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. 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.
2. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
3. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

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. Quality Control Analysis: ? Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
10. Social Perceptiveness: ? Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Core Tasks

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

• Examine permits, licenses, applications, and records to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
• Prepare written, oral, tabular, and graphic reports summarizing requirements and regulations, including enforcement and chain of custody documentation.
• 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.
• Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
• Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
• Research and keep informed of pertinent information and developments in areas such as EPA laws and 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.
• Inspect waste pretreatment, treatment, and disposal facilities and systems for conformance to federal, state, or local regulations.
• Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
• Evaluate label information for accuracy and conformance to regulatory requirements.
• Determine sampling locations and methods, and collect water or wastewater samples for analysis, preserving samples with appropriate containers and preservation methods.
• Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
• Review and evaluate applications for registration of products containing dangerous materials, or for pollution control discharge permits.
• Observe and record field conditions, gathering, interpreting, and reporting data such as flow meter readings and chemical levels.
• Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
• Inform health professionals, property owners, and the public about harmful properties and related problems of water pollution and contaminated wastewater.
• Participate in the development of spill prevention programs and hazardous waste rules and regulations, and recommend corrective actions for hazardous waste problems.