$2,000 for stipends and expenses to summer interns at watershed organizations!

Content provided by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
15.254 Summer Watershed Intern

AUTHORIZATION:

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977; Public Law 95-87; 91 Stat. 445-532.

OBJECTIVES:

Over the past ten years, Reclamation Support has created a direct watershed assistance program working with volunteer watershed groups in the Appalachian Coal Country and, more recently, in the Western Hardrock Country. The primary partners are a coalition of change-minded community improvement groups determined to repair the environmental degradation left from historic mining while creating economic stability needed in rural communities, the watershed/neighborhood residents call home. Goals: build local capacity, monitor waterway quality, enhance outreach and education, engage economic redevelopment and require professional development. The program is supported by an innovative partnership among AmeriCorps VISTA, concerned with poverty, and the Office of Surface Mining, concerned with environmental reclamation and safety, and watershed groups.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use
Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The OSM Summer Watershed Intern Program started in 1999, supporting college students working full-time for 10 weeks with coal country watershed groups. As many as 30 students have spent a summer working directly for watershed groups to conduct water monitoring, enhance outreach initiatives, develop school curricula and build stronger partnerships with agencies and industry.
The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT) began in 2002 as an OSM/VISTA initiative, placing determined college-trained OSM/VISTA Volunteers in a year of service in rural coal-mining communities. Reflecting the needs and the determination of the communities served, the ACCWT has placed more than 36 OSM/VISTAs in the field and more waiting to support an OSM/VISTA. New OSM/VISTA recruits are applying in increasing numbers every day.
The Western Hardrock Watershed Team (WHWT) began is Colorado at the invitation of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as an OSM/VISTA initiative in 2007, placing determined college-trained OSM/VISTA Volunteers in a year of service in rural mining communities. Over the past year the WHWT expanded from 4 to 18 positions in Colorado. Serious injuries are coming from other states (NM, UT, MT, NV) based on the board successes seen in Colorado, but cannot be filled at present. New OSM/VISTA recruits are also applying in increasing numbers.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   All interns accepted to participate in the OSM Watershed Intern Program must be interested in and able to work in support of a public or private nonprofit institution/organization. Applicants are required to have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies or the equivalent.
OSM/AmericCorps* VISTA requires qualified watershed groups to be nonprofit organizations or be sponsored by a nonprofit. Established watershed organizations in the following states are currently participating: Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Watershed organizations in communities impacted by streams polluted by acid mine drainage will benefit from this program.
Credentials/Documentation:   Proof of not-for-profit, IRS 501(c)(3), status is required of nonprofit watershed organizations. Proof of student status or the completion of two years of college is required of all intern applicants. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

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APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The SF-424 application forms required by 2 CFR Part 215.12, and the Department of the Interior Code of Federal Regulations at 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, or its revisions, must be used. Guidelines and application procedures can be obtained from the OSM Website, www.osmre.gov. Paper copy of guidelines and application procedures can be obtained from the OSM Headquarters.
Award Procedure:   Team support offices handle OSM intern and OSM/VISTA applications from sites and individuals, screen and rank applications, and oversee the administration of both programs. Cooperative agreements are approved by the Director or his designee.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Not Applicable.
Appeals:
Not Applicable.
Renewals:
Not Applicable.

Formula and Matching Requirements:
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Partners are encouraged to make monetary contributions or provide in-kind services. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
The Watershed Intern Program is for 10 weeks of full-time work by an intern. This 10-week period can be split with two interns or worked part-time over several months. Each AmeriCorp VISTA position is awarded for a three year full-time period. Each AmeriCorp Vista Volunteer must make, at least, a one year commitment. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Quarterly programmatic reports are required. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Quarterly financial reports using the Federal Financial Report SF 425 is required. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits:   Quarterly programmatic reports are required. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Quarterly financial reports using the Federal Financial Report SF 425 is required. Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Records:   Records will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.".

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:

14-5015-0-1-302.

Obligations:   (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 09 $40,000; FY 10 est $50,000; FY 11 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Each internship includes a $2,000 stipend for 10 weeks of full-time work by an intern and an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1000. OSM/VISTA Living Stipend and other benefits are set by VISTA.

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PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Fiscal Year 2009: In 2009, the ACCWT: 1. Formed 593 new partnerships among community groups, both state and federal agencies, and industry; spreading commitment and adding new sources of support, enabling an expanded agenda for community improvement.; 2. Logged 25,619 volunteer service hours from local citizens to monitor polluted water, plant trees on abandoned mine land sites, work with local schools and much more.; 3. Average $23,000 in grants per community group that funded Brownfields redeveloped projects, purchased water monitoring equipment, enhanced community redevelopment projects, and supported educational outreach. Fiscal Year 2010: In the past year, the WHWT: 1. Formed 77 new partnerships among community groups, both state and federal agencies and local businesses, spreading commitment, adding new sources of support and enabling an expanded agenda for community improvement.; 2. Logged 25,619 volunteer service hours from local citizens to monitor polluted water, plant trees on abandoned mine land sites, work with local schools and much more.; 3. Average $23,000 in grants per community group that funded Brownfields redevelopment projects, purchased water monitoring equipment, enhanced community redevelopment projects, and supported educational outreach. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Section 404, Public Law 95-87.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices. See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.
Headquarters Office:   Director, Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: (202) 208-2585.
Web Site Address:   http://www.osmre.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: While OSM does not directly fund "projects" the funding provided supports nonprofit, voluntary, community watershed associations whose projects engage their communities in identifying AMD problems, as well as, potential solutions and address related watershed/community projects. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Each proposed watershed project must clearly enhance the sustainability of the watershed organization and must contribute directly to the remediation of acid mine drainage. Candidates must be able to organize their work, work well with community groups and on their own, have an understanding of acid mine drainage remediation and the national Clean Streams program, and write well.

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