3H16
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM SCIENTIST

This is environmental scientist work at the advanced level, assessing and developing methodologies and programs to assure optimal water quality and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. An employee in this class acts as a program leader for a variety of scientific research projects, which includes determining the scope and direction of projects, developing timetables for project completion, and evaluating staffing, equipment and budgetary requirements. Work is differentiated from lower-level technical classes by responsibility for initiating projects to identify instances of non-compliance, and recommending remedial measures to assure conformance with regulatory requirements. Providing technical guidance to project team members, participating in water quality studies, and representing the department before regulatory agencies and civic and industrial groups are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the direction of a higher level scientist.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

1. Positions must be responsible for performing advanced level scientific work and for providing technical oversight within the context of assigned projects.
2. Positions must be located in the Water Department.

• Determines the scope and direction of environmental programs; develops and sets initial program goals, objectives and work plans; identifies timetables, equipment requirements, and budget needs; develops, tests, and documents methodology; designs and performs initial experiments; selects and analyzes laboratory samples and parameters; selects statistical methods to evaluate test results; determines the need for related discipline analyses and plans; plans and conducts studies and surveys; develops responses and presents to superiors; oversees work done by consultants; coordinates with other departments, municipalities, State and Federal agencies.
• Reviews and interprets Federal and State Water Quality Criteria to determine their applicability in urban watershed systems; coordinates assigned NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit requirements; conducts initial analyses of new regulatory and legislative requirements or proposed monitoring changes.
• Participates in the development and implementation of water quality studies, environmental monitoring programs, surface water and watershed study plans, and water monitoring plans, including physical, chemical, and biological monitoring; conducts initial research work; gathers and analyzes data; compares historical data along with representative data from outside communities and data collected from the Water Department to determine the validity of the water quality criteria requirements; evaluates the ecological and environmental effects of new development and urban re-development; researches specialized environmental materials and evaluates pertinent biological, chemical, and microbiological data; performs field investigations with relation to wetland, riparian and sediment erosion control to ensure compliance with the NPDES Permit; performs riparian and wetland assessments and classifications.
• Provides technical and scientific guidance in water quality, water management, wildlife, environmental impacts, and data management matters to colleagues within and outside the department; makes formal presentations of study results.
• Prepares a variety of reports, letters, memoranda, and other documents pertinent to NPDES requirements; prepares environmental assessments and related reports; participates in all aspects of pollution advisorship and prepares scientific reports for public information; documents investigations.
• Represents the department in public speaking engagements, including communications media appearances.
• Maintains and calibrates equipment; assures compliance with manufacturer and quality assurance requirements; makes recommendations to purchase equipment, books and other resources as needed; researches current literature, regulations and legislation related to a program field; participates in committees; participates in and contributes to scientific meetings and conferences on behalf of the department.
• Performs related work as required.

Both Specialties