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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50703007 |
Description Activated On: 1/20/2026 12:56:55 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 function of the Compliance Specialist is to coordinate enforcement actions within the Clean Water Program as necessary to maintain compliance with the laws administered through The Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Sewage Treatment Plant and Waterworks Operators’ Certification Act, and the Administrative Code of 1929, along with all pursuant rules and regulations and permits. This position will also coordinate enforcement actions of unpermitted farming activities with the Waterways and Wetlands Program under laws administered through The Pennsylvania Clean Stream Law and all other associated rules and regulations. |
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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. The Clean Water Compliance Specialists for the Southcentral Region are generally responsible for coordinating the compliance and enforcement activities within the 15-county regional area (Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry and York Counties) for all of the programs under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Program. Program responsibilities are divided into four basic areas, NPDES, Non-NPDES, Sewage Facilities Planning and MS4. Responsibilities may overlap depending on workload. The NPDES area includes all point source discharges. The Non-NPDES area includes groundwater, spills, sewage treatment plant operator certification, and some non-point source discharges. The Sewage Facilities Planning area includes wastewater planning, wasteload management program and the PennVest programs. The MS4 area includes permitted municipal stormwater systems that have not received a waiver. The associated duties and responsibilities are as follows: Regional Compliance and Enforcement Program Development Develop regional enforcement procedures by integrating established policy with regional circumstances, e.g. staff complement and workload. Establish procedures for referral of cases in violation by regional staff (primarily from the Monitoring and Compliance Section and Permits Section) Review procedures periodically with Section Chiefs. Prepare a monthly Enforcement Case Status Report, which lists the major cases in order of priority, for distribution to the Regional Clean Water Program and the Assistant Regional Director. Act as Late Application Coordinator (LAC) and be responsible for tracking and responding to or facilitating responses to the receipt of late permit renewal applications for sewage, industrial waste, industrial stormwater, municipal stormwater, and biosolids permits. Prepares weekly articles for completed enforcement actions and other sensitive and important enforcement related issues. Advise field staff on methods of investigation and obtaining evidence. Review performance of field staff in enforcement cases with the staff and their supervisors. Advise regional personnel of enforcement related activities during staff meetings. Serve as main contact for all professional and technical staff in the Permits and Planning Sections in enforcement and legal matters. Prepare a Major Action Advisory (MAA) as required and according to Department policy. Maintain and review compliance records: 1. Compliance log that lists all summary actions, civil penalty actions, orders, consent order and agreements, and consent assessments and their disposition. 2. Monthly Enforcement Case Status Reports for tracking compliance due dates in Consent Order and Agreements or Orders. 3. EPA compliance database, ICIS, to ensure that violations are addressed. 4. File of cases that are on compliance schedules. Record any violations and follow-up. 5. File of cases on Consent Order and Agreements with contingent penalties. Record violations and calculate penalty assessments. 6. Prepare major and selected minor DMRs for ICIS entry. Individual Case Development Review and become familiar with the PA Clean Streams Law, Act 537, the Administrative Code of 1929, and other relevant laws, and Department Rules and Regulations necessary to determine compliance and/or pursue enforcement actions as required. Receive referrals of violations from staff. Research files for the purpose of establishing a case history. Evaluate the evidence available, the legal aspects of the case and the circumstances. Coordinate follow-up investigation and monitoring activities. If necessary to gain first-hand observation, make on-site visit and inspection. Based on a thorough evaluation, determine an appropriate course of action for obtaining compliance and suggest corresponding penalties. In cases with major significance, discuss proposed strategy with Regional Clean Water Program Manager; Operations, Monitoring & TMDL Section Chief and personnel associated with the case. Otherwise, course of action and suggested penalties are discussed with the staff members directly involved and their supervisor. Concurrence is obtained from the Operations Chief or Program Manager regarding penalty assessments. The following avenues of approach are available: 1. Administrative Actions a. Notices of Violation Prepare and send to responsible official in order to advise them of violations that exist and make them aware of their obligations. A date by which the violator is to respond is given. Develop standard language for office-wide use in routine violation letters. Review response for adequacy and refer to field staff for follow-up or request additional information. b. Conferences Schedule and chair administrative conferences in order to advise the responsible parties of their responsibilities and discuss possible corrective measures. Schedule and chair enforcement conferences in cases of continuing violations and pollution incidents where penalties and compliance schedules would be negotiated. Arrange for key staff members to attend. Many times these meetings are attended by corporate executives along with their engineering consultants, attorneys, and on occasion, state legislators. Necessary attributes under these circumstances are the ability to express oneself clearly and to remain even tempered in the event of hostile situations. Prepare a letter to the responsible party which summarizes the discussions during the conference. c. Settlement Agreements Consent Order and Agreements/Decrees Prepare in draft form and send to Department