Environmental Specialist I

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is dedicated to environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Environmental Specialist I will operate and maintain ambient air monitoring equipment, perform inspections of industrial facilities, and respond to citizen complaints regarding air quality issues.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain ambient monitoring equipment for particulate (PM10, PM2.5), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and hydrocarbons at remote monitoring shelters
• Maintain consistent scheduling of monitoring tasks and follow strict state and federal recordkeeping and standard operating procedures
• Conduct review and validation of monitoring data in accordance with required timelines
• Perform on-site inspections and compliance assurance visits at a variety of industrial facilities (from simple to complex) to determine compliance with State and Federal rules, permit requirements and emission limitations
• Evaluate facility submitted air emissions inventory reports and other periodic compliance reports and conducts stack test observations. Must obtain and maintain visible emissions (EPA Method 9) certification to perform opacity evaluations
• Respond to citizen complaints pertaining to open burning, dust, odors and other air quality concerns to determine compliance with State and Federal rules
• Write technical reports, general correspondence, compliance letters, enforcement reports, and other technical documents
• Exercise effective communication, both verbally and in written form, of technical information

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in one of the agricultural, biological, engineering, environmental or natural resource sciences or a closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong computer skills
• Excellent customer relation skills
• Independent judgment
• Decision-making ability
• Adaptability to implement policy and regulatory changes
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to operate monitoring equipment in accordance with established state and federal standards and requirements
• Ability to ensure data integrity
• Ability to perform timely repair of instrumentation
• Ability to maintain records
• Ability to perform inspections of industrial facilities to determine their compliance with air quality permit conditions and applicable state and federal regulations
• Ability to investigate citizen complaints concerning odor, illegal burning, and fugitive dust
• Ability to write technical reports, general correspondence, compliance letters, enforcement reports, and other technical documents
• Effective communication, both verbally and in written form, of technical information

Benefits

• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

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