Wetland and Stream Regulatory Program

A complete application consists of:

• An application
• Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional references
• A writing sample

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to EPArpp@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

A postgraduate internship project is available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water in Washington, DC. The internship will be served with the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.

This project will also provide training for technical support to ongoing branch priorities through GIS analysis, our national tracking system for coordination on Clean Water Act section 404 projects, and collecting and evaluating program information to identify priorities for further research, technical resource and training development.

Through this project the intern will learn about the 404 regulatory program and the role of the headquarters office. The participant will also learn about program tracking and analysis tools used within the program; attend branch, division, and office meetings along with specialty topic meetings to continue advancing their knowledge of EPA headquarters and all its responsibilities. Example of research projects include: 

• Program Data Analysis: The Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program evaluates proposed impacts to waters of the United States and proposed compensation at both the local and watershed scale. This research project would explore the intersection of past and proposed 404 program actions with other datasets to identify where greater collaboration and cross training is needed to achieve optimal environmental outcomes and programmatic efficiencies.
• Wetland and Stream Compensatory Mitigation Monitoring and Performance Standards: Monitoring must take place at wetland and stream mitigation sites, and is usually measured in terms of accessing compliance with specific performance standards. Many different measures, protocols, and indexes exist to monitor sites across the country. The goal of this research is to create a compendium of approved standard approaches to monitor and evaluate mitigation sites so that the results are nationally comparable to each other and other reference datasets. This will drive better compensation and create a useful reference for the regulatory program.
• Long Term Approach to Compensatory Mitigation Evaluation: Compensatory mitigation is required to offset impacts to aquatic resources such as wetlands and streams. It is an ongoing and ever changing activity. This research will aim to help in creating a blueprint to address common questions and issues posed to compensatory mitigation programs. It will help programs to avoid pitfalls of the past, guide proper monitoring of sites, and identify what type of evaluations are needed.

This research training opportunity will provide an exceptional professional development opportunity in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. The research participant will have access to a team of experts collaborating in and across disciplines on emerging and high-profile projects and topics including:

• Clean Water Act section 404 regulatory authority and practices
• Review and analysis approaches for complex development projects impacting all types of aquatic ecosystems
• Wetland and stream restoration policy and practice
• Alternative approaches to design, build, operate and evaluate different types of projects that may result in a discharge to aquatic resources (e.g. mining, transportation, pipelines, water supply reservoirs, or retail developments)

Through this program, the participant will gain a better understanding of how EPA implements a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory programs to increase understanding and positive perception of the functions and values of aquatic resources.

The participant will have an opportunity to obtain a broad view of CWA issues and how its programs interrelate, and will gain an understanding of aquatic resource protection programs. S/he may also have the chance to generate reports, analyze data, create maps, conduct geospatial analyses, write memoranda and create outreach documents. S/he will also have opportunities to submit research project results for publication in trade and peer reviewed journals.

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and EPA. The appointment is full time for one year and may be renewed upon recommendation of EPA and contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend. Funding may be made available to reimburse the participant’s travel expenses to present the results of his/her research at scientific conferences and stakeholder venues. No funding will be made available to cover travel costs for pre-appointment visits, relocation costs, tuition and fees, or participant’s health insurance. The participant must show proof of health and medical insurance. The participant does not become an EPA employee.

The mentor for this project is Brian Topping (topping.brian@epa.gov). The desired start date for this appointment is April 2, 2018.

Applicants must have received a master’s, or doctoral degree in natural science, engineering or statistics within five years of the desired starting date, or completion of all requirements for the degree should be expected prior to the starting date. Familiarity with the Clean Water Act Section 404 program and experience with complex data sets and or policies are desirable.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (1 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (2 )
  • Engineering (1 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (9 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (6 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (1 )