Start/End Date: 1/8/2024 – 7/5/2024 (anticipated)

Term Length:  26 weeks

Living Stipend: $500/week

Reports To: Natural Resource Specialist at Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico State Office

Location: 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; position allows for intern to live in Albuquerque

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits: Additional housing allowance of $200/week; $2,264 in professional development funds; AmeriCorps Education Award $3,247 and Public Lands Corps Certificate* - both with successful completion of the internship

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy and AmeriCorps partner, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placement Positions are unique development opportunities. Interns are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and experiences for interns.

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a multiple use land managing agency, response for managing public resources including but not limited to lands, minerals, recreation, and wildlife.

Position Summary:

The selected intern will assist in land management activities out of the BLM New Mexico State Office in Santa Fe, NM. The intern will benefit public lands by assisting staff with collecting field data at oil and gas sites, completing data entry and analysis, utilizing GIS to maintain and display geospatial information, and assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for energy and minerals related activities. Intern will support well plugging and surface reclamation efforts at oil and gas sites on BLM-managed lands to facilitate cleanup efforts on public lands. There will also be many opportunities for intern to network with BLM resource specialists and managers at the state and field office levels.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Conduct On-Site Assessments within the BLM New Mexico administrative area:
  • Support or conduct on-site inspections of most phases of oil and gas operations as well as on-site inspections of well-plugging, facility removal/cleanup, spill remediation/cleanup, and reclamation activities.
  • Conduct research and gather/maintain environmental data relating to mitigation of surface impacts and reclamation of surfaces to a productive condition.
  • Conduct inventory and monitoring to support land use plans.
• Quality Assurance/Quality Control, Data Management, Data Entry and Data Analysis of oil and gas well and facility database records, and other program-related projects:
  • Inspection, documentation, data entry, document filing, reporting, and drafting of enforcement for undesirable events (i.e., spills, releases, blowouts, etc.).
  • Assess lease files, bonds, as well as inspection and enforcement action entries.
  • Utilize a full range of geospatial analytical techniques to identify, interpret and resolve GIS issues and complete a variety of projects and assignments.
• Assist with permitting, planning and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures.
  • Review and make suggestions on planning documents.
  • Conduct environmental analysis and review pertinent to NEPA.
  • Analyze potential impacts to natural resources and design appropriate mitigation measures.

Trainings Provided:

• Driver training; field activity orientation; documentation procedures.
• GIS applications as needed, relevant databases.
• BLM NEPA policies, relevant databases.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Per federal grant requirements, this internship is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Applicants should possess or be in the process of obtaining an undergraduate degree in natural resource management, environmental policy, botany, agronomy, rangeland management, geology, biology, ecology, or a related field.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, and be able to work well with others in a professional setting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Applicants must have great attention to detail and be capable of problem solving.
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior (DOI) security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiar with GIS applications.
• General understanding of federal land resource management policies (e.g., multiple use management).