A potentially Catastrophic Methane Leak

In a recent study published by Science magazine in the March 5 2010 issue it was announced that a group of scientists from over 12 different institutions has found a leak in the Siberian permafrost.

The methane , an estimated 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, was thought to be sheltered by an impermeable barrier is being emitted through perforations . Natalia Shakova, the lead scientist of the research team went on to warn that "Our concern is that the subsea permafrost has been showing signs of destabilization already," she said. "If it further destabilizes, the methane emissions may not be teragrams, it would be significantly larger."

It is important to note that methane is a GHG that is 30 times deadlier than carbon dioxide and that each teragram is equivalent to 1.1 million metric tons. If this leak is to proceed and if only 1 % of the methane is released then the research scientist predict that the effect on climate change could be catastrophic. This leak might be the event to confirm that the world has already passed the tipping point since such a release would be expected to accelerate substantially the rate at which global temperature would rise.



Are there still any skeptics out there? Will we ever act , not to save the ecosystem but to save ourselves? Don't bet on i

Summer Internship

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 2 - New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

2010 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS
MARCH 1- MARCH 15, 2010


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 is looking for
energetic and highly motivated summer interns to work directly with
professionals and gain valuable “real-world” experience. There will be
approximately 12 positions available in the following series/grades and
locations:

One or more positions in each of the following 4 categories will be located in New York, NY:
Category #1: Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist/Life Scientist, GS-819/1301/0401-5/7
Category #2: Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-0028-5/7
Category #3: Management Analyst, GS-0343-5/7
Category #4: Environmental Protection Assistant, GS-0029-3/4

One or more positions in each of the following 2 categories will be located in Edison, NJ:
Category #5: Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist/Life Scientist, GS-0819/1301/0401-5/7.
Category #6: Environmental Protection Assistant, GS-0029-3/4

One position in the following category will be located in San Juan, PR:
Category #7: Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist/Life Scientist,GS-0819/1301/0401-5/7.

QUALIFICATIONS:

You must be a student to apply for these positions. A student is an
individual who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree
seeking student and is taking at least a half-time academic course load
in an accredited 2 year or 4 year college or university or graduate
school. If you are graduating in May 2010, you must indicate that you
are enrolled or plan to enroll in a degree seeking program in the fall
of 2010. Those being considered for employment will be asked to show
proof of fall enrollment/acceptance.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY:
To apply, submit a resume and transcript of your college courses (an
unofficial transcript is acceptable; ensure your current courses are
reflected. You must indicate your interest in one or more of the 7
categories of positions listed above. Please clearly indicate the
category/ies for which you are applying. If you apply for more than one
category of positions, you are responsible for submitting a separate
complete application (resume, cover letter and transcript) for each
category of interest. Applications should be sent via email to
AJobsRTP@epa.gov or fax to 919-541-2186, or mail to USEPA, HRMD,
Attention Pam McClure – Region 2 Summer Employment, MD-C639-02, RTP, NC
27711. PLEASE INDICATE YOU ARE APPLYING TO: R2 SUMMER 2010

If you cannot obtain a transcript, provide a listing of all college
course work, including course titles, grades, and credits earned, that
you will have completed by the end of the current school year.
Regardless of the format you choose, you must include all of the credits
you expect to earn by the end of the spring 2010 semester.

Contact Pam McClure, RTP, at mcclure.pam@epa.gov if you have questions
about the application process.

OTHER INFORMATION:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Positions are located at 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007; 2890
Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837; or 1492
Ponce De Leon Avenue, San Juan, PR 00907.

Internships will tentatively begin on 5/24/2010 and run no later than
8/27/10.

All positions are full-time, 40 hours per week.
Candidate selected must be age 16 by the date they begin work.


2010 General Schedule Salary Rates (Per Hour)
Environmental Engineer Salary Rates

NY/NJ
NY/NJ PR
GS-03 $ 13.47
GS-5 $17.09 GS-5 $17.71
GS-04 $ 15.12
GS-7 $21.17 GS-7 $21.94
GS-05 $ 16.92
GS-07 $ 20.96

GENERAL EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
As a minimum, applicants must have education in the following amounts:

GS-3 1 academic year above high school (30 semester hours)
GS-4 2 academic years above high school (60 semester hours)
GS-5 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor’s
degree (120 semester hours
GS-7 Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, OR 1 year
academic year of graduate education (generally 18 semester
hours) OR 1 year experience related to the job

EPA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system
operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership
with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating
employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their
newly hired employees. We have additional information on our web site:
http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

US EPA is an equal opportunity employer.


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