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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00005882 |
Description Activated On: 11/14/2024 1:42:36 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. Work involves the performing of inspections, surveys, and investigations pertaining to the regulation of persons, establishments, and municipalities discharging to the waters of the Commonwealth. If filled as an Environmental Trainee, the incumbent will participate in a one-year formal and on-the-job training program to learn the duties of a Water Quality Specialist. |
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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. The employee will inspect, survey, and investigate persons, establishments, and municipalities who discharge to the waters of the Commonwealth. The employee will be assigned facilities by his or her supervisor in a specific geographic area. The employee will be responsible for determining compliance of these facilities with the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, NPDES and Part II permit conditions, and Department Rules and Regulations and recommending appropriate remedial or punitive action when necessary. Review correspondence, operation reports or Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), and permit files for issues pertaining to: ∎ Permit standards and special conditions. ∎Flow diagrams, blueprints, and type of treatment units and their capabilities. ∎ Case history of past performance. ∎ Use WMS to track and review DMRs which are reviewed to determine the discharger’s compliance with NPDES effluent limits. Note all violations. When DMRs are not completed properly, the responsible official will be contacted for corrective action. Conduct routine inspections, compliance sampling inspections, compliance evaluation inspections, and joint program and multi-media inspections of assigned industrial establishments and municipal or privately owned sewage treatment facilities. This includes the handling, treatment and discharge of wastewater to ensure compliance with NPDES and Part II permit conditions as well as: ∎ Inspect process lines of industries for characteristics of waste generated and amenability of waste to various types of treatment. ∎ Inspect water supply filter backwash and settling basin discharges. ∎ Inspect contributing industries and pumping stations of sewage facilities when problems at the sewage plant are noted and encourage enactment, updating and enforcement of sewer use and industrial waste ordinances. ∎ Inspect treatment units to determine if each is operating and performing its designed function. ∎ Make maintenance or operating recommendations. ∎ Advise facility of alternate treatment methods when breakdowns occur. ∎ Check chemical treatment facilities for operation and appropriate dosage. ∎Discuss any safety issues and considerations associated with the operation and maintenance of the facility. ∎ Inspect sewage and industrial waste effluent for visual abnormalities and collect samples for chemical and bacteriological analyses, field fixing samples where necessary. Follow procedures established in Field Quality Assurance Program. ∎ Perform pH, free/total chlorine residual, temperature and dissolved oxygen analyses using EPA approved field test equipment. ∎ Inspect pump stations and collection and conveyance systems. ∎ Inspect sewage and industrial laboratories for compliance with 40 CFR Part 136 requirements of the NPDES program. Inspect pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and free/total chlorine residual test procedures to ensure quality and accuracy is obtained by laboratory. Refer to supervisor if discrepancies are found. ∎Completes appropriate Inspection Reports for the type of inspection conducted, Sample Information System Submission sheets, Bacteriological Analyses forms, and other forms as necessary. ∎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. ° Specifically, inputs inspection reports into eFACTS in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy. ∎ Conduct after-hours inspections at various facilities, as required. ∎ Complete and serve Field Orders on violators upon approval of supervisor. ∎ Conduct joint inspections with EPA representatives. Attend EPA compliance audit inspections and wastewater treatment facility inspections of NPDES permittees. ∎ Conduct Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) inspections at permitted CSO communities in assigned geographic area. Must be familiar with permitting requirements and all associated state and federal regulations, including Nine Minimum Control Plans, Long Term Control Plans and Chapter 94 reports for these facilities. Inspect receiving waters for any effects from sewage and industrial waste effluents. ∎ Note physical appearance and color of receiving waters. ∎Perform cursory inspection of benthic organisms and overall quality of aquatic life and refer any observed problems to regional aquatic biologist for a complete survey. ∎Sample upstream and downstream from discharge for chemical analyses and field analyses when necessary. ∎ Assist in the preliminary damage assessment of affected sewage and industrial waste facilities in the event of an emergency. Conduct routine inspections of spray irrigation fields used for sewage and industrial waste effluents giving special attention to any signs of ground or surface water degradation in coordination with Clean Water Program Soil Scientists. ∎ Inspect for proper application rate. ∎Look for runoff due to poor percolation rate, excessive application, or poor vegetative growth. ∎ Determine how wastewater is handled during adverse weather conditions and when the ground is frozen ∎ Inspect force main for any signs of leakage. Review flow meter recording charts during inspections to determine facility’s hydraulic loading. Verify calibration frequency is acceptable. Conduct wastewater impoundment inspections paying particular attention to: ∎Structural stability - slope cracking or slumping, erosion formation, burrowing animal holes. ∎ Adequate vegetative cover on slopes and rip-rap along water level. ∎ Presence of seepage points. ∎ Minimum freeboard requirements. ∎ Wastewater appearance and odor. ∎ Protective fencing/warning signs. ∎ Type of liner. Determine if administrative permit requirements are fulfilled: ∎Check for proper number, class, and type of certified operators. ∎ Assure operation reporting procedures are followed. ° Type and frequency of analyses. ° Proper sample collection and analytical procedures performed. ° Proper and timely submission of operation reports/DMRs to the Regional Office. Cite establishments for violations observed during inspections based on