How does the Pollution Prevention Intern Program work?
The DNR matches students with specific projects identified by Iowa businesses, institutions, or agencies, based on each student's coursework performance, experience, and technical skills.
After one week of training, the intern serves on site at the host facility, addressing the targeted project as a team member. Technical advisors with the program provide the interns with the resources, tools and technical guidance they need to excel in their project. While on-site the intern reports to a company supervisor, who provides daily supervision, company resources, and ensures company support of the project and implementation. (Students are not trained in or qualified to assess regulatory compliance issues.)
The intern assesses the company's processes to determine waste streams, evaluates options for waste reduction, works with management and employees to determine the feasibility of various options, and develops cost comparisons. In most cases the intern initiates implementation of feasible alternatives to the process. After writing a final report documenting results and recommendations, the intern presents this information to the host company and writes a case summary of his or her project.
What types of projects are implemented?
Here are just a few examples of project areas:
Lighting retrofits Boiler efficiency Heating, ventilation and cooling efficiency Optimization of a compressed air system Water conservation and wastewater treatment Interior and exterior thermographic analysis Solid waste generation and handling Process improvements Hazardous chemical analysis and replacement For more detailed information on recently implemented projects, click here to view the 2009 Pollution Prevention Intern Program Case Summaries booklet.
How do I get started?
If you are an Iowa business or industry, institution, or governmental agency with 100 employees or more, are a RCRA Large Quantity Generator of hazardous waste, or your annual energy costs exceed one million dollars you are eligible to submit a 2011 intern project request. The deadline to submit a request for a 2011 intern is November 19, 2010.
Download a 2011 Project Request Form: Word Document or PDF. Graduate and upper-level undergraduate students who are enrolled in engineering disciplines, environmental science or physical science majors are encouraged to apply. The intern selection process will begin mid-November and continue into the spring until project assignments are finalized.
Download an application form and additional information: Word Document or PDF. Internships typically begin in May, with 12- or 24-week project opportunities available. DNR's Pollution Prevention Services provides interns with salaries and housing stipends.
For more information go to: http://www.iowadnr.gov/waste/p2/intern.html
Contact:
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