03/28/2002 75410

AIR QUALITY SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional work in the field of air quality management.

An employee in this class performs a variety of assignments within an assigned geographical area to promote and ensure compliance with the Commonwealth's rules and regulations governing air quality. Work requires the interpretation and application of air quality rules and regulations during the conduct of inspections, investigations and enforcement activities. Work includes investigating complaints involving odors, commercial or industrial air contaminant sources, visible emissions, demolition or road construction air contaminants, and open burning. Work also includes conducting odor surveys, conducting surveys to gather data for stack tests, and providing information to the public and facility operators. Work may also include the performance of professional and technical duties involving ambient air monitoring, air toxics monitoring and local air monitoring studies, including assisting in the development of ambient and air toxics sampling strategies, analytical methods and quality assurance policies, developing operation and maintenance standards and procedural guidelines for air monitoring field staff, interpreting state and federal air quality standards, representing the air quality monitoring program in public forums and serving as a project specialist on specialized local air toxics studies. Work is assigned in the form of specific goals and the employee exercises considerable freedom in scheduling and completing the work. Work is reviewed in progress on new or difficult assignments and is reviewed upon completion by a professional superior for completeness, technical accuracy, and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans and conducts inspections of air pollution sources and control equipment at permitted facilities to ensure compliance with permit conditions and Departmental rules and regulations.

Recommends renewal, revocation or suspension of operating permits based on observation of the performance and operation of sources and control equipment.

Conducts surveillance on air pollution sources, including collecting samples, taking photographs and making plume opacity determinations.

Researches files, case history and emissions data and prepares documentation for use in enforcement actions.

Participates in meetings with company representatives to assist in the development of compliance schedules and civil penalty agreements for violations of air quality rules and regulations; and monitors order and agreement dates to ensure compliance, including conducting follow-up inspections as appropriate.

Issues field orders for open burning in consultation with the district supervisor.

Appears as a material witness for the Commonwealth in legal proceedings.

Collects and analyzes emission inventory data for assigned facilities, determines potential, actual and allowable operation levels and emission rates, and inputs validated inventory information into agency computer systems.

Investigates complaints and conducts surveys involving odors and recommends methods by which odors may be controlled.

Investigates and resolves complaints involving commercial or industrial air contaminant sources, demolition or road construction operations, and open burning.

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

Conducts surveys of facilities to gather data for use during stack testing operations.

Provides advice to facility operators on methods to solving operational problems.

Interprets rules and regulations pertaining to ambient monitoring, particularly National Ambient Air Quality Standards, federal quality assurance procedures and Departmental quality assurance policies.

Assists in the development of air toxics sampling strategies and analytical methods, performs quality assurance reviews of toxics monitoring, develops and writes technical guidance, plans and procedures for air toxics monitoring equipment, and provides guidance to consultants, equipment manufacturers and state and local air monitoring agencies on the operation and repair of air toxics monitoring equipment.

Attends community meetings related to local air monitoring studies in the capacity of a project specialist, providing expert input into the technical issues of the project or investigation, including explaining sampling and analytical procedures and results.

Assists in the development of air quality assurance policies and procedures for air monitoring activities; uses data to assess that objectives are being met as defined during the Data Quality Objective process.

Develops contracts and grants with interested third parties for supplemental services to enhance monitoring capabilities (e.g., partnerships, monitoring contracts, analysis contracts, repair contracts, etc.).

Writes procedures or updates manuals documenting proper sampling methods and air monitoring equipment repairs; performs preliminary evaluations of air monitoring data and advises quality assurance staff as to their validity; suggests modifications in equipment designs in cases where available hardware does not exist or is inadequate for the situation; and assists laboratory personnel in the development of new air monitoring analytical methods.

Inspects prospective air monitoring sites and performs periodic site reviews of existing monitoring sites to ensure conformance with federal siting guidelines.

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

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences as related to air pollution control and air quality management.

Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Protection's rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing air quality management.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting facilities for plan approval or permit renewal, emission data inventory, and compliance with rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the documentation of violations and in the preparation and resolution of enforcement actions.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in conducting odor surveys and investigating complaints involving odors, industrial or commercial air contaminant sources, demolition or road construction operations, open burning and other potential sources of air pollution.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required while conducting inspections and investigations involving facilities.

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

Knowledge of the operation and repair of mechanical and electro-mechanical air monitoring and data acquisition equipment.

Ability to apply rules and regulations during the conduct of inspections and investigations.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to prepare clear and concise technical reports and documents.

Ability to meet with and secure the cooperation of facility operators, and the public during the conduct of inspections, investigations, and surveys.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisor, facility operators, and the public.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Eye sight sufficient to permit opacity reading of vehicle emissions.

Sufficient physical stamina to permit working under adverse weather conditions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Successful completion of the training program for Environmental Trainee;

                                                                                                                                                                  or

Three years of technical experience as an Air Monitoring Equipment Specialist;

                                                                                                                                                                  or

An equivalent combination of experience and/or training.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver's license.