Illinois EPA interns begin summer Pollution Prevention jobs at companies across the state

SPRINGFIELD—Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott today welcomed 14 upper-level university students to the Illinois EPA's Pollution Prevention Internship Program, or P2 program for the summer.

 

The interns will take the skills they learn in the classroom and apply them in the working world through the P2 program.  Since 1989, Illinois EPA has placed over 300 students at manufacturing facilities, small business development centers, trade associations, local government facilities, environmental groups and military installations across the state. 

 

"The positive effects of this internship program are considerable.  Energy costs are reduced, solid and hazardous wastes are diverted from landfills, and millions of gallons of water are saved," said Director Scott.  "Companies benefit through cost savings, and the environment benefits through reductions in emissions and wastes that would be created during manufacturing operations."

 

The select group of students will work in a practical setting to help companies and organizations throughout Illinois identify, develop and implement environmentally-friendly technologies and practices in cost-saving ways.  After completing the P2 training program in Springfield, students will spend the remainder of the 12-week summer session working as temporary, full-time employees at the sponsoring facilities.  This year's students have backgrounds in various fields of engineering and environmental management.

 

Illinois EPA recruits, trains and pays the salaries and expenses of the interns.  The host facilities will provide oversight and monitor their performance.

 

During the summer of 2009, 16 P2 interns made recommendations that potentially saved the participating host facilities over $950,000.  This cumulative savings included reduced operating and disposal costs, as well as energy reduction costs.

 

The students, specialties and universities, companies they will be working for and hometowns are:

 

 

For more information on the Illinois EPA's Pollution Prevention program can be found at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/p2/index.html.  For information on the P2 Internship Program, you can contact Richard Reese, (217) 786-7489, or Richard.Reese@Illinois.gov.  Please Note: The deadline for both the student and host facility to apply each year is January 31^st.

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