Home / Career Explorer / Business Careers

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

$75,670 Median Wage (2023)

34,400 Projected job openings (2023-2033)

5.40% Projected growth (2023-2033)

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

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

Investigate legal issues.
Prepare legal or investigatory documentation.
Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Review license or permit applications.
Maintain data in information systems or databases.
Prepare regulatory or compliance documentation.
Interview witnesses, suspects, or claimants.
Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.
Inspect facilities or equipment to ensure specifications are met.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Inform individuals or organizations of status or findings.
Research issues related to the environment or sustainable business practices.
Monitor the handling of hazardous materials or medical wastes.
Dispose of hazardous materials.
Update knowledge of legal or regulatory environments.
Coordinate enforcement of laws or regulations.
Gather physical survey data.
Compile technical information or documentation.
Update professional knowledge.
Examine product information to ensure compliance with regulations.
Communicate with the public on environmental issues.
Communicate results of environmental research.
Analyze environmental regulations to ensure organizational compliance.
Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
Prepare financial documents.
Advise others on business or operational matters.
Establish organizational guidelines or policies.
Maintain facilities.
Maintain mechanical equipment.
Maintain electronic equipment.
Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints.
Calculate data to inform organizational operations.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with 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.
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.
Observe and record field conditions, gathering, interpreting, and reporting data such as flow meter readings and chemical levels.
Determine sampling locations and methods, and collect water or wastewater samples for analysis, preserving samples with appropriate containers and preservation methods.
Research and keep informed of pertinent information and developments in areas such as EPA laws and regulations.
Participate in the development of spill prevention programs and hazardous waste rules and regulations, and recommend corrective actions for hazardous waste problems.
Inspect waste pretreatment, treatment, and disposal facilities and systems for conformance to federal, state, or local regulations.
Analyze and implement state, federal or local requirements as necessary to maintain approved pretreatment, pollution prevention, and storm water runoff programs.
Evaluate label information for accuracy and conformance to regulatory requirements.
Respond to questions and inquiries, such as those concerning service charges and capacity fees, or refer them to supervisors.
Research and perform calculations related to landscape allowances, discharge volumes, production-based and alternative limits, and wastewater strength classifications, making recommendations and completing documentation.
Perform laboratory tests on samples collected, such as analyzing the content of contaminated wastewater.
Inform health professionals, property owners, and the public about harmful properties and related problems of water pollution and contaminated wastewater.
Review and evaluate applications for registration of products containing dangerous materials, or for pollution control discharge permits.
Conduct research on hazardous waste management projects to determine the magnitude of problems and treatment or disposal alternatives and costs.
Maintain and repair materials, work sites, and equipment.
Prepare data to calculate sewer service charges and capacity fees.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Explore Grad Schools Explore Colleges

Session has been expired