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Waste Treatment Plant Facility Permit Writer (Environmental Specialist 4) (Two Positions)

Washington State Department of Ecology
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The salary listed does not include the scheduled 3% general salary increase effective 7/1/2019.
 
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
 
Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference. If you want to join a team that is highly effective, collaborative, has leadership that embraces the value of people, Ecology is a good fit.

The Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) is looking to fill two Waste Treatment Plant Facility Permit Writer (Environmental Specialist 4) positions. These positions will be located in our Richland Field Office (RFO) in Richland, WA.

The Waste Treatment Plant Facility Permit Writer positions are technical/regulatory senior permit specialists for the Dangerous Waste Permit (DWP) for the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) with a focus on building the operational permit and certifying that WTP is constructed according to the permit. The WTP is the largest and most complex treatment group of facilities in the nation and will be used to treat 56 million gallons of highly radioactive and dangerous waste over the next 50 years. The treatment techniques and storage units with the facilities are large, complex, remote handled, and one of a kind. The purpose of the DWP is to ensure that the facility is designed, built, and operated in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment. 

These positions are responsible for the development, administration, and oversight of a portion of the permit pertaining to a multiple complex facilities at the Hanford Site. The positions make decisions involving many stakeholders that have significant public health, environmental protection, and political consequences.

We are looking for applicants who have good communication skills, prefer someone with a permitting or a regulatory background and someone who can work with people of diverse technical backgrounds. 

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog. 

Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts
 
Duties

Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land, and water. Ecology's goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution and support sustainable communities and natural resources.

The Nuclear Waste Program's (NWP) mission is to lead the effective and efficient cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site, ensure sound management of mixed hazardous wastes in Washington, and protect the state's air, water, and land at and adjacent to the Hanford site.

Some of the key work activities of the Waste Treatment Plant Facility Permit Writer positions include: 

WTP Senior Permit Lead:
  • Serves as Senior Permit Lead for the WTP Baseline permit. Leads reviews of permit documents (Permit Change Notices, modification packages, and Permit Equivalency Notices) according to the WTP Permit Modification Guidance. Coordinates reviews of permitting documents with engineers, permit coordinators and the Tank Waste Disposal Project Manager. On issues that are difficult to resolve, works collaboratively internally and externally to bring the issue to resolution.
  • Serves as the Preservation and Maintenance Permit Lead. Participates in site visits of the WTP facilities that are in standby mode. Reviews preservation and maintenance language for the WTP Permit. Writes permit conditions to reflect the WTP facilities in the preservation and maintenance phase.
 
WTP Operational Lead Permit Writer:
  • Serves as WTP Operations Lead for the Tank Waste Treatment Section. Work with permit writers and engineers on the permit application material in support of WTP Operations. Works closely with fellow Senior Permit Writers in Direct Feed Low Activity Waste Operations.
  • Works on drafting the permit conditions, reviewing permit documentation in support of the Operations permit application.
  • Mentors the WTP permit writers in the review and evaluation of permit documents
  • (Permit Change Notices, modification packages, applications), and provision of Notices of Deficiencies or comments in the timeframe required.
  • Leads the reviews and evaluates permit documents (Permit Change Notices, modification packages, permit applications and Permit Equivalency Notices) according to the NWP WTP Permit Modification Guidance. Provides Notices of Deficiencies or comments based on specific engineering design and regulatory knowledge in the timeframe required.
  • Leads the effort to develop and negotiates permit conditions as necessary to include additional information or require permittee actions for compliance and for the protection of human health and the environment. These actions would be based on the technical complexities of this one of a kind treatment facility and technical interpretations of regulatory approaches.
 
Certification of the WTP Construction Lead Permit Writer:
  • Senior Permit Lead on the WTP Construction Certification. Works with Construction Certification Project Manager and Lead Engineer on the review of document, gathering administrative record documents in support of certification, participates in walk-downs of the WTP Site in support of Certification work. Represents the permitting side of certification, ensuring complete documentation has been submitted prior to the acceptance of certification.
  • Leads the reviews and evaluates permit documents that are submitted as a result of certification reviews. This includes Permit Change Notices, modification packages, permit applications and Permit Equivalency Notices) according to the NWP WTP Permit Modification Guidance. Provides Notices of Deficiencies or comments based on specific engineering design and regulatory knowledge in the timeframe required.
  • Leads the effort to develop and negotiates permit conditions as necessary to include additional information or require permittee actions for compliance and for the protection of human health and the environment. These actions would be based on the technical complexities of this one of a kind treatment facility and technical interpretations of regulatory approaches.
 
