01/01/1984 15080

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMIST 2

DEFINITION: This is professional analytical and staff work in the field of chemistry as it relates to environmental protection.

An employee in this class performs a variety of duties in the Department of Environmental Resources involving the regulation of industrial and municipal facilities to ensure compliance with Federal and Commonwealth rules and regulations governing the disposal, storage, treatment, discharge, and transportation of hazardous waste, industrial waste, and toxic materials. Work involves developing, amending, and interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing hazardous wastes, industrial wastes, and toxic materials. Work involves providing technical advice to Departmental and industry officials involving assessments of the potential risks of toxic, hazardous, and industrial wastes. Work also involves evaluating proposals for the disposal of industrial residue and hazardous wastes with respect to chemical implications, evaluating the risk potential of particular wastes based on chemical constituents and their acute and chronic toxicities, bio-accumulation potential, and toxic or hazardous impact on treatment systems. Work includes training field personnel and county health personnel on proper sampling techniques and testing procedures, conducting inspections of high risk treatment plans, water systems, and streams for contamination; and developing sampling methods and procedures for hazardous wastes monitoring systems. Work also includes providing technical assistance to the analysis of non-routine organic substances, and reviewing industry plans for proposed hazardous, toxic, or industrial waste storage, treatment, or disposal facilities for compliance with Federal and Commonwealth regulations. Work also includes providing information to facility operators, municipal officials, and the public on Departmental programs, functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; reviewing proposed legislation for possible impact on the hazardous, toxic, or industrial waste programs and recommending whether management should support or oppose the legislation; and serving as a expert witness for the Department. Work is assigned in the form of goals, objectives, and priorities, and the employee exercises considerable freedom in planning, scheduling, and completing assignments. Work is reviewed upon completion by a professional supervisor through reports and conference for attainment of program goals and objectives, completeness, and overall quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Reviews proposals for the disposal and/or discharge of industrial and hazardous waste to determine effects on the environment and compliance with rules and regulations.

Review proposed legislation for possible impact on environmental protection programs and recommends whether management should support or oppose proposed legislation.

Reviews proposals form industry for compliance with rules and regulations governing hazardous, toxic, or industrial waste storage or treatment facilities.

Reviews proposals for disposal of toxic and hazardous materials and determines alternative disposal methods such as reclamation, reuse, or treatment to render the materials non-hazardous.

Develops sampling methods, techniques, and procedures for hazardous, toxic, and industrial waste monitoring points.

Develops procedures and standards for permit applications, waste evaluations, and monitoring of treatment and/or disposal sites.

Develops rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for environmental protection program.

Recommends changes to environmental protection program rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Interprets environmental protection rules, regulations, and policies for co-workers, field personnel, facility operators, municipal officials, county health personnel, and the public.

Testifies as an expert witness in legal proceedings involving toxic, hazardous, and industrial wastes.

Evaluates risk potentials for particular wastes based on chemical constituents and their acute and chronic toxicities, bio-accumulation potential, or environmental effects.

Develops and implements training programs for regional personnel and county staff in the areas of toxic chemical control and pollution incident prevention and abatement.

Evaluates potential toxic or hazardous impact of chemicals on treatment systems and storage systems.

Compiles information from Federal and Commonwealth agencies and evaluates findings as they relate to environment hazards.

Provides technical advise to other governmental agencies, private industry, and local communities on toxicological issues and hazards.

Conducts surveys of facilities utilizing hazardous or toxic chemicals to determine use, exposure control, handling, storage, and disposal; recommends control measures, equipment, and emergency action to be taken in the event of accidents.

Provides advice to the Commonwealth, industry, and municipal officials on the proper use, exposure control, handling, application and safety precautions required while handling pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides; and provides advice on emergency action to be taken in the event of accidents.

Provides advice to engineers on the design of areas to store and handle hazardous or toxic chemicals.

Researches new chemicals on the market to determine if they pose an occupational health hazard or require special handling and prepares a report of findings and recommendations.

Prepares letter, reports and correspondence to exchange information with Federal officials, and the public on hazardous waste.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Resources' rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing hazardous waste management.

Knowledge of Federal rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing hazardous waste management.

Knowledge of principles, methods, techniques, and practices applicable to public health toxicology.

Knowledge of the basic principle, methods, techniques, and practices applicable to laboratory work in toxicology.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the investigation of hazardous or toxic chemical spills and clean-up operations.

Knowledge of common chemicals used in industry, schools, and institutions and the safety precautions required for there use, exposure control, handing, storage, and disposal.

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

Ability to perform mathematical computations at the GED 5 level.

Ability to develop rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for identifying, monitoring, and reacting to toxic environment hazards.

Ability to interpret and evaluate rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as they certain to toxicological hazards.

Ability to develop sampling methods and procedures for hazardous waste monitoring systems.

Ability to prepare and deliver training courses on proper procedures and equipment for entry into confined areas.

Ability to train regional personnel and county health staff in the areas of toxic chemical control, pollution incident preventions, sampling methods, and monitoring systems.

Ability to evaluate hazardous waste proposals for the disposal of industrial residues and hazardous waste for their effect on the environment and to recommend approval or disapproval.

Ability to evaluate hazardous waste proposals from industry for compliance with reuses and regulations concerning hazardous waste storage or treatment systems.

Ability to perform chemical tests and analyses on a variety of substances and materials quickly and accurately in emergency situations.

Ability to read and understand engineering plans, drawings, and specifications for the use, storage, and handling of hazardous or toxic chemicals.

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

Ability to interpret and evaluate laboratory reports and findings.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Federal, state, and municipal officials, co-workers, and the public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as an Environmental Chemist 1;

                                                                                                                                                                       or

Eight years of professional chemical analytical experience which included analyzing a wide variety of chemicals and interpreting the analysis;

                                                                                                                                                                       or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.