Project Code: EPA-USA-12
| Project Title | Improve Access to and Understanding of Data on Toxic Pollution in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska |
|---|---|
| Project Summary | Encourage public involvement and better regulatory decisions by making water quality data more accessible and easier to understand. |
| Country | United States |
| Agency | Environmental Protection Agency |
| DoS Office | N/A |
| Post | N/A |
| Section | N/A |
| Number of Interns | 1 |
You can help regulators and the public better understand toxic pollution in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska by making data publicly available and easier to understand.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey maintain a publicly accessible database of water quality data called the Water Quality Portal. However, the EPA and partner organizations have data have not been uploaded to the database. You can improve the public's understanding of the quality of their waters and help federal, State and local government regulators make better decisions about how to protect water quality by uploading data to the Water Quality Portal. More information about the Water Quality Portal is available here:
https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/water-quality-data-wqx
You can also help regulators and the public better understand the data by mapping and analyzing it. Potential tasks may include:
* Data visualizations.
* Mass balance calculations.
* Similarity analyses (e.g., cosine similarity).
* Mapping monitoring locations and pollutant sources and pathways.
| Skill(s) |
|---|
| Data analysis |
| Data visualization |
| GIS expertise |
The ideal candidate will be a self-starting, detail-oriented individual with knowledge of spreadsheet programs and/or data visualization tools and geographic information systems (GIS). Knowledge of analytical chemistry and environmental science are desirable, but not necessary.
Your mentor works in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. More information about this program is available here:
https://www.epa.gov/npdes