permit conditions, The Clean Streams Law, and the Department Rules and Regulations. ∎ Take photographs of any violations observed during the inspection. Collect supporting data such as industrial processes, stream conditions, hydraulic and organic loadings, operation efficiency, and site locations to provide facility information to the Planning and Permits Sections. Assist reviewing engineers with the monitoring of new facilities which are under construction and accompany engineer during final facilities inspection. Required to do one or more of the following in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits: ∎ Conducts on site spill investigations in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits. ∎Investigates incidents and/or oversees cleanup operations in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits. ∎Samples for harmful or hazardous materials or petroleum products in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits. ∎ Handles hazardous or harmful materials in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits. Schedule and investigate citizens’ complaints of existing or potential water quality problems as assigned by supervisor. Contact parties involved and notify them of results. ∎ Illegal discharges -- dispense information concerning permit procedures, laws, or rules and regulations. ∎Ground Water -- investigate complaints and perform preliminary dye test to trace the source of problem for referral to regional geologist. Investigate oil spills and pollution incidents including toxic materials and fish kills. ∎May be called for investigation of emergencies on off-duty hours, within or outside normal work area. ∎Act as the on-scene coordinator in charge of the situation from a water quality standpoint ∎Determine cause and who is responsible. ∎ Advise and often direct or participate in the abatement, containment and cleanup of spills or discharges. ∎Determine effect on receiving waters through visual observations, a check of fish and benthic organisms, field chemical analysis of water samples, and collection of representative samples for laboratory analyses. ∎ Cite responsible parties for violations of The Clean Streams Law and inform them of legal/regulatory responsibilities and obligations. ∎ Prepare written report of the investigation. Perform office work generated by field work. ∎ Review chemical and bacteriological sampling reports and accompanying inspection forms. ° Cite violations where determined. ∎ Make recommendations to the compliance specialist concerning violations, by using enforcement referral procedures. ∎ Participate in meetings with public, municipal, and corporate officials; facility operators; consultants and engineers, during which problems are discussed and a plan of action recommended. ∎. Prioritize cases in work area and concentrate efforts in order of priorities as approved by supervisor. ∎Draft letters to responsible parties concerning facility operational violations, violations of The Clean Streams Law or Rules and Regulations, and potential discharge violations. ∎ Prepare technical reports -- Describe in detail pollution incidents, oil and chemical spills, and fish kills. ° Where, when, and how it happened. ° Responsible party. ° Resulting damage. ° Action taken. ° Final disposition of the case. ∎ Enter work time or Cross Application Time Sheets (CATS) data into ESS. ∎ Prepare monthly automotive report and monthly travel expense voucher. ∎ Review draft documents prepared by the compliance specialist, as required. ∎ Be able to read and understand USGS topographic quadrangle maps, county road maps, and state highway maps to locate facilities, points of discharge, stream locations and bridges. Maintain and operate assigned equipment. ∎ State vehicles. ∎ Dissolved oxygen, pH and Free/Total Residual Chlorine meters, smart phone, iPad, and thermometers. ∎ Maintain calibration logs and apply quality assurance techniques to field test equipment. ∎ Operate and maintain other equipment as assigned and notify supervisor of all equipment malfunctions. Additional administrative requirements. ∎ Help community relations personnel formulate press releases. ∎. Attend seminars or public meetings to clarify Department positions, commitments or policies, and promote a good and accurate image. ∎ Attend training courses in related scientific and engineering specialties to improve technical competence. ∎ Be familiar with Right-to-Know Act disclosures for the workplace. ∎ Attend Hazardous Materials Incident Response Operations (24-hour HAZWOPER) training course. ∎ Attend OSHA 8-hour refresher training each year. ∎ Provide testimony at magisterial hearings, Environmental Hearing Board hearings, and county court hearings. Be familiar with rules of criminal procedures and gathering of evidence. ∎ Operate a motor vehicle in accordance with state law and Department policies. ∎ Adhere to the conditions of Act 156 regarding confidential security information. ∎. Promote the four pillars of the DEP Vision - Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence and Environmental Justice. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their 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. Work is assigned in a specific geographic area, designed to create equal case loads. Instructions are given to help define the objectives of specific projects and to help define priorities. Inspection reports and complaint investigations are reviewed. Joint inspections with supervisor are conducted to evaluate performance with respect to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, safety and action taken. Field quality assurance is audited by supervisor. The trainee level requires direct supervision by the supervisor for a period of 12 months, not to exceed 24 months. Employee performance is reviewed under the Commonwealth’s EPR system, with a review occurring at least semi-annually. Water Quality Specialists are expected to make on-site decisions regarding situations that are considered or could develop into violations, specifically providing direct feedback to facility operators regarding necessary corrective actions and timelines. Consultation with the Supervisor for more complex, dangerous, or high-profile situations is encouraged and expected, even for seasoned Water Quality Specialists. Water Quality Specialists are expected to proactively use the enforcement referral process when voluntary compliance does not seem probable. |
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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: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. N/A 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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