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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00002435 |
Description Activated On: 4/4/2025 2:24:45 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. The individual in this position serves as lead reviewer of coal and noncoal surface mining permits in the New Stanton District Mining Office. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Reviewing surface mining and NPDES permit applications and drafting “Record of Decision”. - Entering appropriate data into eFacts. - Drafting deficiency letters with regulatory citations. - Identifying issues encountered and recommending solutions to Section Chief. - Meeting or exceeding performance metrics. The main responsibility for this position is leading the review of coal and non-coal surface mining permit applications and NPDES permit applications. Duties include making independent investigation of the relevant data provided in the application, which includes an office review and a thorough field survey coordinated the staff engineer, mine inspector, and an explosive inspector. Working with the applicant, consultant, state and federal government agencies (PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA Game Commission, PA Historic and Museum Commission, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Surface Mining, etc.) and the public to resolve issues of concern during the permitting process. Predicting the proposed mining operation’s impact on water resources through a comprehensive review of the site’s geology, hydrology, and mining plan, and working with the applicant to minimize impacts. This includes developing solutions to hydrologic and conservation problems, which may require advanced and innovative application of geologic principles, to state of the art mining techniques. Arriving at complex technical decisions to make the final recommendations regarding permit applications. This is done through interpreting and confirming the application data describing the site stratigraphy, structure, geochemistry and hydrology. Stratigraphic information includes drill logs of the overburden to be affected, cross-sections and fence diagrams. Structural information includes orthographic projections and structure contour maps. Evaluating overburden geochemistry on coal surface mine applications, including acid/base accounting of overburden chemistry. Using geochemical/mineralogical tools to determine overburden quality, including identification of minerals and rock types that are known to be acid forming or acid neutralizing materials. Evaluating hydrologic data describing the site’s surface and groundwater, including identifying aquifer types, locations and the direction of regional groundwater flow. Protecting water supplies within and surrounding mine sites and/or evaluate whether adequate replacement supply exists. This requires the technical and scientific knowledge to determine if mining will affect a public or private water supply by independently assessing the hydrologic and geophysical characteristics of aquifers proposed to replace existing water supply sources. Calculating the cost increase for replacement water supplies that may require treatment in perpetuity. Conducting comprehensive investigations of private water supply complaints, including field and permit reviews. Determining the specific recharge area of post-mining discharges that are not in compliance with the permit limitations. Working with applicants to develop a mining plan that is designed to minimize the effects on the site’s surface water and groundwater hydrology. These plans may include the special handling of acid-forming materials and alkaline addition rates. Reviewing NPDES applications and developing discharge limits for mining sites. An understanding of TMDL, High Quality and Exceptional Value streams is required for assigning limits in these watersheds. Implementing Anti-Degradation requirements and alternatives to limit discharge impacts for sites located in special protection watersheds. Reviewing applications for coal refuse reprocessing and other materials (coke, slag, etc.). Scheduling and conducting post-issuance meetings for all permits to review the mining plan and explain important aspects of the permit (i.e., special conditions, concerns, etc.). Reviewing and recommending action on Government Financed Construction Contracts for sites where coal removal is incidental and necessary for site remediation. These contracts involve working with the federal Office of Surface Mining and the state Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation. Scheduling, organizing and attending Public Meetings requested by citizens concerning permit applications under review. Providing expert testimony in administrative law courts, including defending appeals on permit issuance and denials, mine drainage applications and other appeals. Providing general technical support to management and compliance staff, including compliance determination of site water quality and bond release. Calculating trust fund amounts for treatment systems on sites with post-mining discharges. Promotes the Department’s mission. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP’s electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Employee is supervised by an Environmental Group Manager. Surface mining permit reviews for High Quality or other sensitive watersheds, water supply complaints, and acid discharge investigations are individually assigned according to workload and difficulty or complexity of the task. Technical decisions are made based on a review of information submitted by applicants, consultants, and field staff. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Professional Geologist License. Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. Professional Geologist 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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