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Environmental Compliance Inspectors

$71.69K Median Salary 30K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 6.2% Job Growth

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About This Career

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

Reported Job Titles

Air Permitting and Enforcement Inspector, Compliance Investigator, Enforcement Officer, Environmental Compliance Inspector, Environmental Inspector, Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental Quality Analyst, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Enforcement Officer (RCRA Enforcement Officer), Toxics Program Officer, Waste Management Specialist

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Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Written Comprehension

Flexibility of Closure

Near Vision

Written Expression

Information Ordering

Category Flexibility

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Perceptual Speed

Far Vision

Fluency of Ideas

Number Facility

Mathematical Reasoning

Selective Attention

Visualization

Knowledge

English Language

Law and Government

Computers and Electronics

Chemistry

Customer and Personal Service

Mathematics

Public Safety and Security

Skills

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Active Listening

Speaking

Writing

Active Learning

Complex Problem Solving

Monitoring

Judgment and Decision Making

Operations Monitoring

Systems Evaluation

Quality Control Analysis

Social Perceptiveness

Systems Analysis

Coordination

Instructing

Learning Strategies

Mathematics

Science

Time Management

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software

Presentation software

Analytical or scientific software

Spreadsheet software

Geographic information system

Electronic mail software

Document management software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Customer relationship management CRM software

Office suite software

Cloud-based data access and sharing software

Operating system software

Word processing software

Computer aided design CAD software

Project management software

Tools

Soil core sampling apparatus

Water samplers

Hydrocarbons analyzers or detectors

Laboratory bailers

Sampling pumps

Peristaltic pumps

Mass spectrometers

Sample holders

Single gas monitors

Infrared spectrometers

Conductivity meters

Water analyzers

Two way radios

Piezo electric crystals

Optical beamsplitters

Radarbased surveillance systems

Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters

Ladders

Flowmeters

Photometer

Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers

Dissolved oxygen meters

Gear pumps

Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers

Scaffolding

Test sieves

Spectrometers

Notebook computers

pH meters

Gas chromatographs

Dropping pipettes

Progressive cavity pumps

Flame ionization analyzers

Sample preparation bombs

Syringe pumps

Ion analyzers

Liquid chromatographs

Laboratory graduated cylinders

Organic carbon analyzers

Portable data input terminals

Coliwasas

Interferometers

Spectrophotometers

Hand pumps

Ion selective electrode ISE meters

Laboratory vials

Magnetometer geophysical instruments

Turbidimeters

Lasers

Atomic absorption AA spectrometers

Desktop computers

Analytical balances

Rotating piston pumps

Air samplers or collectors

Striking hammers

Colorimeters

Enzyme analyzers

Acoustic sensors

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Knowledge

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Technology Skills

Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Document management software: Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat; Filing system software; Records management software; Transcription system software
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Customer relationship management CRM software: Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Microsoft Dynamics; Salesforce.com Salesforce CRM
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Dropbox; Google Drive; Microsoft SharePoint
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project

Tools

Soil core sampling apparatus: Grab samplers
Water samplers: Mechanical sampling buckets; Sample jars
Hydrocarbons analyzers or detectors: Chlorinated hydrocarbon testing equipment; Halide meters
Laboratory bailers: Water sampling bailers
Sampling pumps: Portable pumping and sampling systems
Peristaltic pumps:
Mass spectrometers: Dual energy x ray absorptiometers
Sample holders: Sample vials
Single gas monitors: Carbon monoxide sensors; Mercury vapor analyzers
Infrared spectrometers: Near infrared spectrometers
Conductivity meters:
Water analyzers: Water test kits
Two way radios:
Piezo electric crystals: Piezoelectric sensors
Optical beamsplitters: Optical beamsplitting devices
Radarbased surveillance systems: Radar navigation systems
Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters: X ray fluorescence XRF analyzers
Ladders: Extension ladders
Flowmeters: Electronic bubble meters; Electronic pump calibrators; Mass flow meters
Photometer: Aerosol photometers
Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers: Portable infrared spectrophotometers
Dissolved oxygen meters: Dissolved oxygen monitors
Gear pumps:
Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers: Fluorescence detectors; Microbics toxicity analyzers
Scaffolding:
Test sieves: Mesh sieves; Sieve buckets
Spectrometers: Spectroscopes
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
pH meters: pH monitors
Gas chromatographs: Gas chromatographs GC
Dropping pipettes:
Progressive cavity pumps: Progressive cavity sampling pumps
Flame ionization analyzers: Flame ionization detectors FID
Sample preparation bombs: Bomb samplers
Syringe pumps:
Ion analyzers: Photoionization detectors PID
Liquid chromatographs: Liquid chromatographs LC
Laboratory graduated cylinders: Graduated glass laboratory cylinders
Organic carbon analyzers: Total organic carbon analyzers
Portable data input terminals: Data acquisition equipment; Data loggers
Coliwasas: Liquid samplers
Interferometers: Holographic interferometers
Spectrophotometers:
Hand pumps:
Ion selective electrode ISE meters:
Laboratory vials:
Magnetometer geophysical instruments: Geophysical magnetometers
Turbidimeters: Turbidity monitors
Lasers: Fiber optic visual fault locators
Atomic absorption AA spectrometers: Neutron spectrometers
Desktop computers:
Analytical balances: Electronic balances
Rotating piston pumps: Reciprocating piston sampling pumps
Air samplers or collectors: Aerosol meters; Air quality dataloggers; Microbial samplers; Thermal desorption tubes
Striking hammers: Rotary hammer systems
Colorimeters:
Enzyme analyzers: Enzyme immunoassay kits
Acoustic sensors: Acoustic testers