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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00025644 |
Description Activated On: 4/2/2026 4:20:08 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. This position functions within as an Aquatic Biologist 2 in the Dam Safety, Waterways and Wetlands Section within the Waterways & Wetlands Program of the Southcentral Region and reports directly to the Water Quality Specialist Supervisor with guidance from the Section Chief. This position is responsible for the review of transportation related projects, which require permitting under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act and Clean Streams Law. Coordination is with PennDOT District 2 (Juniata and Mifflin Counties), District 5 (Berks County), District 8 (Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry, Lancaster, Lebanon and York Counties) and District 9 (Bedford, Blair, Fulton and Huntingdon Counties). The position is funded through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). |
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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. This position is responsible for the review of transportation related projects which require permitting under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. The position conducts and/or coordinates field investigations and ecological studies of aquatic habitat (both plant and animal) surrounding environmental conditions, participates in biological surveys and investigations, and analyzes aquatic community structures as related to the Act and Chapter 105 & 106 for documentation to files and permitting decisions and determinations. Work is received in the form of specific guidelines from a technical supervisor who reviews completed work for technical accuracy and conformance with applicable rules, regulations, and Departmental policy. Specific duties and major functions include: Review transportation plans and programs. • Participate in transportation agency scoping. • Participate in needs analysis review and comment. • Provide preliminary alternatives analysis guidance and review. • Participate in Agency Coordination Meetings (ACM) and other inter/intra agency meetings as appropriate. • Provide comments in the development and implementation of PennDOT and DEP guidance as it relates to transportation projects. • Provide comments in the review of research projects. • Assist in providing training on water resource issues, as they relate to transportation projects, for PennDOT employees and agents of PennDOT, as needed. • Conduct environmental review of transportation-related Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit applications in accordance with the Dam Safety and Chapter 105 rules and regulations, including individual site characteristics, investigations, and written reports from other state and federal agencies and recommend permit actions to Department management. • Perform other activities as necessary for the Department to fulfill the memorandum of agreement between the Department and PennDOT. • Input necessary data into Departmental tracking systems to accurately reflect work performed during specified time periods. • Maintain a log of vehicle mileage accumulated on PennDOT projects. • Maintain an accurate timesheet for time spent on PennDOT projects. • Respond to complaints regarding PennDOT related encroachments, water obstructions and earth disturbance activities. Prepare inspection reports, notice of violation and other related correspondence. This position can be responsible for evaluating both PennDOT and non-PennDOT related projects with impacts requiring permitting under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. • Review wetland delineation reports, environmental assessments, mitigation plans, and restoration proposals submitted with permit applications. • Develop a working knowledge of the United States Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Manual for Wetland Identification and the regional supplements that apply to the Southcentral Region, including but not limited to developing a working knowledge in the identification of hydrophytic plants, hydric soils characteristic and hydrologic indicators of wetland areas. • Demonstrate general knowledge in identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles and understanding their relation to water quality and overall health of aquatic environments. • Conduct investigations to determine compliance with Water Obstruction & Encroachment Permit conditions. • Conduct follow-up investigations at sites where wetland and/or stream mitigation was required and provides a detailed written report on the condition of the site. • Serve as witness to provide testimony before District Magistrate, Environmental Hearing Board, and the courts. • Cooperate with conservation agencies and educational institutions. • Attend training courses in related scientific specialties to gain technical experience. • Conduct technical environmental review of Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit applications in accordance with the Dam Safety and Chapter 105 Rules and Regulations, including individual site characteristics, investigations, and written reports from other state and federal agencies. • Prepare written record of decision summarizing results of technical environmental review to the Water Quality Specialist Supervisor and provide recommendations for permit issuance or denial to Section Chief based on the conclusions. • Resolve potential conflicts with special concern species and resources identified during searches of the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Index (PNDI) through coordination with other state and federal agencies regarding threatened and endangered species. • Participate in field investigations, biological surveys and ecological studies of aquatic habitat and surrounding environmental conditions to analyze their relation to the water quality and overall health of aquatic environments. • Schedule and participate in pre-application meetings in order to best assist the regulated community in complying with the Rules and Regulations. • Participate in administrative enforcement conferences scheduled by compliance specialist, as needed. • Assist with providing training to Department and other agency staff regarding field investigations of a site’s soil characteristics, hydrology, and vegetation to determine if a proposed activity is consistent with the applicable Act and Rules and Regulations. • Provide environmental interpretation of Chapter 105 and 106 Rules and Regulations to the regional engineering staff. • Respond verbally or in writing to general inquiries regarding waters of the Commonwealth and 105/106 permitting. • 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. 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 received in the form of general guidelines from the Water Quality Specialist Supervisor and is performed with considerable independence of action and latitude of judgment. The employee is responsible for establishing completion schedules, priorities and final resolutions within established program guidelines. Work is reviewed upon completion by the immediate supervisor for completeness, technical accuracy and quality. The supervisor reviews completed work for attainment of objectives and conformance with applicable rules, regulations, and Departmental policy before forwarding to the Section Chief for permit issuance or denial. The Section Chief, the program staff in Harrisburg, and other staff in the Region may be consulted whenever major issues or very complex technical questions are raised. Major work assignments are briefly reviewed by the Water Quality Specialist Supervisor and if necessary, the Section Chief for adherence to environmental standards and administrative approach and for compliance with program requirements. |
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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. Real ID or Equivalent 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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