Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program
The Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program provides an opportunity for retired and unemployed Americans age 55 and over to share their expertise with U.S. EPA, remaining active using their matured skills in meaningful tasks that support a wide variety of environmental programs.
How did the SEE Program begin?
In 1984, the Environmental Programs Assistance Act authorized EPA to establish a program of grants/cooperative agreements to federal, state, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control.
How is the SEE Program implemented?
EPA and other federal and state environmental offices fund grants and cooperative agreements with national aging organizations that have been authorized by the Secretary of Labor (note that this link opens in a pop-up box). These grantee organizations recruit qualified candidates to work in positions at our offices, labs and research centers throughout the nation.
What types of work could I do if I participate in the SEE Program?
Full-time and part-time SEE enrollees contribute in many ways to help EPA improve the environment. Types of SEE Program positions include:
- professional - for example, engineer, scientist and accountant
- technical - for example, physical science technician, grant specialist, writer-editor, technical researcher, and technical writer;
- clerical (non-typing) - for example, messenger, receptionist, file clerk, and copy machine operator; and
- clerical (typing) - for example, clerk-typist and administrative assistant.
Activities include:
- performing water supply inventories;
- providing information to the general public;
- writing and editing EPA environmental education and outreach publications;
- identifying and classifying sanitary landfills;
- providing technical assistance;
- estimating levels of pesticide exposure;
- monitoring radiation and air pollution;
- conducting school asbestos surveys; and
- typing environmental legal abstracts briefs.
If I participate, am I considered a federal employee?
SEE enrollees are not considered federal employees. If you enroll, you would also not be considered an employee of the grantee organization, although the grantee organization would administer your salary, benefits, vacation and sick leave, and any personnel actions or issues. Your productivity would be monitored by a federal employee.
Where can I learn more?
For more information about how you can become involved in the SEE Program, contact one or more of the grantee organizations that administer the SEE Program (note that this link opens in a pop-up box).