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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00037431 |
Description Activated On: 12/6/2024 9:40:39 AM |
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 completes technical and administrative work associated with photochemical air quality modeling that supports the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) statewide air quality planning and permitting functions to fulfill requirements of the federal Clean Air Act. Photochemical air quality models use complex, state-of-the-science mathematical equations to simulate atmospheric chemical and physical processes to predict pollutant concentrations at a local, regional, or national spatial scale. |
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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. 1. Maintains photochemical air quality models, associated programs, and model input/output data on a Linux-based computer platform and troubleshoots problems, as necessary. Photochemical air quality models include the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ), Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx), or other acceptable models. Associated programs include the Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions (SMOKE) processing system, Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model, Visual Environment for Rich Data Interpretation (VERDI) tool, and Software for the Modeled Attainment Test (SMAT), among others. 2. Provides technical support for the DEP’s air quality planning program by conducting, reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, or commenting on photochemical air quality modeling as part of the implementation process for new or revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone or fine particulate matter (PM-2.5). Photochemical air quality modeling may be used to support area designation recommendations, attainment demonstrations for nonattainment area State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions, or area redesignation requests to be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) or to support other air quality planning functions. 3. Provides technical support for the DEP’s air quality permitting program by (1) reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, or commenting on photochemical air quality modeling submitted as part of a plan approval application for a proposed new or modified air emission source, either to satisfy the requirements of the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations, requirements of the Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) regulations, or other requirements and (2) conducting photochemical air quality modeling. Photochemical air quality modeling may be used to support (1) a “Tier 2” secondary PM-2.5 evaluation under the PSD regulations to help demonstrate that a proposed new or modified emission source would not cause or contribute to a violation of the PM-2.5 NAAQS or PSD increment or (2) the development of inter-pollutant trading ratios for PM-2.5 under the NNSR regulations to support the transfer and use of emission reduction credits (ERC) for a proposed new or modified emission source. 4. Provides technical support for the DEP’s air quality planning program by conducting or reviewing photochemical air quality modeling and analyzing the resulting data with appropriate tools and techniques to (1) evaluate relationships between atmospheric chemical and physical conditions as well as the dispersion and transport of pollutants from emission sources contributing to measured exceedances of the NAAQS, (2) evaluate air quality trends, or (3) assist with developing emission control strategies. 5. Provides technical support for the DEP’s air quality planning or permitting program by conducting, reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, commenting on WRF mesoscale meteorological modeling used in the development of representative prognostic meteorological datasets for air dispersion model input. 6. Serves as the DEP’s representative on collaborative photochemical air quality modeling work conducted by the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC). Assists with emission inventory development work conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA), OTC, or other organizations. 7. Conducts or reviews photochemical air quality model performance evaluations and mesoscale meteorological model performance evaluations. 8. Applies federal and state statutes, regulations, policies, and technical guidance relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. Assists in the review of proposed federal regulations, policies, and technical guidance relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. Assists in the development of the DEP’s regulations, policies, and technical guidance relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. 9. Writes clear, concise, and accurate technical support documents, protocols, evaluations, reports, guidance, policy, and correspondence, relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. 10. Interacts with the EPA, other federal, state, or local agencies, external organizations, industry, and consultants to ensure the appropriate selection of a photochemical air quality model, model options, and model input data. 11. Interacts and coordinates with the DEP’s air quality planning staff to ensure photochemical air quality modeling is conducted or reviewed in a timely manner to support complete and timely submittals of SIP revisions to the EPA or other planning functions. Interacts and coordinates with the DEP’s air quality permitting staff to ensure photochemical air quality modeling is conducted or reviewed in a timely manner to support permitting decisions on plan approval applications or other permitting functions. 12. Communicates the results of photochemical air quality modeling to the DEP’s air quality planning and permitting staff, EPA, other federal, state, and local agencies, external organizations, industry, consultants, the public, or other stakeholders. 13. Serves as an expert witness before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board on matters relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. 14. Responds to inquiries from the DEP’s air quality planning and permitting staff, EPA, other federal, state, and local agencies, external organizations, industry, consultants, the public, or other stakeholders relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. 15. Attends, participates, and/or presents work products in conferences, workshops, training, webinars, meetings, or conference calls relevant to photochemical air quality modeling. Such events may be held at a state, regional, or national level and be sponsored by the EPA, DEP, OTC, MARAMA, National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), a professional organization, another federal, state, or local agency, or academic institution. 16. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of the 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. 17. Promotes the Department’s mission. 18. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The employee will perform other job-related duties as required. |
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 by the Manager of the Air Quality Modeling and Risk Assessment Section according to the employee’s workload with general instructions. Tasks are performed independently with minimal supervision. Most complex project work is submitted to the Section Manager for review and concurrence. Recommendations are made based on regulations, policy, guidance, known principles, and relevant data. Recommendations that impact other sections, other divisions, the Bureau, and/or the DEP are discussed with and approved by the Section Manager, Division Manager, and/or Bureau Director, as appropriate. |
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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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