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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50697487 |
Description Activated On: 10/19/2026 10:05:27 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 a professional position involving the application of various engineering principles in the field of environmental protection (primarily civil and environmental engineering). It is a position as an Environmental Engineering Specialist in the Permits Section of the Clean Water Program located in the Northwest Regional Office of the Department of Environmental Protection. If this position is filled as an Environmental Engineering Trainee, the incumbent will participate in a one-year formal and on-the-job training program to learn the duties of an Environmental Engineering Specialist. |
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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. Promotes and exemplifies the Department’s Mission, Vision, and Values in all aspects of work performance and professional conduct. Advances DEP’s strategic priorities through collaboration, commitment to data-driven decision-making, delivery of high-quality customer service, and active participation in modernization and continuous improvement initiatives. Inputs, maintains, and updates data in prescribed formats to meet data quality standards established through guidance, training, policy, and procedure across all DEP electronic data systems. Responsibilities include ensuring the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and integrity of all entries, as well as utilizing available system tools and validation processes to minimize duplicate records and data quality issues. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, guidance, and training requirements related to assigned duties and DEP electronic data systems. In conjunction with the supervisor, participates in knowledge management and knowledge transfer efforts by identifying key aspects of assigned duties and proactively sharing knowledge with other employees to support continuity of operations and organizational effectiveness. Develops, maintains, and annually updates a comprehensive desk manual documenting essential duties, standard operating procedures, workflows, system processes, key contacts, reference materials, and other critical operational information necessary to support continuity of operations and effective knowledge transfer. Employees are responsible for ensuring desk manuals remain accurate, current, and accessible in accordance with Department requirements. Reviews industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), and sewage National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit applications. This work involves communicating with the applicant, applicant’s consulting engineer, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, USFWS, municipal officials, the Department’s attorneys, Regional and Central Office technical staff and EPA personnel. Reviews NPDES permit applications which include: calculating the technology and water quality based permit limitations; preparing a Fact Sheet detailing the rationale and basis for the limitations and conditions contained in the NPDES permit; preparing draft permits, evaluating public notice comments, preparing comment response documents and preparing the final permit for issuance Develops technology-based effluent limitations using promulgated effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) or Best Professional Judgment (BPJ) when promulgated ELGs are not available. Utilize development documents, technical reference literature, permit writers technical guidance, Departmental guidelines for specific industries, and unique factors received from the applicant to develop the BPJ limitations. Calculates BAT/BPJ limitations for industries such as: foundries, iron and steel manufacturers, metal finishing, organic chemicals, plastics molding and forming, pulp and paper, steam electric, timber and forest, roofing and paving, car washing, landfills, and groundwater remediation projects. Develops water quality-based limitations using the Department’s computer models for toxics, thermal, and conventional pollutants. Obtain criteria from Central Office personnel or request DEP Aquatic Biologists develop criteria for parameters that do not have promulgated criteria. Measure river mile indices, elevations, and drainage areas and obtain stream flows, hardness, pH, temperature and other stream data for use in the computer models. Assists Central Office in the preparation of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for stream segments identified on the 303(d) list of waters using the Department’s and EPA models. Responds to comments received concerning the draft permit from the permittee and third parties, including the public, the EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Reviews and prepares written and verbal responses to technical reports such as: Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) Reports, for meeting water quality goals for toxic pollutants established in the NPDES permit; Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) reports, submitted for meeting the goals of the State and Federal CSO Control Strategy/Policy; and 537 Plans for technical accuracy and feasibility. Reviews Water Quality Management (WQM) permit applications for sewage and industrial wastewaters. Utilize the Department’s manuals and guidance, technical reference literature, EPA manuals, and professional judgment in reviewing these applications. Review these applications to determine completeness, adequacy of design, adherence to Department guidelines, protection of public health and safety, and to assure the facilities are capable of complying with the effluent limitations required by the NPDES permit. Prepare the WQM permit, conditions and internal review and recommendation, detailing a summary of the proposal and conditions contained in the permit. Drafts technical deficiency letters as required, with regulatory citations to support the need for the information requested. Identifies issues encountered during application reviews and recommends solutions to Permits Chief. Consults with Planning Engineers regarding construction projects eligible for Pennvest funding. Coordinate the review with appropriate personnel in other Bureaus and Agencies and appropriate personnel in the Department’s Central Office. Reviews and evaluates WQM sewer extension applications for municipalities and ensure they meet the minimum requirements of the Department and are consistent with the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537). Ensures that appropriate and accurate facility and application data are entered into the Department's data systems. Utilize the Department’s data systems to complete assignments and duties, as required. Reviews Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) NPDES & WQM Permit applications as assigned. Reviews both general and individual storm water from industrial activity permits, answer permittees’ questions and assist the Permits Clerk(s) with these permits. Determine if facilities are eligible to obtain a General Permit, determine if No Exposure Certification is appropriate, determine if outfalls are already covered in an existing permit, and assist the Erie County Department of Health with their review of these applications. Reviews both general and individual municipal storm water permits (MS4s), answer permittees’ questions and assist the Permits Clerk(s) with these permits. Determine if MS4s are eligible to obtain a General Permit or if the MS4 can qualify for a permit waiver. Reviews and comments on draft policies, procedures and regulations. Develop training programs as required by my supervisor. Provides technical support to the Office of Chief Counsel during permit appeal proceedings. Assists the Regional and Central Office Aquatic Biologists in performing stream and lake surveys, as needed. Communicates and supplies information on the laws, regulations, and requirements of the Department’s Clean Water Program to consultants, local officials, and citizens. Operates a motor vehicle to travel to and from various work sites. Follows Standard Operating Procedures. The position is principally an office position with limited field work. However, occasionally meetings and training do require overnight travel. The position involves considerable contact (telephone, letters, meetings) with municipal and industrial officials, developers, consulting engineers, other regulatory agencies and the general public. 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 the 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. Completed work is reviewed by my supervisor for technical accuracy, documentation, thoroughness, and consistency with statewide objectives. Work assignments are given with general instruction with moderate supervision. The employee is responsible for selecting and interpreting applicable guidelines with some guidance from the Permits Chief. The employee normally has the authority to make technical decisions within the assigned scope of responsibility, but program goals, priorities, and administrative policy matters emanate from a higher level. Letters, reports, and other work products are routinely reviewed by the Permits Chief to ensure compliance with technical standards, Department policy, and adequacy of results. If this position is filled as an Environmental Engineering Trainee, assignments are designed to develop the employee's technical proficiency. 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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