Sea Grant Fellowship Opportunity

Environmental Cleanup in Aquatic Environments

Program Overview

DEQ is responsible for protecting and enhancing Oregon's air, water and land quality. Among other programs, Environmental Cleanup is responsible for overseeing the cleanup of releases of hazardous substances to protect public health and the environment and to restore land and water. DEQ uses a combination of technical assistance, voluntary programs, public education, inspections and permitting to help public and private facilities and citizens understand and comply with environmental regulations. For additional information about DEQ’s cleanup program, please see: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/cu/index.htm.

Fellowship Topic

The Environmental Cleanup program is working on several significant emerging public policy issues. This fellowship will allow an opportunity to assist DEQ in one of the following areas (the successful Fellow will work with DEQ to design a mutually beneficial study and work program):

1) Greener remediation—assist DEQ in addressing regulatory barriers to enable greater use of more sustainable cleanup alternatives, and promote the voluntary use of sustainable cleanup alternatives. Monitor and participate in the work of other state and federal organizations evaluating use of greener remediation technologies and related public policy issues. Conduct a life cycle cost analysis, providing an Oregon-specific case study and tool set for evaluating cleanup alternatives such as traditional pump-and-treat and dig-and-haul methodologies compared to bioremediation and phytoremediation technologies. Assist in development of web-based information to promote voluntary use of greener remediation technologies.

2) Identification, assessment, and redevelopment of brownfields—conduct a community or regional inventory and needs assessment of brownfield sites to promote reuse of currently vacant and underutilized properties. DEQ is interested in inventory and needs assessment, public outreach with local community members, and promoting reuse of contaminated and blighted properties in all areas of Oregon. DEQ can assist in identifying a suitable community, or can assist and guide the Fellow in promoting the cleanup and economic reuse of properties in any community in Oregon of interest to the selected Fellow.

3) Natural resource damage assessment (NRDA)—develop natural resource damage assessment public policy recommendations for: a) past and continuing releases of oil and hazardous substances to groundwater and other environmental media; and b) contemporary releases of oil and hazardous substances as a result of a spill, and c) accumulation of hazardous substances in sediment as a result of permitted discharges of stormwater or facility wastewater. DEQ seeks recommendations for a matrix or formula to implement through legislation and/or administrative rule to assess responsible parties for damages caused to natural resources from spills and releases.

Project Scope

Each of the projects would provide the opportunity to learn about the local, state and federal agencies and stakeholders involved in environmental cleanup work. It would provide a broad experience in working with both scientific and policy issues. The Fellow selected would work out of the DEQ Portland office. The Fellow would be encouraged to attend professional meetings and provide updates as appropriate. Good verbal and written communication will be important to the successful implementation of this project.

Opportunities and Benefits 

• Gain knowledge and experience in local, state, and federal regulations and environmental cleanup issues;
• Meet with, and learn from, leading scientist and policy makers; and
• Help establish public policy for emerging environmental cleanup issues.