02/01/1984 15070

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMIST 1

DEFINITION: This is professional work in the field of chemistry as it relates to environmental protection.

An employee in this class performs a variety of duties in the Department of Environmental Resources involving the regulation of facilities to ensure compliance with Federal and Commonwealth rules and regulations governing the disposal, storage, treatment, discharge, transportation, and handling of industrial hazardous wastes and toxic materials and ensuring response to environmental industrial wastes emergencies resulting from the spilling or discharging of toxic and hazardous materials. Work involves reviewing proposed permit applications for proposed disposal, storage, transportation, and treatment of industrial, toxic, and hazardous wastes; conducting inspections of industrial facilities, treatment and disposal processes, and streams for contaminations; assessing pollution
potential of toxic and hazardous materials, and providing technical advice to industry officials regarding assessment of industrial and hazardous waste disposal and treatment methods. Work requires the evaluation of risk potential of wastes considering their chemical constituents and the their acute and chronic toxicities, bio-accumulation potential, and treatability. Work also involves providing information to facility operators, municipal officials, and the public on Departmental programs, functions, rules, regulations, politics, and procedures governing the treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal of wastes. Work is reviewed upon completion for program effectiveness, attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, and technical accuracy by a professional supervisor.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Reviews permit applications for proposed disposal or discharge of industrial and hazardous waste for its effects on the environment and
compliance with rules and regulations.

Reviews industrial and hazardous waste permit applications to ensure proper disposal of toxic and hazardous material and evaluates alternative modes such
as reclamation, reuse, or treatment to render the materials non-hazardous.

Reviews industrial and hazardous waste permit applications from industries for the proposed disposal, storage, transportation, and treatment of hazardous and toxic wastes.

Conducts surveys of industries to determine types and volume of waste being generated.

Evaluates risk potentials for materials considering the chemical constituents, acute and chronic toxicities, bio-accumulation potential, and environmental effects.

Evaluates potential toxic or hazardous waste impacts on treatment and storage systems.

Interprets and evaluates Department rules and regulations and participates in the development of rules and regulations.

Conducts surveys of industrial facilities which use or produce hazardous or toxic chemicals to determine use, handling, storage, and disposal; recommends control measures, safety equipment, and recommends emergency procedures to be taken in the event of accidents, such as spills, pollution incidents, and floods.

Provides advice and assistance in clean-up operations involving spills or discharge of toxic or hazardous chemical accidents to ensure appropriate safety
precautions are taken; ensures that clean-up operations render the materials non-hazardous or that materials are contained and no longer present a hazard.

Prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with Federal officials, Commonwealth officials, co-workers, industry officials, and the public.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices applicable to public health toxicology.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices applicable to laboratory work in public health toxicology.

Knowledge of toxic and hazardous contaminants inherent in water supply treatment operations, sewage treatment operations, and industrial waste processing operations.

Knowledge of the basic principles of biology, chemistry, microbiology, physics, and geology.

Knowledge of the common chemicals used in industry, schools, and institutions and the safety precautions required for their use, exposure control, handling, storage, and disposal.

Knowledge of the physiological effects of toxic substance and their potential for environmental hazards.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required while working with toxic and hazardous materials.

Ability to read and write English at the GED 5 level.

Ability to learn the Department of Environment Resources' rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing hazardous wastes.

Ability to learn Federal rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing hazardous waste management.

Ability to perform chemical tests and analysis on a variety of substance and material quickly and accurately in emergency situations.

Ability to interpret and evaluate rules and regulations as they pertain to toxicological hazards and recommend revisions.

Ability to evaluate hazardous waste proposals for the disposal of industrial residues and hazardous wastes for their effects on the environment and to recommend approval or disapproval.

Ability to evaluate hazardous waste practices in industries and of industrial waste to determine types and volume of waste being generated.

Ability to perform mathematical computions at the GED 5 level.

Ability to read and understand engineering plans, drawings, and specifications for the review of plans to store, treat, and dispose of hazardous or toxic chemicals.

Ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate laboratory reports and findings.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Federal, state, and municipal officials, co-workers, and the public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: A bachelor degree with major course work in chemistry, and two years of professional chemical analytical experience;

                                                                                                                                                                    or

Six years of professional chemical analytical experience which included analyzing a wide variety of chemicals and interpreting the analysis;

                                                                                                                                                                    or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.