Environmental Compliance Officer

Environmental compliance officers enforce and implement environmental laws regarding water, oil, gas, energy and other environmental sectors. Additionally, they must perform environmental compliance audits and implement follow-up corrective actions to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

What Responsibilities Will I Have?

  • Provide technical assistance for environmental health regulations, environmental management systems and projects
  • Perform environmental compliance audits and implement follow-up corrective actions
  • Investigate, review and follow up on complaints
  • Identify opportunities for improvements of processes and implement proactive strategies
  • Develop plans, permits and procedures for air quality, hazardous waste, spill prevention, storm water and wastewater
  • Collect environmental samples at inspection sites
  • Send samples collected at inspection sites to outside labs for testing
  • Prepare reports summarizing environmental issues and deficiencies and associated corrective and preventative measures
  • Ask to interview staff, review records, tour facilities, collect samples and take photographs during inspections
  • Act as a liaison with the environmental, operations and maintenance teams
  • Manage multiple projects within expectations of scope, budget and schedule
  • Develop a variety of environmental checklists and reports
  • Be familiar with United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local environmental regulations
  • Understand environmental permit application processes
  • Impose stop-work orders, notices of violation and warning notices to individuals and corporations not following environmental regulations
  • Utilize geo-statistical software to create databases and spreadsheets of collected data

Recommended High School Courses:

  • agricultural education
  • earth science
  • biology
  • environmental science
  • plant science
  • animal science
  • chemistry
  • mathematics
  • statistics

Education/Training Required:

A bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, engineering, soil science, biology, or environmental or physical science is required. Depending on the scope of work, some positions may require a master’s degree for entry-level employment. Depending on your employer, some certifications may be required.

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