearance: Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at EPA.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. Participants do not become employees of EPA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

ORISE offers all ORISE EPA graduate students and Postdocs a free 5 year membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

Questions: Please see the FAQ section of our website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.REG@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity (EPA-REG6-2021-01).