06/01/1989 14231

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional environmental protection compliance work in the Department of Environmental Resources.

An employee in this class performs a variety of professional duties, within an assigned geographic area of an Environmental Protection Region in an environmental specialty, to insure compliance with Commonwealth rules and regulations governing environmental protection. Work involves 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; negotiating settlements of cases; and negotiating penalties. Work also includes reviewing a variety of enforcement documentation and recommendations made by field personnel and determining priorities. Work includes assisting field personnel in resolving problems involving enforcement of cases, providing advice on rules and regulations to field personnel, reviewing case data with field personnel to determine appropriate enforcement action, notifying field personnel of enforcement action to be taken, and against whom. Work includes training field personnel on how to prosecute cases, documentation techniques for enforcement cases, procedures and techniques for determining penalties and negotiating settlements, and the interpretation and application of environmental protection rules and regulations. Work involves preparing news releases, providing information to reporters regarding enforcement cases, and providing information to facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public on Department programs, functions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Work is assigned in the form of goals and objectives and the employee exercises considerable freedom in planning, scheduling, and completing the work. Work is reviewed upon completion by a professional supervisor for completeness, technical accuracy and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: 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 establishes penalties.

Prepares violation letters indicating violations discovered, citing appropriate rules and regulations, indicating corrective action required and establishing time limits.

Testifies as an expert or 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.

Schedules and conducts enforcement conferences or administrative hearings, provides background data on the case, explains Departmental Orders or Consent Orders/Agreements, and answers questions.

Prepares non-traffic citation forms, files 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 filed personnel or legal staff. Contacts legal staff and discusses enforcement cases, seeks clarification on rules and regulations from legal staff.

Assists and provides advice to field personnel on the enforcement of unusual or difficult cases, reviews enforcement recommendation of field personnel and recommends appropriate action to field personnel.

Reviews Departmental Orders, Consent Orders/Agreements, and violation letters prepared by field personnel for content, completeness, technical accuracy, and legal terminology; corrects errors and makes changes or recommendations; approves or disapproves Departmental Orders, Consent Orders/ Agreements, and violation letters. Notifies field personnel of major enforcement action to be taken and against which facilities action should be taken.

Conducts evaluation of the enforcement program within an assigned area and prepares a report of recommendations based on the evaluation.

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

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

Trains field personnel on the proper procedures and techniques for prosecuting cases, determining penalties, negotiating settlements, and the interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Prepares news releases regarding enforcement cases or activities. Provides information to facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public on Departmental functions, programs, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Prepares letters, reports and correspondence.

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 environmental sanitation, water pollution control, air pollution control, solid waste management, and water quality management.

Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Resources rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing environmental sanitation, water pollution control, air pollution control, solid waste management, and water quality management.

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

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 documentation of enforcement cases and prosecution of cases.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the evaluation of the enforcement program.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the conduct of surveys, inspections, and investigations, to determine if facilities are operating within environmental protection rules and regulations. 

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

Knowledge of the basic engineering designs and considerations for facilities.

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 environmental sanitation, water pollution control, air pollution control, solid waste management, and water quality management during the preparation or review of Departmental Orders, Consent Orders/Agreements and violation letters.

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

Ability to interpret environmental sanitation, air pollution control, solid waste management, and water quality management rules regulations, policies and procedures for co-workers, field personnel, municipal officials, facility operators, and the public.

Ability to prepare documentation required for the prosecution of cases.

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

Ability to conduct evaluations of the enforcement program.

Ability to conduct surveys, inspections, and investigations of facilities to determine if they are operating within environmental sanitation, air pollution control, solid waste management, or water quality rules and regulations.

Ability to prepare and conduct training courses on prosecuting cases, documentation of enforcement cases, determining penalties in enforcement cases, the interpretation and application of environmental sanitation, air pollution control, solid waste management or water quality management and the techniques for negotiating settlements of enforcement cases.

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 understand engineering reports, drawings, blueprints and flow schematics.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Sufficient physical stamina to permit working under adverse weather conditions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year of professional experience as a Sanitarian, Air Quality Specialist, Solid Waste Specialist, or Water Quality 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.