attorney through the relevant Section Chief and Clean Water Program Manager for review after negotiating the basic terms which generally include civil penalties and a compliance schedule. When signed, this is a legally binding agreement. Prepare memos to the Deputy Secretary for Field Operations regarding cases that involve penalties against municipalities. Monitor compliance and, if contingent penalties are included, assess penalties for violations. Consent Assessment of Civil Penalties Prepare and send out after negotiating terms of settlement which generally include strictly penalty assessments for pollution incidents. Those providing for penalties in excess of $7,500 are prepared in draft form and sent to our attorney for review prior to sending out. These are signed by our attorney and the Clean Water Program Manager. d. Orders Prepare compliance, permit suspension and permit revocation orders in draft form for approval by Department attorney. Orders are appealable and therefore, must be factually and legally accurate. In the event of an appeal to the Environmental Hearing Board, assist our attorney in preparing evidence, obtaining and interviewing witnesses. Also testify at hearings. Monitor compliance with Orders and EHB adjudications and initiate follow-up action as necessary. e. Standard Field Orders Prepare and issue standard Field Orders. Prior review by supervisor or attorney is not required. Provide consultation to Water Quality Specialists on the preparation of Field Orders as necessary f. Notice of Suspension or Revocation of Certification Prepare notice in draft form for attorney review. Sewage Treatment Plant Operators and Sewage Enforcement Officers Prepare detailed case summary with justification for recommended action to the Certification Board through Department channels for the Board's consideration. Complaints for Civil Penalty Prepare detailed case summary and a recommendation for proceeding with a civil penalty action and send to Department attorney through relevant Section Chief and Regional Clean Water Program Manager, along with a draft complaint for civil penalty action. Again, due to the likelihood of such a case going to hearing, it is critical that the information be very accurate and sufficient supporting documentation be available. In the event of a hearing, may be required to testify. 2. Criminal Actions a. Summary Actions Prepare a case summary and send to attorney through relevant Section Chief and Regional Clean Water Program Manager along with draft private criminal complaint for review. In the event a hearing is requested, organize the evidence, obtain and prepare witnesses and act as prosecutor for the Commonwealth in the District Justice’s court. In this capacity, knowledge and familiarity with legal argument and courtroom proceedings is important, particularly since the defendant is generally represented by an attorney. b. Misdemeanors Prepare non-traffic summary citation forms, file form local District Magistrate, and prosecute case on behalf of the Commonwealth by presenting data and examining/cross examining witnesses. Recommend imposition of fines to District Magistrate. Prepare a detailed case summary and send to Department attorney through the relevant Section Chief and Regional Water Program Manager, along with a draft complaint for review. Testimony may be necessary in a Court of Common Pleas. Intra- and Interagency Coordination: DEP 1. Bureau of Point and Non-point Source Management - Central Office Provide information regarding compliance activities to include a monthly enforcement report and Quarterly Non-Compliance Report and Watch List for EPA. Review and comment on proposed policies and guidelines. Discuss aspects of enforcement cases on occasion. Participate in and prepare for quarterly conference call with EPA to discuss cases on QNCR and Watch List. 2. Regional Office Coordinate compliance activities with Safe Drinking Water, Waste Management, Waterways & Wetlands, Air Quality, and the Environmental Cleanup & Brownfields Program in cases where there is an interface. 3. Other Bureaus Coordinate with other bureaus, such as Watershed Management and Waterways Engineering in resolving problems affecting both bureaus. 4. Department Attorneys Draft criminal actions, settlements and orders for attorney’s review and approval. Consult with attorneys on specific legal aspects of a case. Keep attorneys advised of development in cases referred to them and seek clarification of rules, regulations, and laws as necessary. Other State Agencies 1. Coordinate enforcement actions very closely with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Work with Waterway Conservation Officers, communicate with area supervisors and their central office enforcement personnel. 2. Meet with other Department officials, such as PennDOT and DCNR, to resolve cases involving Commonwealth operation of facilities in violation of environmental laws. 3. Meet with other Department officials, such as PA Department of Agriculture, in resolving cases in which there is an interface. Other Related Duties: Prepare and present briefings and case summaries on enforcement cases to relevant Section Chiefs, Regional Water Program Manager, Community Relations Coordinator and Regional Director. Testify as a material witness in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts. Testify as an expert witness, where qualified, in enforcement cases before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, or the courts. Receive and process Clean Water Fund payments with clerical assistance. Prepare routine correspondence. Employee will input necessary data into Departmental tracking systems to accurately reflect work performed during specified time periods. Become familiar with the EPA compliance database, ICIS. Generate reports and maintain data within ICIS. Maintain QNCR within ICIS. Operate a motor vehicle to travel to various field sites. 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. 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 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. The supervisor’s concurrence is obtained prior to finalizing penalties and enforcement strategies in most cases. However, the majority of the work, such as correspondence, consent assessments, summary actions, and planning of work activities, is carried out independently. |
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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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