Environmental Analyst

Are you passionate about environmental stewardship and ready to make a real difference in your community? We’re searching for an Environmental Analyst to fill this brand new position with the Town of Erie. The Environmental Analyst should enter the job with an overall understanding of the local and regional status of energy and environmental policy/regulations and is expected to work in collaboration with other neighboring communities, regulatory bodies, and experts to develop sufficient knowledge in the role.

Under the general direction of the Director of Environmental Services, the Environmental Analyst will:

• Work closely with the Planning Department, other departments, and Town Council in performing professional and technical work in the investigation, inspection, and enforcement of the Towns oil and gas and other environmental regulations and provides written comment on statutory initiatives and regulatory development associated with oil and gas facilities and operations that potentially affect the Town.
• Provide holistic services to the public by seeking ways to develop, implement, or integrate programs or services provided by other departments, divisions, and agencies.
• Work in partnership with other employees, departments/divisions, agencies, regional partners, local businesses, oil and gas industry operators, landowners/developers, and the public in delivering effective and innovative services and communications.
• Assist the Director in review of applicable environmental assessment and impact reports, geotechnical reports, and other relevant environmental documents received by the Town
• Assist in providing technical expertise in other environmental issues, such as spill/release remediation, mine subsidence, groundwater quality, shrinking/swelling soils, and air quality.

Pay Range: $74,230  – $103,922/year

Posting Closes on Tuesday, June 11th at 11:59pm – Please ensure your application is submitted and completed by this date. All incomplete applications will be withdrawn and not considered. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administration

• Prepares budget requests to include expenditures for equipment and supply purchases, capital outlay items and personnel costs, and exercises fiscal control over the application of allocated resources.
• Attends Town related meetings as required to present budget, programs, reports, studies, analyses, and plans for present and future activities. 
• Responds to common inquiries or complaints from regulatory agencies and the public. 
• Develops and implements policies and procedures for assigned divisions.  Reviews standards and provides technical direction, oversight, and leadership to assigned staff.

Oil and Gas

• Reviews and coordinates responses to the ECMC as well as Boulder and Weld County permit applications to ensure all permitted conditions and terms of oil and gas development within and near the Town are met. Develops recommendations regarding the advisability of issuing the permits and corresponding term of any permits issued.
• Calibrates and utilizes monitoring instruments & equipment during the course of inspections. Attends state and manufactures training programs and certification courses.
• Inspects oil and gas facility site preparation, drilling, and producing well operations, as well as temporarily abandoned, and shut-in wells; witnesses cementing for well abandonment and casing setting, production facilities, and centralized waste facilities to ensure operators are in compliance with ECMC and Town regulations; responds to complaints and refer issues to appropriate agencies, as needed.
• Responds to, investigates, and resolves complaints as well as determines if there is a potential violation of Town of Erie regulations or permit conditions, and/or ECMC rules. Documents all aspects of the inspection process and findings to support violation citations and works closely with Town of Erie and ECMC Staff to determine appropriate response within the complaint process.
• Provides recommendations related to the promulgation of legislative and regulatory requirements by independently reviewing and providing comment, interpreting potential impact(s) to the Town, determining compliance strategies and required documentation, and in some cases, writing regulatory language. The legislative and regulatory process may also require the incumbent to provide expert testimony at rulemaking or other hearings.
• Provides oil and gas related investigations, communication, and correspondence as a subject matter expert to the public, Town Administration, and the Town Council. Regularly attends meetings to represent Strategic Initiatives with Town Administration, Town Council, ECMC, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), consultants, and oil and gas operators.

Solid Waste Management and Landfill Operations

• Assists Sustainability Division staff in analysis and implementation of innovative approaches to solid waste management in Erie, including possibly implementing town-wide single (or multiple) hauler trash, recycling, and composting service.
• Oversees review of documents and ensures compliance with relevant operating permits and regulations.
• Provides landfill related investigations, communication, and correspondence as a subject matter expert to the public, Town Administration, and the Town Council. Regularly attends meetings to represent Strategic Initiatives with Town Administration, Town Council, CDPHE, consultants, and the landfill operator.
• Responds to common inquiries or complaints from regulatory agencies, members of the business community, and the general public.

Communication

• Develops and maintains systems and processes to track and report on oil and gas activity within Erie, including well sites permitted (date, location, type, etc.), this may also include the development of processes to develop and maintain GIS data.
• Provides all information necessary to post to Town website to keep public and other interested stakeholder informed of oil and gas activity, air quality information, and other relevant environmental communications.
• Prepares a variety of reports – tabular and narrative – as required.

Additional responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Administers and oversees the Air Quality Monitoring program, including review of collected data, coordination, and oversight of consultants, and reporting of data findings to relevant regulatory agencies.
• Assists the Director other departments in matters concerning environmental issues and potential hazards including review and interpretation of environmental assessment, impact, and compliance reports received by the Town.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the areas of land use, regulatory agencies, natural resource policy, or a similar field.
• Experience with oil and gas inspections and oil and gas field operations such as drilling, workovers, and completions is highly desirable.

Education and Training:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Public Policy and Administration, Geology, Geography, Civil Engineering, or a related field.

A combination of education and experience may be considered

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Knowledge of: Relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes and/or statutes. General knowledge of oil and gas drilling operations, as well as ECMC, CDPHE, and AQCC regulations and operations; Air quality and noise monitoring best practices and limitations; Geographic Information System (GIS) programs to enable the individual to add minimal functions and use for directional and location information; Industry best practices related to all aspects of oil and gas exploration and development; Understanding and working knowledge of construction, construction sites and public infrastructure; Reclamation of sites and environmental impact issues; Land use planning, administration of zoning regulations, analysis of development applications for compliance with development standards, compatibility with surrounding land uses, and land use mitigation methods.

Abilities: Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; Establish, maintain and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; Ability to handle sensitive information and situations as well as know when to pass these on to Management.