01/01/1980 75920

MINING PERMIT AND COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional work in the field of mining.

An employee in this class performs a variety of duties in the review and issuance of mining permits designed to regulate mining in the Commonwealth. Work involves reviewing and rendering decisions on requests for coal mining permits, non-coal mining permits, coal refuse permits, non-coal mine drainage permits, permit cancellations, permit transfers, permit renewals, and compliance monitoring. Work also involves determine operating conditions to be placed on mining operations, determining bonding requirements, and reviewing and approving plans for reclaiming the mining area. Work includes preparing violation letters, Departmental Orders, and Consent Orders/Agreements; preparing documentation for use in the prosecution of cases; prosecuting cases; conducting enforcement conferences and administrative hearings, and negotiating settlement of cases. Work also includes assisting field personnel in resolving problems involving enforcement of cases, providing advice on rules and regulations to field personnel, and reviewing case data with field personnel to determine most appropriate enforcement action. Work includes training field personnel on how to prosecute cases, proper documentation of enforcement cases, procedures and techniques for determining penalties, techniques of negotiating settlements of enforcement cases, and the interrelation and application of mining operations rules and regulations. Work involves investigating complaints involving on-lot water systems affected by mining operations, and conducting surveys of watersheds, ground and surface water, and individual water supplies to determine effect of mining operations on water supply. Work also involves providing advice to mine operators to solve operational problems; providing advice to architects and engineers on permit appeals; and providing information to the public, mine operators, and special interest groups on Departmental functions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Work includes considerable contact with Surface Mine Conservation Inspectors, field personnel, mine operators, engineers, and the public, and special interest groups to explain Departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures involving the mining program. Work is assigned in the form of specific permits to be reviewed or violations to be corrected and the employee exercises considerable freedom in completing the work. Work is reviewed upon completion by a professional superior for completeness, technical accuracy, uniformity of action taken, and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Reviews requests for mining permits for completeness, method of mining, safety measures, proposal for reclamation of land after mining activities have ceased, and operator's prior record.

Reviews requests for non-coal mine drainage permits to determine method of mining, how water will be impounded and treated before released into the waters of the Commonwealth, and possible effects on the waters of the Commonwealth.

Reviews requests for coal refuse permits to determine method of operation of safety precautions required.

Determines if permit requests meet established rules and regulations, disapproves permit requests, approves permit requests, approves permit requests establishing special operating conditions.

Notifies operators of decision on permit requests by preparing correspondence indicating action taken and rationale for action taken.

Prepares permits for issuance including standard operating conditions and special operating conditions.

Calculates and determines bonding requirements following established procedures; notifies operator of bonding requirements; and insures bonding requirements are met prior to issuing permits.

Reviews and renders decision on requests for cancellations of mining permits.

Reviews and renders decision on requests for renewals of mining permits.

Reviews and renders decision on requests for transfers of mining permits.

Reviews approved permit applications to insure technical requirements have been met, and the approval has been coordinated with affected programs or agencies.

Researches files and operator case history to document requests for the suspension or revocation of mining permits.

Establishes time limitations for the correction of mining permit violations.

Attends administrative hearings to provide background data on case, answer questions, explain violations, explain what must be done to bring operation into compliance with mining permit conditions, and establish time limitations for its accomplishment.

Recommends imposition of fines to District Magistrates on mining cases.

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

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

Prepares violation letters indicating violations discovered, citing appropriate rules and regulations, indicating correction action required, and time limitations for their accomplishment.

Testifies as an expert witness in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts.

Testifies as a material witness in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts.

Meets with violators and negotiates settlements of enforcement cases in terms of corrective action or devices required and time frames for their accomplishment.

Prepares non-traffic citation forms, files form with District Magistrate, and prosecutes case on behalf of the Commonwealth, presenting data and examining and cross examining witnesses; recommends imposition of fines to District Magistrates.

Researches case files and case history and prepares documentation for use in the prosecution of cases by field personnel or legal staff.

Contacts legal staff and discusses enforcement cases, seeks clarification on rules and regulations from legal staff.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving individual water supplies and determines effects of mining operations on individual water supplies.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving soil erosion and sedimentation caused by mining operations.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving mine drainage caused by mining operations.

Conducts surveys of individual water supplies to determine effects of mining operations on individual water supplies.

Conducts surveys to determine effect of mining operations on surface and ground water quality.

Conducts surveys of selected watersheds where mining operations have been prohibited to determine water quality.

Provides advice to co-workers and Surface Mine Conservation Inspectors on unusual mining problems.

Provides advice to surface mine operators on methods and techniques to solve mining operational problems.

