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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50697450 |
Description Activated On: 1/26/2026 10:57:51 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 is an entry level Aquatic Biologist 1 (AB1) position in the Encroachments Section of the Major Projects Permitting Division (MPPD) in the Bureau of Permitting Coordination, Office of Field Operations. The position is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in accordance with the PennDOT-DEP Memorandum of Understanding for transportation-dedicated staff (MOU), as updated. Work consists of a variety of duties involving the assessment, interpretation, and application of biological factors for PennDOT-related permit applications submitted to MPPD. Another responsibility of this position will be to provide synchronized and consistent reviews and approvals for general to complex projects regulated under Chapter 105 Regulation relating to wetland, watercourse, and floodway water obstructions and encroachments. These projects may include multi-county/multi-regional projects encompassing either two DEP Regions and/or three or more counties, FERC-regulated natural gas pipeline projects, stream and floodplain restoration projects, and projects with complex engineering/geologic considerations. Promotes the Department’s mission. Promotes the four pillars of the DEP Vision: Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence and Environmental Justice. This position may also require the incumbent to conduct field assessments of wetlands and watercourses in order to determine jurisdiction under Chapters 105 and 106, The Dam Safety and Encroachments act, and the Clean Streams Law for permitting purposes. |
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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. 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. Follows programmatic and departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Program Clarification Memos, policy, guidance, the PennDOT-DEP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and other protocols in the performance of the specific duties noted in this position description. •This position is primarily responsible for the review of transportation-related projects for the PennDOT, which require permitting under the Dam Safety and Encroachment Act, Flood Plain Management Act and their companion regulations, Chapters 105 and 106. Specific duties and major functions include: Reviews of requests for waiver of permits and requests for permitting determinations for water obstructions and encroachments to determine if a waiver or “no-permit” letter can be granted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations. •Reviews and authorization of Generic (maintenance-force) permits in accordance with eligibility criteria, applicable conditions and the Rules and Regulations. •Reviews and acknowledges General Permit Registrations in accordance with eligibility criteria, applicable conditions and the Rules and Regulations and drafts Record of Decision (ROD). •Prepare deficiency letters with regulatory citations for General Permits. •Assists with conducting detailed review and processing of Individual Chapter 105/106 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit Applications and Environmental Assessments, including those projects requiring State Water Quality Certifications (per Section 401 Clean Water Act) to assure adequacy and conformance with the Department’s Rules and Regulations and current policy for Individual Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits. •Assists with the preparation of completeness and technical review correspondence to applicants, with regulatory citations, for review by the Aquatic Biologist Supervisor and Permit Section Chief for Individual Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits. •Assists with the preparation of thorough Record of Decisions) making permitting decision recommendations to the Aquatic Biologist Supervisor, Section Chief, and Program Manager for Individual Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits. •Makes appropriate determination of fee categories and that correct fees have been submitted; applications are reviewed to determine that all data have been submitted and the draft PA Bulletin notice is prepared for review/publishing. •Enters and updates appropriate permit application data into data management systems such as eFACTS, e-permitting and KEeS and follows Standard Operating Procedure with regard to the Department's Permit Review Process (PRP), Permit Decision Guarantee (PDG) and the Payback policies. Use eFACTS and other measures to manage and ensure permitting timeliness. •Assists with the coordination of projects with other DEP programs to determine and advise PennDOT of other environmental issues. •Assists with coordination and training on water resource issues, as they relate to transportation projects, for PennDOT employees and their agents, upon request. •Keeps records of the number of hours spent working on each specific PennDOT project and the work tasks defined by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PennDOT and DEP. •Participates in pre-application meetings with PennDOT. Participates in agency coordination meetings and other inter/intra agency meetings, as appropriate. •Assists in the determination of mitigation requirements as they pertain to water obstruction and encroachment impacts to regulated resources. •Assists in the maintenance of data files regarding impacts to waters of the Commonwealth authorized by permit and monitors the success of replacement resources or mitigative measures required by permit conditions, including wetland banking/advance mitigation site search and selection. •Determines federal permit requirements as they pertain to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. •Assists in the Coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and other governmental agencies involved with water obstruction and encroachment application reviews, including meetings, field views and other related activities. •Assists in comprehensive field assessments on wetlands and watercourses consisting of resource delineations and functional assessments in association with permit reviews, pre-application meetings, and inspections and enforcement actions. •Assists in field investigation of watercourses and wetlands to verify jurisdiction under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act and the Flood Plain Management Act. •Assists in identifying and delineating wetlands using the "Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands" and applicable Regional Supplements. •When necessary, assist in the determination of appropriate enforcement action to be pursued against a violator to assure compliance and coordinate with the appropriate MPPD and/or regional compliance staff. Provide technical assistance to compliance staff regarding the limits, bounds, value of wetland resources, the adequacy of proposed restoration/compliance strategy, and the suitability of replacement resources for cases of interest related to the water obstruction and encroachments. •Assists in cross-program coordination with the various Departmental Programs having authority to process permit applications/authorizations under Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 (e.g. regional offices, Oil and Gas, Dam Safety, Flood Protection, Mining). •Assists in providing technical assistance and interpretation of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, Flood Plain Management Act, Clean Stream Laws, Clean Water Act, and the Chapter 93, 102, 105, 106 regulations to central office, regional offices, conservation district technical staff, the public, private consultants, and other governmental agencies. •Establishes and maintains a good working relationship with other federal and state agencies having regulatory and management programs that overlap the Department. •Assists the public, local government and industry officials as necessary. •Contact legal staff to discuss cases and to seek clarification on rules and regulations. •Assists legal staff in the preparation of case documentation in terms of case history, past violations, and difficulties encountered for use by legal staff or field personnel in the prosecution of cases. •Serve as a witness at district courts, County Court, Environmental Hearing Board, and Commonwealth Court in Commonwealth initiated legal actions to effect compliance with applicable statutes as needed. •Reviews and maintains technical reference material and scientific knowledge base dealing with aquatic habitat and utilizes the latest technology practices in the performance of required duties. Shares this information with pertinent staff. •Assists in the development and review of draft technical guidance documents and Policies & Procedures. •Identifies issues encountered and recommends solutions to Aquatic Biologist Supervisor and Section Chief that would reduce workload and improve program efficiency - while still fulfilling the overall goals and objectives of the permitting/regulatory program. •Perform other duties as required by the AB supervisor, Section Chief, and/or Program Manager to effectively implement the Program. •Participates in Department and Regional activities, programs and seminars. •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. Employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties required 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 specific tasks, goals, and objectives with general instructions from a program supervisor. Assignments are performed with assistance from the AB2 and under the supervision of the AB supervisor. Work items are assigned with deadlines given. Work is reviewed upon completion through an evaluation of reports and recommendations for technical accuracy and conformance with applicable rules, regulations, and Departmental policy with the Aquatic Biologist Supervisor and/or Section Chief. Performance evaluation is a continuous process summarized in the annual performance evaluation report. |
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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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