Will “Field Investigator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

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Job Description

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

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 13-1041.01

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Environmental Compliance Inspectors”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Field Investigator”

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

Related Technology & Tools

Ekman grab samplers
Helium-neon lasers
Mass spectrometers
Sample collection chambers
Russian peat borers
Hydraulic vibracorers
Conductance meters
Total petroleum hydrocarbon TPH analyzers
Van Dorn samplers
Sampling triers
Photoionization detectors PID
Progressive cavity sampling pumps
Graphite furnace atomic absorption GFAA spectrometers
Dissolved oxygen probes
Ultraviolet fluorescence UVF test kits
Laboratory analytical balances
Differential photometers
pH indicators
Continuous water quality monitors
Spectrophotometers
Liquid grab samplers
Double check valve bailers
Split spoon samplers
Waste pile samplers
Wheaton dip samplers
Continuous flame ionization detectors FID
Laptop computers
Liquid chromatographs LC
Kemmerer depth samplers
Sand corers
Bottom fill bailers
Bucket augers
Membrane interface probes MIP
Reciprocating piston sampling pumps
Bacon bomb samplers
Surface acoustic wave sensors SAWS
Van Veen grab samplers
Measuring cylinders
Sediment sieves
Ponar dredge samplers
Shelby tube samplers
Turbidity probes
Fuel fluorescence detectors FFD
Sample bottles
Wastewater samplers
Extractive Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
Scaffolding
Water sampling gear pumps
Portable two way radios
Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrophotometers
Optical beamsplitting devices
Colorimetric field sampling devices
Dataloggers
Infrared IR spectrometers
Piezoelectric sensors
Flowmeters
Mercury vapor analyzers
Portable gas chromatographs GC
Weighted bottle samplers
Syringe pumps
Passive diffusion bag PDB samplers
Magnetic locators
Rotary hammer systems
Gravity corers
Desktop computers
Volatile organic compound VOC measurement devices
Mobile cone penetrometer MCP systems
Aluminum ladders
Benthic grab samplers
Pond samplers
Portable mass spectrometers MS
Hand corers
Ion selective electrode ISE testers
Wireline samplers
Split core samplers
Interferometers
Laboratory dropping pipettes
Atmosphere monitors
Composite liquid waste samplers COLIWASA
Hand sampling pumps
Enzyme immunoassay kits
Thief samplers
X ray fluorescence XRF spectrometers
Specific conductance probes
Headspace vials
Bladder pumps
Ground penetrating radar GPR
Laser-induced breakdown spectrometers LIBS
Box corers
Water quality data sondes
Chlorophyll-a probes
Centrifugal water sampling pumps
Chlorine samplers
Laser-induced fluorescence LIF instruments
Suction-lift pumps
Groundwater sampling peristaltic pumps
Power augers

HRS Quickscore
Rapid Assessment Tools R.A.T.
Geographic information system GIS software
Field Operations and Records Management System (FORMS) II Lite
Sustainable Management Approaches and Revitalization Tools SMARTe
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Excel
DQO-PRO
Fully Integrated Environmental Location Decision Support FIELDS
Database software
Scribe
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Word
Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance SADA
Monitoring and Remediation Optimization System MAROS
Mass Flux Toolkit
Environmental Knowledge and Assessment Tool EKAT