Participation in the interview process for a Sea Grant Fellow position was one of the most valuable parts of my Fellowship. While initially it may seem like an extra task added onto an already busy schedule is actually exactly the kind of preparation Sea Grant seeks to provide its fellows in order to help them enter the work force. Just the initial read of applicant’s materials helped me see how to improve my own, and not just because they had better word choice. I started to see where I had not fully explained something and left an area open to interpretation that I actually had very specific answers too. I realized that if I cannot fully explain a subject in my cover letter that I should not bring it up at all, because the blank will be filled in by the reader and that distracts from other more important subjects. I also finally understood the value of letters of recommendation, especially from those who had clearly developed a personal working relationship with a student. Letters of recommendation that highlighted the same projects or attributes of a students cover letter demonstrated that the student was under no delusions about their strengths or even weaknesses they sought to improve. While grades where a factor and where important to complete the full picture of a student they carried far less weight than I thought. Really all they are need for is to demonstrate is that a person is capable of hard work and following through, or that they have acquired skills needed for a particular job.

Through discussion of the materials with other members of the selection committee I began to understand what parts of a cover letter we all responded to. Direct statements such as “This is my dream job, I would take it above all others.” where incredibly well received. While statements such as “I would like this job so that I can stay in Oregon” were less well received unless they were followed up with further explanation of a person’s commitment to the area or a particular issue. Sea Grant really responds to passion and commitment, they want students who are going to use this opportunity to develop further, not just as something to do while they figure out a better option. It was especially interesting to see how we all balanced the multiple parts of an application against each other, grades verse dedication to a certain area or letters of recommendation verse personal statement. Each person on the panel valued things differently and through our conversation we started to put together a whole picture of what this person would look like as a fellow. I really understand now how to make myself stand out to different kinds of interviewers.

The actual interviews helped me understand how my personality and interview style is viewed by different people. There was an incredible amount of understanding from the panel about nerves and how those are presented in different people. I learned that it was ok to be nervous as long as I addressed it if my composure slipped or I answered a question weirdly. Observing this part of the process and discussing it afterwards will definitely save me some sleep at 4 am in the future. I used to think that panel interviews were worse than one on one interviews but through this process I learned that they are actually better. Every person carries with them unavoidable biases based on their personal experiences, but its is also our experiences that help us balance them out, especially when combined with other peoples. As we discussed the differences in each candidates in person interview there were some things we all noticed and agreed on and others that surprised us and needed explaining from another person. I deeply value this experience and took away a lot more than I thought I would initially.

Since session started and elected officials have been for the most part confined to the capital I have attended various in district meetings on their behalf. One particular meeting, or series of meetings, were held by Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for Seafood Processors who are facing a looming permit change. This is everything I learned about that process;

In February DEQ came and met with the Coastal Caucus to discuss their plans to meet with the actual seafood processors to better understand the challenges facing processors, to discuss DEQ’s need to update permit requirements to reflect the most current water quality standards, and to outline next steps.  Since that time, DEQ and Business Oregon have been working closely with Oregon’s seafood processors to better understand their operational needs, identifying challenges as well as opportunities.

The process of discussion around reviewing the 900J general permit for renewal started in Astoria on April 18th, this permit governs the waste water allowed be discharged after the processors have taken whole sea creatures and turned them into saleable products. DEQ has established an internal project team that has been working to identify and better understand technical concerns to be addressed in this permit renewal, informed in part by the feedback they received during sites visits in 2016. DEQ has reviewed operational variables (such as species processed, discharge volumes, seasonality of operations, treatment technologies) and location variables specific to the receiving water (such as water quality characteristics, pollutant restrictions/limitations, availability of dilution) that must be considered when renewing the permits. These meeting run by members of DEQ’s project team with seafood processors were a concentrated effort to keep those who will be affected by this permit renewal informed of their progress. In addition, a series of public information meetings were held in coastal communities to provide an opportunity for other interested parties and members of the general public to learn about the renewal of the 900J, ask questions, and provide comments that will inform DEQ’s process.

DEQ is now ready to begin the early stages of the public engagement process. After these meetings with permitted facilities DEQ returned to headquarters to review its findings, discuss the issues and challenges that DEQ anticipates, and identify anything they may have overlooked. They are currently preparing to present a permit timeline that will include renewal of the 900J general permit, renewal of expired individual permits, and issuance of new individual permits, where applicable.

DEQ has established an internal project team that has been working to identify and better understand technical concerns to be addressed in this permit renewal, informed in part by the feedback we received during our visits with the processors. Permitting wastewater discharges for seafood processors is complex. Twenty-four seafood processing facilities maintain wastewater discharge permit coverage under either the 900J general or individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. No two facilities are alike, and the water bodies receiving wastewater discharges vary greatly.

DEQ staff has compiled wastewater discharge and operations data from seafood processors currently covered by either the expired General Permit or individual NPDES permits.  DEQ has reviewed operational variables (such as species processed, discharge volumes, seasonality of operations, treatment technologies) and location variables specific to the receiving water (such as water quality characteristics, pollutant restrictions/limitations, availability of dilution) that must be considered when renewing the permits.  DEQ plans to continue with some combination of individual and general permit coverage.  This may result in some seafood processors operating on a different type of permit.

I am the 2017 Sea Grant Legislative Fellow for the Coastal Caucus, and for the last two and half years I have been slogging through law school at U of O.  Most of law school is sitting in a class franticly typing everything your professor says, praying you don’t make enough eye contact to get cold called, or sitting alone reading really really boring cases. I think I actually forgot what is was like to be in a serious office environment. It’s taken me a few days to remember how to curl my eyelashes and never to wear heels. Although I miss yoga pants and messy buns something fierce but I’m glad to trade them for daily human interaction.

A lot of my first few months working for the Coastal Caucus has been spent learning what exactly the Caucus does and how it functions. The Caucus is made up of eight Senators and Representatives who represent coastal districts. Senator Jeff Kruse from District 1 is the Chair for the 2017 session so my desk is in his office this year and I interact with him or his Chief of Staff the most. I’m in almost constant contact with the rest of the members or their staff as issues come up. So far I have spent about 2 weeks total at my desk in the building and the majority of my work has been attending meetings around Oregon and answering emails from coffee shops. I know that this easy pace is about to change and I am so thankful for the extra time before session to get my feet wet.

Today is the first day of session, and the change from relatively low key to high energy is palatable in the building. For days I have been researching issues like tide gates and shipyards in an almost silent building, today I think I’ve been able to read 5 pages max. Lobbyists, staff, and constituents are everywhere discussing what this session will mean for Oregon. Tomorrow is our first 7 am Coastal Caucus meeting during session where we will start to prioritize and schedule all of the issues that have been discussed so far. Today is the final deep breath before the plunge.