01/01/1980 75810

SOLID WASTE SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional work in the field of solid waste management.

An employee in this class performs a variety of assignments, within an assigned geographical area of the Commonwealth, in the regulation of facilities to insure compliance with the Commonwealth's rules and regulations governing solid waste management. Work requires the application of these rules and regulations during the conduct of inspections, investigations, enforcement, plan review and permit compliance activities. Work involves inspecting municipal waste disposal sites, demolition waste landfills, sewage sludge disposal sites, industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities; and investigating complaints involving homeowner garbage problems, agricultural waste disposal sites, open dumps, demolition waste landfills, sewage sludge disposal areas, and industrial and hazardous waste facilities. Work includes determining violations of rules and regulations, preparing violation letters, preparing and filing citation forms, preparing Departmental Orders, negotiating settlements of violations, and attending enforcement conferences. Work also includes reviewing permits including plans for hazardous waste disposal sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites, industrial or commercial transfer sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites. Work involves providing information to governmental officials, architects, engineers, facility operators and the public on Departmental programs, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; and providing advice to governmental officials, architects, engineers, and facility operators on the disposal of hazardous waste, development of plans, Solid Waste Management Act requirements, Resource Recovery Act requirements, and how to solve operational problems. Work is assigned in the form of specific goals and objectives and the employee exercises considerable freedom in scheduling and completing the work. Work may be reviewed in progress on new or difficult assignments and is reviewed upon completion by a professional superior for completeness, technical accuracy, and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Inspects municipal waste disposal sites for such things as unloading procedures, vector control, drainage of surface water, dust control, spreading and compacting, final cover, and operating records.

Inspects demolition waste landfills for such things as unloading procedures, accident prevention and safety, cover material characteristics, equipment, dust control, spreading and compacting, daily cover, bulky waste, and operational records.

Inspects sewage sludge disposal areas for such things as access roads, application rates, storage areas, water diversion facilities, prevention of ground water pollution, sewage solids, liquids, vector control, accident prevention and safety, and operational records.

Inspects hazardous or industrial waste disposal sites for such things as disposal methods, transportation of waste, processing methods, and handling.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving individual homeowner garbage handling and disposal problems.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving agricultural waste disposal site problems.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving agricultural waste disposal site problems.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving open dump problems.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving demolition waste landfill problems.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving sewage and sludge disposal area problems.

Determines violations by comparing case data with rules and regulations; determines appropriate action which should be taken.

Prepares violation letters indicating violations discovered, what must be done to bring facility into compliance, and time limitations for its accomplishment.

Prepares case documentation in terms of violations, past case history, and problems encountered for field use or legal staff.

Prepares non-traffic citation forms on violations; file citation with District Magistrate.

Prepares Departmental Orders indicating violations discovered, control measures to be taken, required corrective action, or control devices to be installed, and time frames for its accomplishment.

Attends enforcement conferences to provide background data on the case, answer questions, and assist in explaining orders.

Reviews applications for permits including plans for hazardous waste disposal sites, industrial waste disposal sites, municipal waste disposal sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites, industrial or commercial transfer sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites, for such things as access roads, application rates and storage area, communications, fore protection, unloading, salvage, vector control, accident prevention and safety, employee facilities, cover material characteristics, prevention of ground water pollution, drainage of surface water, equipment, control of blowing litter and final grading and seeding; recommends approval or disapproval of the permits to the supervisor.

Reviews county and regional solid waste management plans for conformance with rules and regulations.

Reviews application for Resource Recovery Act grant request for conformance with rules and regulations.

Testifies as a material witness before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, and the courts.

Assist in providing on-the-job training to Solid Waste Specialist Trainees including advising management of the effectiveness of the training program and their progress.

Provides advice to municipal officials and facility operators on the proper disposal of hazardous waste.

Provides advice to co-workers on unusual or difficult solid waste problems.

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, and facility or site operators on methods designed to solve operational problems.

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, and facility or site operators on methods designed to solve operational problems.

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, planners, consulting engineers, private enterprise, and the public on Solid Waste Management Act planning requirements.

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, planners, consulting engineers, facility operators and the public on solid waste disposal or processing facilities.

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, planners, consulting engineers, and the public on solid waste ordinances, storage, collection, and design considerations for solid waste disposal facilities.

Provides information to the public regarding Departmental functions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures over the telephone or through correspondence.

Meets with Commonwealth, county, municipal or Federal officials to explain Departmental programs, including such things as resource recovery, solid waste and coal refuse programs.

Prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with facility operators, supervisor, and the public.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences as related to solid waste management.

Knowledge of the basic physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes.

Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Resources' rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing solid waste management.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting municipal waste disposal sites for unloading procedures, vector control, drainage of surface water, equipment being utilized, control of blowing litter, dust control, spreading and compacting, final cover, and operational records.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting sewage sludge disposal areas for access roads, application rates, storage areas, water diversion facilities, prevention of ground water pollution, sewage solids, liquids, vector control, accident prevention and safety, and operational records.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting demolition waste landfills for unloading procedures, accident prevention and safety, cover material characteristics, equipment, dust control, spreading and compacting, daily cover, bulky waste, and operational records.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting sewage sludge disposal areas for access roads, application rates, storage areas, water diversion facilities, prevention of ground water pollution, sewage solids, liquids, vector control, accident prevention and safety, and operational records.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting hazardous or industrial waste disposal sites for disposal methods, transportation of waste, processing methods, and handling.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating and resolving complaints involving individual homeowner garbage handling and disposal problems.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating and resolving complaints involving agricultural waste disposal site problems.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating and resolving complaints involving open dump problems.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating and resolving complaints demolition waste landfill problems.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating and resolving complaints involving sewage sludge disposal area problems.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and formats utilized in the preparation of violation letters, and Departmental Orders.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the documentation of violations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing application for permits including plans for hazardous waste disposal sites, industrial waste disposal sites, municipal waste disposal sites, demolition waste disposal sites, industrial or commercial transfer sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites, for such things as access roads, application rates, and storage area, communications, fire protection, unloading, salvage, vector control, accident prevention and safety, employee facilities, cover material characteristics, prevention of ground water pollution, drainage of surface water, equipment, control of blowing litter and final grading and seeding.

Knowledge of the basic physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing county and regional solid waste management plans for conformance with rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing application for Resource Recovery Act grants request for conformance with rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required while conducting inspections and investigations of facilities.

Knowledge of the Commonwealth's and Departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing travel, lodging, expense vouchers, and reporting requirements.

Ability to apply rules, and regulations during conduct of inspections, investigations, plan review, and permit compliance.

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

Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the GED 5 level.

Ability to read and interpret plans and specifications for hazardous waste disposal sites, industrial or commercial transfer sites, and sewage sludge disposal sites.

Ability to meet with and secure the cooperation of facility operators, municipal officials, and the public during the conduct of inspections, investigations, plan review and permit review functions.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Sufficient physical stamina to permit working under adverse weather conditions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Successful completion of the training program for the Solid Waste Specialist Trainee;

                                                                                                                                                             or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which affords the applicant the required knowledges and abilities.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.