Independently, applies regulatory interpretations and provides regulatory assistance to the permittee:
  • Represents the NWP in meetings with the Permittee (USDOE and Contractors). Provide technical explanations based on scientific, engineering, regulatory, and policy interpretations.
  • Researches documents related to environmental law and compiles information to assist in developing recommendations and decision-making to lead workers and management.
  • Uses logic and reasoning to identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to environmental and permitting problems.
  • Develops recommendations based on technical complexities of the treatment or storage issues of the facility and the regulations and permit conditions.
  • Participates in the process of negotiating agreements based on the regulatory drivers, technical complexities of the facility and workable solutions.
  • Involves all appropriate individuals in the decision making process (other permit writers, engineers, chemist, management, etc.).
  • Develops and documents facility permitting decisions according to the WTP Permitting Guidance.
  • Ability to read and understand Engineering Drawings such as General Arrangement and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams.
  • Understands the Federal and State regulations pertaining to the management of mixed and hazardous waste and various engineering codes. Additionally becomes familiar with the highly technical thermal treatment regulations and the associated human health and ecological risk assessment and their implementation to the WTP.
 
Conducts field inspections/site visits:
  • With the facility engineer, follows the NWP WTP Construction Oversight Program procedures to conduct weekly field assessments of the facility, against the detailed engineering and drawings specifications, and requirements in the permit. With the facility engineer writes the field assessments reports. 
  • Coordinates Tank Waste Treatment staff attendance in site visits. Complete safety paperwork and permittee paperwork to ensure proper requests are made for site visits. Ensures documentation is filed in support for site visits.
  • As assigned by the Section Manager, plans, conducts, and documents compliance inspections according to the HWTR Compliance procedures and required compliance inspection training. These extensive compliance inspections require and in depth knowledge of the permit and associated tank waste system, thermal treatment, container storage, dangerous waste regulations, independent interactions with the Permittee, reviewing and evaluating as built technical documents, engineering specifications/drawings, and evaluating and documenting results in an extensive, defensible and reference able report which could be the basis of a compliance or legal actions.
  • For the LAB, LAW, and HLW facilities, leads the permit portion of the Construction Certification inspections.
 
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be June 3, 2019. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before June 2, 2019. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Qualifications
 
Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor's degree involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field AND five (5) years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one (1) year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education. 

OR 

A Master's degree in one of the above fields AND three (3) years of professional - level experience as required above which includes one (1) year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR 

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields AND two (2) years of professional-level experience as required above which includes one (1) year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR 

Two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 at the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Experience as an Environmental Specialist 2 can include assisting in any of the following areas: 1) performing field surveys or studies, 2) responding to complaints involving scientific or technical content, 3) preparing public meetings and hearings, 4) assistance with routine inspections or investigations requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 5) responding to routine inquires or requests for technical assistance involving scientific content, 6) special projects that are scientific in nature, 7) conducting routine sampling and testing analyses, interprets data, writing reports 8) performing basic sampling data review, 9) maintaining an environmental data base to support technical projects, 10) providing routine environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Experience as an Environmental Specialist 3 can include a combination of the following: 1) investigating and / or resolving complaints involving science or technology content, 2) performing inspections, 3) drafting technical evaluations and reports, 4) develops plans for researching information used for technical projects, regulatory or policy development, 5) plan and facilitate public meetings and hearings, 6) project work requiring specialized knowledge of industry processes, pollutant sources or natural processes, 7) providing technical assistance for complex scientific content and/ or support for implementing scientific content programs, 8) conducting tests, analyzing and evaluating data, 9) using environmental databases to support technical projects, 10) developing scientific studies and resource management plans, 11) providing environmental technical and administrative assistance to grant/ contract/ loan recipients of environmental protection projects.

Desired Qualifications:
Previous experience with permitting Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposals or large construction projects.
 
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
This position requires being able to acquire a United States Department of Energy badge for access to the Hanford site. As well as taking training and acquiring, a United States Department of Energy Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant "brown badge" for access to the Waste Treatment Construction Site.
 
Why work for Ecology?

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment.

A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping the health and financial security of you and your family a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to work/life balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
 
Student debt and how working for Ecology can help
Employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
 
*See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information
 
Supplemental Information
 
Application Instructions:

In order to be considered, applicants MUST include the following documents as an attachment to their application:
  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
  • A resume outlining your professional experience.

Please complete the applicant profile when applying for this position. Or, you may paste the text of your resume within the profile's resume text field.

Please read the supplemental questions carefully and answer completely. Incomplete responses, including "please see resume" may disqualify you from further consideration.

Department of Ecology employees, please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources at (360) 407-6186.

If you are reading this announcement in print format, please visit www.careers.wa.gov to access the online recruitment system. Click on "Look for Jobs" and select Dept. of Ecology under the "Department" search list. Click "Apply Search."

Other Information:
 
If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Suzanne Dahl at:
Suzanne.Dahl@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Suzanne to inquire about the status of your application.

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

This position is included in the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union bargaining unit for the Department of Ecology.

The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.