Environmental Compliance Inspector

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

An environmental compliance inspector could...

Overview Listen to this section

Our environment on planet Earth is made up of the air, water, and land. Environmental compliance inspectors work to protect and preserve our environment and the public by making sure communities, individuals, businesses, and state and local governments are in compliance with pollution laws and regulations.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Environmental Compliance Inspector?

1. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
2. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
3. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
4. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.

6. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
7. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
8. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
9. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
10. Systems Evaluation: ? Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Environmental Compliance Inspector might do:

• Determine the nature of code violations and actions to be taken, and issue written notices of violation, participating in enforcement hearings, as necessary.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection records.
• Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
• Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
• Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
• Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
• Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
• Learn and observe proper safety precautions, rules, regulations, and practices so that unsafe conditions can be recognized and proper safety protocols implemented.
• Monitor follow-up actions in cases where violations were found, and review compliance monitoring reports.
• Examine permits, licenses, applications, and records to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
• Observe and record field conditions, gathering, interpreting, and reporting data such as flow meter readings and chemical levels.
• Prepare written, oral, tabular, and graphic reports summarizing requirements and regulations, including enforcement and chain of custody documentation.
• Determine sampling locations and methods, and collect water or wastewater samples for analysis, preserving samples with appropriate containers and preservation methods.
• Research and keep informed of pertinent information and developments in areas such as EPA laws and regulations.
• Participate in the development of spill prevention programs and hazardous waste rules and regulations, and recommend corrective actions for hazardous waste problems.