Provides advice to engineers and mine operators on permit appeals.

Represents the Bureau in dealings with Federal or interstate agencies; serves as the mining program's liaison in dealing with other agencies.

Prepares response to comments received from individuals, mine operators, or special interest groups involving permit activities published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Prepares and delivers formal presentations regarding mining program to special interest groups.

Informs public and mine operators of changes in Departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Exchanges information with reporters over the telephone involving mining cases or mining incidents.

Provides advice to field personnel on the interpretation and application of rules and regulations.

Provides information to the public regarding Departmental functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Conducts surveys, inspections, and investigations of facilities to determine if they are operating within applicable rules and regulations.

Trains field personnel on proper procedures and techniques for prosecuting cases.

Trains field personnel on proper documentation of enforcement cases.

Trains field personnel on proper procedures and techniques for determining penalties in the enforcement of cases.

Trains field personnel on the interpretation and application of applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Trains field personnel in the techniques of negotiating settlements of enforcement cases.

Prepares news releases regarding enforcement cases or activities.

Provides information to media regarding enforcement cases or incidents within assigned area over the telephone.

Provides information to facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public on Departmental programs, functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, the public, co-workers, field personnel, legal staff, and the supervisor.

Provides advice to homeowners with individual water supplies affected by mining operations on ways to solve water problems.

Prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with mine operators, governmental officials, and the public.

Recommends changes to mining rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Collects samples and gathers data from selected sites to determine water quality in areas where mining operations have been prohibited.

Assists in providing on-the-job training to Mining Specialist Trainees, including advising management of the effectiveness of the training program and the progress of the trainee.

Participates on special committees as the mining program's representative to explain the program's concerns and to insure recommendations are acceptable to the program.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Resources' rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing mining operations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing and approving mining coal permits.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing and approving non-coal mine drainage permits.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing coal refuse permits.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the preparation and insurance of approved mining permits.

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

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

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and formats utilized in the preparation of Departmental orders.

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

Knowledge of the techniques utilized in the negotiation of settlements involving enforcement of cases.

Knowledge of the procedures utilized in the preparation of non-traffic citation forms.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the prosecution of cases.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the documentation of enforcement cases.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of mining operations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating the effects of mining operations on individual water supplies.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating soil erosion and sedimentation problems caused by mining operations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating the effects of mine drainage caused by mining operations.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and test equipment utilized in conducting surveys of individual water supplies to determine effects of mining operations on individual water supplies.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques and test equipment utilized in conducting surveys to determine the effects of mining operations on surface and ground water quality.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and test equipment utilized in conducting surveys to determine the effects of mining operations on surface and ground water quality.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and test equipment utilized in conducting surveys of watersheds where mining operations have been prohibited to determine water quality.

Knowledge of the effects of mining operations on individual water supplies, ground and surface water, and watersheds.

Knowledge of the effects of mine drainage caused by mining operations.

Knowledge of soil erosion and sedimentation problems and their resolution as related to mining operations.

Knowledge of accepted practices for reclaiming areas where mining has been permitted.

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

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

Skill in negotiating the settlement of enforcement cases in terms of corrective action or devices required and time frames for their accomplishment.

Ability to apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures during the review and approval of mining permit requests.

Ability to apply rules, regulations, policies, and procedures during the preparation or review of Departmental Orders, Consent Orders/Agreements, and violation letters.

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

Ability to interpret mining operations rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for co-workers, field personnel, engineers, mine operators, and the public.

Ability to prepare documentation required for the prosecution of cases.

Ability to testify as an expert witness in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts.

Ability to testify as material witness in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts.

Ability to prepare and conduct training courses on the proper procedures for prosecuting cases, proper documentation of enforcement cases, proper techniques and procedures for determining penalties in enforcement cases, proper interpretation and application of mining operation rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and techniques for negotiating settlement of enforcement cases for field personnel.

Ability to read and understand engineering reports, drawings, blueprints, and flow schematics.

Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to special interest groups on Departmental functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

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

Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the GED 5 level.

Ability to operate, calibrate, and perform routine preventative maintenance on test equipment.

Ability to meet with and secure the cooperation of mine operators, special interest groups, public, and governmental officials during the conduct of permit reviews, inspections, investigations, surveys, and enforcement functions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisor, mine operators, governmental officials, and the public.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Eyesight and color perception to permit use of test equipment.

Sufficient eye-hand coordination to permit use of test equipment.

Sufficient physical stamina to permit carrying test equipment over long distances, walking over rough terrain, and working under adverse weather conditions.

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

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Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training which affords the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.

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