JOB TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SPECIALIST

JOB CODE: 14520

DEFINITION: This is professional environmental engineering work in an environmental regulatory, resource management, conservation, or construction program area.

An employee in this job performs a variety of journey-level engineering work assignments that require the interpretation and application of standard engineering techniques, procedures, and guidelines, using judgment in making minor adaptations and modifications as needed. Work is assigned in a planning, design, construction, regulatory, resource management, or conservation program area, such as wastewater treatment, water supply, air quality, waste management, environmental cleanup, oil and gas management, erosion and sediment control, waterways obstructions, infrastructure investment, mine reclamation, or surface mine permitting. Work is characterized by conventional types of engineering plans, investigations, studies, designs, and permits, with relatively few complex features and for which there are precedents; or specific and limited portions of broader and more complex assignments. Employees make technical recommendations on the agency’s approach to a particular permit application, case, or project, but final technical decisions are made by a professional engineer and/or program manager. Work may also involve participating in the development of statewide policies, procedures, technical guidance documents, and reports involving the engineering aspects of an environmental regulatory or conservation program. Work is differentiated from higher levels based on the absence of complex engineering assignments that are performed routinely and independently. Work is assigned in the form of individual projects, permit applications, studies, cases, and investigations on a geographic, functional, or programmatic basis, but supervisors normally monitor assignments for unusual or difficult problems. Work is reviewed in progress and upon completion by a licensed professional engineer for technical adequacy and by a professional supervisor for completeness, overall quality, and attainment of objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Performs professional environmental engineering work in the review of applications for permits, plans, or variances to determine if the proposed action conforms to engineering standards and federal and state laws and regulations.

• Investigates complaints directed toward a facility, operation, or landowner by conducting site visits, interviewing individuals, performing engineering analyses, and preparing technical reports outlining findings and recommendations.

• Conducts field inspections to determine the compliance status or operational efficiency of a permitted facility from an engineering standpoint, prepares inspection reports to summarize observations, and recommends appropriate action or adjustments.

• Conducts facility and project inspections during construction and after completion to determine adherence to engineering design plans and specifications, to detect deficiencies in materials, work methods, or procedures, and to resolve problems resulting from unusual site conditions.

• Participates in the development of the engineering components of a statewide environmental regulatory program, including regulations, policies, standards, procedures, methods, and technical guidance and participates in program evaluations.

• Serves on statewide work groups to study engineering issues for a specific program area or for issues that cross program lines.

• Provides programmatic information and requirements to coworkers, facility owners or operators, special interest groups, and individual citizens.

• Provides material testimony at legal proceedings.

• Reviews permit applications for conventional solid waste facilities, such as transfer stations or participates in the review and evaluation of a more complex facility, such as a landfill.

• Reviews and evaluates National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit applications, construction permit applications, and engineering studies by performing stream assimilative calculations to establish discharge levels, calculating facility performance data to determine design adequacy, inspecting construction sites and operating facilities for conformance with permit standards and regulations, and making technical recommendations for agency action.

• Reviews and evaluates sewage plans, corrective action plans, performance standards and certification reports, change orders, engineering plans and specifications, and contract documents for less complex wastewater projects by performing capacity analyses, inspecting projects during construction to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, and permits, and preparing reports of findings and recommendations.

• Reviews permit applications for new drinking water sources, distribution systems, and treatment facilities including plants using chemical addition and disinfection, bottled and vended water operations, and for water allocation by evaluating engineering feasibility studies and making technical recommendations for agency action.

• Participates in the evaluation of more complex treatment facilities, such as conventional filtration, membrane filtration, pilot studies, air stripping, and ion exchange systems by participating in the engineering analysis of filter plant performance evaluations and making technical recommendations for agency action.

• Reviews and evaluates environmental cleanup design submissions from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible parties, and department contractors, prepares written comments to document the department’s position on various proposals, and prepares cost estimates for site specific and regional remediation budgets.

• Conducts engineering reviews of erosion and sedimentation control plans submitted with applications for department permits and conducts engineering field and in-office engineering services in the survey, design, and evaluation of waterway obstructions and wetlands restoration projects.

• Reviews and evaluates plans and operating permit applications for less complex air contamination sources, components of larger facilities, and less complicated facility wide permits by calculating emissions for regulated pollutants, determining compliance with accepted engineering practices and applicable federal and state regulations, and making technical recommendations for agency action.

• Investigates abandoned mine sites or problem areas in order to determine the extent of environmental degradation, threat to public safety, and eligibility for funding and prepares preliminary reclamation schemes.

• Provides technical support and training to staff on engineering issues related to brine and residual waste from oil and gas mining activities.

• Evaluates permit applications for the surface mining of coal and industrial minerals and provides assistance to inspection staff on slope stability, erosion and sediment controls, and stream encroachment or relocation.

• Conducts special studies to determine the effectiveness of facility designs in controlling pollution discharges or to determine the causes of failures.

• Conducts field investigations and surveys and prepares reports of findings, permit applications, cost estimates, specifications, change orders, and project plans and drawings.

• Designs conventional, alternative, and experimental on-lot sewage systems; ground water and surface water systems; water and sewage impoundments; collection and conveyance systems; water treatment plants; wastewater treatment plants; and public bathing places.

• Travels to various field sites.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing environmental protection in the program area of responsibility.

• Knowledge of environmental engineering principles and practices.

• Knowledge of the engineering principles used in the development of drawings and specifications for components of environmental engineering projects.

• Knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes.

• Knowledge of treatment plant design, operation, and performance.

• Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used in reviewing applications for environmental permits.

• Knowledge of the relationships of environmental conditions to human health.

• Knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry and physics.

• Knowledge of linear algebra, analytical geometry, and plane trigonometry.

• Knowledge of differential and integral calculus.

• Knowledge of fluid mechanics and hydraulics.

• Knowledge of statics and dynamics.

• Knowledge of soil mechanics and foundations.

• Knowledge of hydrologic systems and watershed processes.

• Knowledge of the engineering principles of construction inspection.

• Knowledge of plane and engineering surveying.

• Knowledge of engineering economics.

• Knowledge of computer modeling techniques used in engineering analyses.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to read and interpret inspection and testing reports, engineering drawings and specifications, and topographic and other maps.

• Ability to conduct technical investigations applying engineering principles and procedures.

• Ability to analyze and present technical data in clear and concise engineering reports.

• Ability to read and interpret federal, state, and local codes, regulations, and standards applicable to the design, construction, or evaluation of engineering projects.

• Ability to read and interpret administrative rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to effectively use computer aided design and drafting systems.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Successful completion of the Environmental Engineering Trainee (Commonwealth title) program;

or

• One year of professional experience in environmental engineering and a bachelor’s degree in engineering;

or

• Two years of professional experience in environmental engineering and possession of an active Engineering Intern certificate issued by or acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists;

or

• One year of professional experience in environmental engineering and possession of an active Professional Engineer license issued by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.

Graduate study in environmental engineering or in a closely related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Certain positions require possession of an active motor vehicle license.