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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50300537 |
Description Activated On: 12/22/2025 8:37:06 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. If this position is 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. As a Water Quality Specialist, the employee will be responsible for the monitoring and inspection of oil and gas facilities and related cases. The employee must determine compliance with applicable permits, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, Erosion and Sediment Control, the Dam Safety Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and with the Oil and Gas Act, and their associated rules, regulations, and established policies. |
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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 will be required to perform the following duties: 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. Conduct routine inspections of oil & gas development activities and oil and gas related facilities utilizing Department issued electronic equipment to record and document all inspections. These activities may include but are not limited to oil and gas development including production, site preparation, site construction, site restoration, spill/incident response and/or pollution prevention measures. These inspections are for the purpose of determining compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, Erosion and Sediment Control, the Dam Safety Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and with the Oil and Gas Act, and their associated rules, regulations, and established policies. Major emphasis of inspection is reviewing onsite conditions compared to applicable permits for which activities are being conducted under with a primary focus on Erosion and Sediment Control and Post Construction Stormwater Management. Responds to citizen complaints of environmental damage or health/safety threats or alleged water supply impacts caused by oil and gas activities. Complaints may include but are not limited to alleged pollution to groundwater, water wells, springs, or streams. Investigate complaint by collecting necessary field samples, which may include but are not limited to water and soil. Must be able to analyze and interpret analytical data from sample results. Sample results may include pre-drill submitted by the Operator, post complaint collected by the Department and/or Operator, and other applicable samples. Investigation findings for water supply must be documented via a water supply determination memo and forwarded to the Water Quality Specialist Supervisor for review/ approval. Water Quality Specialist Supervisor will route Memo to Environmental Group Manager and District Program Manager for review and approval and final determination. Complex cases can be referred to a Licensed Professional Geologist for review and final approval/determination. Assist Licensed Professional Geologist with the investigation of groundwater contamination or gas migration as requested. Work in coordination with other State Agencies as appropriate based on the nature of the complaint. Agencies may include but are not limited to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Public Utility Commission, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Notify operators of imminent threats to public health and safety immediately by phone. Notify operators of all violations by sending them a Notice of Violation per the Department’s Policy. Initiate second level enforcement actions to resolve problems caused by oil & gas activities and to assure compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, Erosion and Sediment Control, the Dam Safety Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and with the Oil and Gas Act, and their associated rules, regulations, and established policies. Second level enforcement may include Consent Assessments, Consent Order and Agreements, Compliance Orders, Administrative Orders, and criminal referrals. Employee will assist compliance specialist, management, and legal staff in case preparation for second level enforcement actions and may have to act as an expert witness at hearings. Review and interpret PPC Plans, Emergency Response Plans, Containment Plans, E&S Plans, ESCGP’s, GP’s, Waste Control and Disposal Plans, Restoration Plans, Restoration Extension Requests, and Notice of Terminations submitted by operators. Respond to questions by citizens, operators, consultants, and other Agencies relative to Oil and Gas activities related to the Federal Clean Water Act, the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, Erosion and Sediment Control, the Dam Safety Encroachments Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and with the Oil and Gas Act, and their associated rules, regulations, and established policies. Represent the Department in industry-related, public, and enforcement conferences and seminars. Operate, maintain, and interpret results from various scientific instruments such as a pH meter, specific conductivity meter, and gas meter during investigations. Respond to and investigate spills and releases related to oil and gas facilities. Document findings by taking representative samples of water, wastewater, and sludge or sediment suitable for evidence and/or information during (spill and/or complaint) investigations. Samples must be taken properly, put into proper containers, and must be properly preserved/sealed to insure validity and credibility of analysis in accordance with current sampling protocols. Take photographs and videos with an electronic device for all inspections, which meet the rules of evidence and are admissible in a court of law. Compile case history and evidence for enforcement actions, including photographs/videos, permits, correspondence, sample analysis, and inspection reports for referral to legal staff and for use in hearings, trials, and second level enforcement actions. Conduct inspections prior to the release of an operator's bond to assure that bond release requirements have been met. Research courthouse records, both online and in-person, for documentation to show ownership of oil/gas properties for legal purposes. Properly care for and maintain all Department issued equipment. As technology allows, input investigation, sample, and inspection data into the appropriate database within specified timeframes. Adhere to Departmental policies including but not limited to concerning safety, occupational safety footwear, occupational safety eyewear, blood borne pathogen exposure control plan, confined space policy, Permit Decision Guarantee, and violence in the workplace, among others. Legally and safely operator a motor vehicle in remote areas of Pennsylvania. Report all accidents and injuries as soon as possible to supervisor or management team member. 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 perform any other job-related duties as requested and assigned by the Supervisor. 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 Employee will be responsible for independently tracking, updating, and completing all assignments associated with oil and gas monitoring and compliance activities for an assigned geographic area, unless otherwise assigned by the supervisor or management team. Additional tasks may be assigned by the Supervisor and Management Staff through email, phone, or meetings. Deadlines and goals are set by the Supervisor and Management Team, unless otherwise denoted in policies, procedures, statutes, laws, regulations, and/or other guidance documents. The Employee is responsible for independently scheduling daily and weekly tasks, unless otherwise directed by supervisor or management team, to ensure work is completed within the established priorities and deadlines. Work is reviewed by the Supervisor (reports, memos, complaints) on a routine basis. Must be comfortable making reasonable recommendations and independent decisions within the scope of job duties and responsibilities on a daily basis of a WQS, that can be done with an intuitive approach, and requires little outside expertise. The employee must be able to recognize what decisions shall be routed through the chain-of-command and/or identity what decisions require further input from the chain-of-command, experts, and/or Legal team. The supervisor and/or management team will be available for consultation as needed. Legal actions are reviewed/approved/recommended by the Supervisor. Overall performance is summarized through the yearly employee performance review. Environmental Trainee - If this position is 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 an Oil and Gas Water Quality Specialist. Assignments are designed to develop the employee's technical proficiency through a formal training plan. In accordance with the training plan, work assignments increase in scope and complexity as the employee gains technical proficiency in the work. 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. |
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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. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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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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