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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50300159 |
Description Activated On: 3/6/2024 12:52:10 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 Water Quality Specialist will be responsible for performing routine inspections, investigating complaints, providing notification of violations, collecting water samples, and conducting monitoring and compliance activities related to the enforcement of the Oil and Gas Act, Conservation Law, Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Law, as well as the rules and regulations and established policies promulgated under them, for the Northwest District’s Oil & Gas Program. If this position is filled as an Environmental Trainee, the individual will serve a 12-month training period. During this training period, there will be greater oversight of the employee's duties, formal training, and on the job training to perform the Water Quality Specialist duties and implement the objectives of the Oil & Gas Program. |
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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. Conducts routine inspections of oil and gas development activities and Oil and Gas related NPDES cases; These activities may include site preparation, road building, well drilling, waste disposal, pollution prevention measures, site restoration or production activities; These inspections are for the purpose of determining compliance with The Clean Streams Law, the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act and the Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Act; Inspections prioritize environmental protection through pollution prevention and erosion and sedimentation control measures 2. Responds to citizen complaints of environmental damage or health/safety threats or water supply problems caused by oil and gas development activities; Complaints typically involve damage to groundwater, water wells, springs, or streams; Investigates to determine if complaint is valid, to identify cause, and to rectify situation; Assists hydrogeologist in investigations of groundwater contamination or gas migration; Communicates with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in stream pollution incidents 3. Notifies operators of violations found by phone and/or by sending them a Notice of Violation; Initiates second-level enforcement actions to resolve problems caused by oil and gas activities and to assure compliance with The Clean Streams Law, the Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Act, the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act and the regulations pursuant to each; Second-level enforcement may include, Criminal Citation, Criminal Complaints, Consent Assessments, and Consent Orders and Agreements; Assists legal staff in preparation of complaints for civil penalties; Acts as an expert witness at hearings 4. Reviews PPC Plans, E & S Plans, waste control and disposal plans submitted by operators; Corresponds with operators to obtain additional information, when necessary, to make these plans acceptable 5. Responds to questions from citizens and operators relative to The Clean Streams Law, the Oil & Gas Act, the Dam Safety and Encroachment Act and the regulations pursuant to each 6. Represents the Department at industry-related, public, and enforcement meetings and seminars 7. Operates various scientific instruments such as pH meter, specific conductivity meter and explosive meter during investigations 8. Collects representative samples of water, wastewater and sediment suitable for evidence and/or information during investigations; Samples must be collected properly, placed into approved containers and properly preserved to ensure the validity and credibility of analysis 9. Captures photographs and video recordings documenting violations 10. Compiles case history and evidence for enforcement actions - including photographs, permits, correspondence, sample analysis, and inspection reports for referral to legal staff and for use in hearings, trials, orders, and civil penalties 11. Reviews operator requests for waivers of distance requirements from streams or water supplies and makes recommendations to permitting section 12. Conducts compliance sampling and monitoring inspections under the NPDES program 13. Conducts inspections prior to the release of an operator’s bond to ensure that bond release requirements have been met 14. Researches courthouse records for documentation to show ownership of oil/gas properties for legal purposes 15. Properly cares for and maintains equipment 16. Provides assistance to the public and to business interests to help them comply with the laws of the Department 17. Inputs investigation, sample, and inspection data into complaint tracking, S.I.S. and eF.A.C.T.S. databases 18. Observes Department policies concerning safety, including: Occupational Safety Footwear, Occupational Safety Eyewear, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, Confined Spaces, Governor's Money Back Guarantee program, and Violence in the Workplace, among others 19. Actively participates within assigned watershed area 20. Reports all accidents and injuries as soon as possible 21. Operates a motor vehicle whilst travelling to field sites 22. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training and policy across all of the Department’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 23. Understands and promotes the four pillars of the Department's vision: Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence and Environmental Justice 24. This job 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 perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisors; Overtime may be required due to certain circumstances and situations |
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. The assignments of an Environmental Trainee are designed to develop the employee’s technical proficiency; Work assignments increase in scope and complexity as the employee gains technical proficiency; Once the employee demonstrates the ability to perform the work, specific assignments are given and the employee performs the work under the technical guidance of the supervisor; Work is reviewed in progress and upon completion for personal development, completeness, technical accuracy, and quality As a Specialist work assignments are made by the supervisor through regular mail, e-mail, phone, or meetings; Timeframes are set by the supervisor; Scheduling the work is done by the employee within the established timeframes; Work is reviewed by the supervisor (reports, memorandum, complaints) on a routine basis; Legal actions are reviewed/approved/recommended by the supervisor; Overall performance is summarized through the yearly employee performance reviews |
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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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