Description
The Environmental Regulatory Specialist supports the cooperative’s environmental compliance program by conducting regulatory analysis, preparing and maintaining environmental permits, and ensuring generation and transmission operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. This role serves as a key technical resource on regulatory applicability and environmental permitting for power plants, transmission infrastructure, and related facilities.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Analysis & Interpretation
- Analyze and interpret environmental regulations applicable to electric generation and transmission operations.
- Evaluate applicability of federal and state programs, including:
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- Clean Air Act (CAA): Title V / CAAPP, NSPS, NESHAP, PSD/NSR
- Clean Water Act (CWA): NPDES, SPCC, stormwater requirements
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- EPCRA reporting (Tier II, TRI)
- Track regulatory changes and assess potential impacts to operations.
Air Permitting & Compliance Management
- Evaluate permitting requirements for combustion turbines, boilers, RICE units, peaking units, and emergency generators.
- Perform emissions calculations using EPA-approved methodologies.
- Support air dispersion modeling as required.
- Maintain compliance documentation, emission inventories, monitoring plans, and deviation reports.
- Assist with annual emissions reports and compliance certifications.
Operational Permitting
- Prepare and manage permits and plans, including:
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- NPDES Permits
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)
- Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans
- Waste management permits
- Incidental Take Authorization permits
- Coordinate with operations to ensure permit conditions are embedded into procedures.
- Track permit expiration dates and maintain permitting schedules.
Compliance Monitoring & Program Implementation
- Develop and maintain compliance tracking systems.
- Review monitoring data and operational logs to ensure compliance.
- Support monitoring programs such as CEMS, stack testing, and water discharge monitoring.
- Assist with internal environmental compliance audits.
Regulatory Reporting & Agency Coordination
- Prepare and submit regulatory reports, including emissions inventories, compliance certifications, and EPCRA reports.
- Assist with agency inquiries, inspections, and permit negotiations.
Project Support & Environmental Review
- Evaluate permitting and compliance needs for capital projects and facility upgrades.
- Provide regulatory guidance during project planning and design.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Policy, or a related discipline.
Experience
- Typically 3–7 years of environmental regulatory experience.
- Experience with electric generation or industrial air permitting preferred.
Technical Knowledge & Skills
- Strong understanding of environmental permitting and compliance programs.
- Experience with emissions calculations and regulatory applicability analysis.
- Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with operations staff, engineers, and regulatory agencies.