Job Information
Department of Ecology Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility Compliance Expert (Environmental Specialist 5) in Richland, Washington
* *
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a *Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility Compliance Expert (Environmental Specialist 5) *within the Nuclear Waste Program{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}.
Location:
- Richland Field Office in Richland, WA{target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}.
- Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
* *
Schedule:
- This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
- A minimum of two days per week is required in the office.
- Occasional travel and evening or weekend work may be required to fulfill inspection schedules.
- Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
* *
Application Timeline:
- Apply by March 26, 2025
This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after March 26, 2025, may not be considered.
Duties
This position serves as program expert for the compliance oversight of Hanford tank waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs). The facilities include 177 tanks storing 56 million gallons of mixed radioactive/dangerous waste. Each of the 177 tanks includes multiple dangerous waste management units (DWMUs). The treatment facilities include the 242-A Evaporator, the Liquid Effluent Retention Facility with four million-gallon basins, the Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF), the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP, aka Vitrification Plant), and the Tank Side Cesium Removal DWMU.
In this role, you will support the NWP's permit writers and engineers by recommending permit modifications based on inspection findings. You will coordinate with the NWP's air engineers regarding emissions from TSDFs that are regulated under the Air Quality Regulations, and with the NWP's water quality permit lead regarding effluent discharges from the ETF to the State Approved Land Disposal Site. You will also coordinate with the program's Regulatory Integration Specialist and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding treatment and disposal of used tank equipment into the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility, a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act landfill.
These TSDFs are nationally significant and receive interest from the Director of Ecology, the Governor's office, state legislators, Congressional delegations from multiple states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, multiple other U.S Executive branch and Cabinet agencies, public interest groups, and the news media.
What you will do:
Conduct inspections and investigations at the tank waste TSDFs.
Read, analyze, interpret, and monitor documents in the operating record of the tank waste facilities.
Conduct inspections of the waste generator locations associated with the tank waste facilities.
Coordinate site visits, oversight, and return to compl