01/01/1980 75850

SOLID WASTE PROGRAM SPECIALIST

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

An employee in this class performs a variety of duties in the statewide solid waste management program to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth's rules and regulations governing solid waste management. Work requires the application of these rules and regulations during the review of plans and permits and the conduct of surveys. Work includes evaluating the recommendations of the regional staff regarding detailed operational and design plans for municipal solid waste disposal and processing facilities, resource recovery facilities, hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities, demolition waste landfills, commercial and industrial transfer stations, municipal incinerators, industrial waste disposal sites, coal refuse disposal, areas, sewage sludge disposal, and agricultural utilization sites; determining if site should be permitted; and preparing permits for issuance. Work includes reviewing Departmental Orders, Consent Orders/Agreements, enforcement recommendations and case documentation prepared by field staff; reviewing and approving enforcement recommendations submitted by field personnel; and assisting field personal in the enforcement of unusual or difficult cases. Work also includes conducting evaluations of regional solid waste programs, conducting enforcement conferences, and preparing documentation to suspend or revoke permits. Work involves developing rules, regulations, policies and procedures for the solid waste management program; recommending changes to solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; reviewing proposed changes to solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; and interpreting solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for co-workers and field personnel. Work also involves representing the solid waste management program on special committees; reviewing proposed legislation for possible impacts on the solid waste management program; and conducting surveys of industrial and hazardous waste practices, and industrial surveys to determine type and volume of waste generated. Work includes providing advice to engineers, facility operators, municipal officials, and the public on Departmental rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and programs; and training field personnel in rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and new techniques developed for use in the field. Work also includes preparing and delivering formal presentations to special interest groups; preparing new releases; holding news conferences; providing information to reporters regarding cases or incidents; and providing information to engineers, facility operators, municipal officials, and the public on Departmental programs, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Work is assigned in the form of goals and objectives and the employee exercises considerable freedom in scheduling and completing the work. Work is reviewed upon completion by a professional supervisor for technical accuracy and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Reviews Departmental Orders prepared by field personnel for content, completeness, technical accuracy, and legal terminology; approves or disapproves Departmental Orders.

Reviews Consent Orders/Agreements prepared by field personnel for content, completeness, technical accuracy, and legal terminology; approves or disapproves Consent Orders/Agreements.

Conducts enforcement conferences to explain Departmental Orders or Consent Orders/Agreements, provide background data on the case, and answer questions.

Attends administrative hearings to provide background data on the case, answer questions, and assist in explaining Departmental Orders or Consent Orders/Agreements.

Reviews documentation prepared for the enforcement of cases for completeness, content, and technical accuracy.

Prepares documentation for use in requests for the suspension or revocation of permits.

Prepares documentation for use in the prosecution of cases by field personnel or legal staff.

Reviews documentation on cases settled out-of-court to determine uniformity and fairness of action taken, and if program goals and objectives were met.

Develops rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for the solid waste program.

Recommends changes to solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Reviews and comments on proposed changes to solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Interprets solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for co-workers and field personnel.

Reviews applications 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, loading, 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; determines if site should be permitted; prepares permits for issuance.

Reviews solid waste management plans submitted by municipalities for completeness and compliance with rules and regulations; determines acceptability of the plans and notifies municipality of plans are acceptable and if they are in violation of rules and regulations.

Reviews solid waste resource recovery plans for compliance with rules and regulations; determines acceptability of the plan; notifies applicant of action taken on the plan.

Conducts surveys of industrial or hazardous waste practices in industries; conducts surveys of industrial waste to determine types and volume being generated.

Evaluate effectiveness of regional solid waste programs to determine if they are meeting program goals and objectives; prepares reports on findings and recommendations.

Participates on special committees representing the solid waste management program to explain solid waste management concerns and to ensure that recommendations meet program needs; provide technical solid waste advice to special committees.

Reviews proposed legislation and prepares comments on possible impacts on the solid waste management program; recommends the position management should take on the proposed legislation.

Trains field personnel in the interpretation and application of rules, regulations, and laws in the enforcement of cases.

Trains field personnel in new techniques and methods developed for use in the field; demonstrates more efficient work methods to field personnel.

Provides advice to municipal officials or facility operators on the proper procedures for the disposal of hazardous waste.

Provides advice to co-workers or field personnel on unusual or difficult problems involving solid waste management.

Provides solid waste management advice to other Commonwealth agencies.

Provides solid waste management advice to local health jurisdictions.

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

Provides advice to municipal officials, municipal authorities, planners, consulting engineers, facility operators, and the public on solid waste ordinance, storage, collection, and facility design considerations.

Represents solid waste management program in dealings with Federal or interstate agencies.

Holds news conferences to discuss solid waste management actions or activities.

Prepares and delivers formal presentations to special interest groups on Departmental functions and programs.

Prepares news releases on solid waste management actions or activities.

Provides information to reporters over telephone on solid waste management cases or incidents.

Provides information to the public on Departmental programs, functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures either in writing or over the telephone.

Informs municipal officials, facility operators, and the public of changes to solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Meets with Commonwealth, county, or Federal officials to explain Departmental programs and functions.

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

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

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

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

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and formats utilized in the preparation of Departmental Orders and Consent Orders/Agreements.

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

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing applications 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 procedures and techniques utilized in the preparation of solid waste management permits for issuance.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the review of solid waste management plans submitted by municipalities for compliance with the rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the conduct of surveys of industrial waste practices in industry and surveys of industrial waste to determine types and volume being generated.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing applications for Resource Recovery Act grant request for compliance with the rules and regulations.

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

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

Ability to prepare Departmental Orders and Consent Orders/Agreements indicating violations discovered, corrective action required, control measures or devices to be installed, and time frames for their accomplishment.

Ability to prepare documentation required for the enforcement of cases.

Ability to develop rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for the solid waste management program.

Ability to review and comment on proposed solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Ability to interpret solid waste management rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for co-workers, field personnel, governmental officials, facility operators, and the public.

Ability to review proposed legislation for possible impacts on the solid waste management program.

Ability to read and interpret plans for resource recovery sites, disposal of hazardous substances, municipal work sites, demolition of waste landfills, commercial or industrial transfer stations, sewage sludge disposal areas, agricultural utilization sites, solid waste management and resource recovery.

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

Ability to develop and present training courses on the interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and new techniques or methods developed for use in the field of solid waste management to field personnel.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of regional solid waste programs to determine if they are meeting program goals and objectives.

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

Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the GED 5 level.

Ability to secure the cooperation of municipal officials, facility operators, consulting engineers, and the public during the conduct of plan co-workers, supervisor, facility operators, consulting engineers, municipal officials, and the public.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as a Solid Waste Specialist;

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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.