WHAT DOES AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER DO?

Updated: Apr 04, 2025 - The Environmental Engineer designs and constructs environmental test apparatus, conducts laboratory studies, and analyzes samples following testing protocols. This position maintains instruments, ensures compliance with safety and environmental regulations, and supports environmental documentation and contractor management. The engineer also manages environmental permitting, resolves high-profile issues, and assists with ISO 14.001 compliance and regulatory tracking.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Environmental Engineer

1. Environmental Engineer Duties

  • Environmental Compliance: Support the development, administration, and implementation of environmental, safety, and health programs following ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 registrations, including regulatory requirements from the EPA, OSHA, and USDOT.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Determine impact on site operations and provide support for compliance strategies and requirements.
  • Regulatory Liaison: Interact with federal, state, and local regulators regarding inquiries or compliance activities.
  • Compliance Monitoring: Assess and monitor site compliance with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
  • Operational Support: Work with plant personnel to ensure compliance.
  • Audit and Inspection: Conduct site regulatory compliance audits.
  • Sampling and Analysis: Perform site compliance sampling and submit samples to the lab for analysis.
  • Reporting and Documentation: Prepare applicable regulatory and company deliverable reports.
  • Work Planning: Develop work plans for various types of site and field investigation activities.
  • Field Investigation: Manage and implement site and field investigation protocols.

2. Environmental Engineer Details

  • Regulatory Submittals: Prepare and submit permit applications, monitoring reports, and other regulatory documents; act as an interface liaison with agencies.
  • Environmental Program Management: Manage and update all environmental programs and permits for wastewater discharge, stormwater, hazardous waste, SPCC, and other regulatory requirements specific to the location.
  • Regulatory Analysis: Review and analyze internal Command Media documents and regulations issued by the EPA, DEP, and USDOT.
  • Regulatory Impact Evaluation: Assess proposed regulations to determine financial, industrial, public, and environmental impact.
  • Incident Management: Facilitate environmental incident prevention, investigation, and reporting to appropriate agencies.
  • Waste Minimization: Direct the facility’s waste minimization program and identify ways to reduce or eliminate waste generation.
  • Wastewater Compliance: Monitor wastewater treatment systems to ensure permit compliance and direct water conservation activities.
  • Incident Investigation: Participate in all environmental incident investigations.
  • Site Assessment and Remediation: Conduct site assessments, brownfield remediation, well installation and monitoring, test pits, and subsurface investigations per ASTM, state, and federal requirements.
  • Regulatory Compliance Support: Track emerging state and local environmental regulations and support regulatory compliance program development.

3. Environmental Engineer Responsibilities

  • Environmental Test Design: Design, engineer, and construct an environmental test method apparatus according to project requirements.
  • Laboratory Analysis: Conduct laboratory studies with contaminated environmental samples.
  • Testing and Sampling: Design testing protocols, analyze samples, and interpret results.
  • Reporting and Documentation: Report results and document methods accurately.
  • Instrument Maintenance: Maintain and operate a variety of laboratory and field instruments.
  • Safety and Compliance: Maintain excellence in safety, health, and environmental practices.
  • Environmental Support: Assist the Environmental Manager in reviewing environmental and archaeological documentation and managing contractors.
  • Pipeline Environmental Compliance: Support the Environmental Manager in ensuring accurate and updated environmental information regarding the pipeline.
  • ISO 14001 Management: Support the Environmental Manager in maintaining and improving the ISO 14001 environmental management system.
  • Departmental Assistance: Assist with Environmental Department needs during staff absences and vacations.
  • Regulatory Tracking: Maintain complex environmental permitting and regulatory tracking.
  • Environmental Issue Resolution: Resolve high-profile environmental issues.

4. Environmental Engineer Job Summary

  • Air Compliance: Ensure compliance with all aspects of air permits and regulations through data collection, reporting, renewals, and submissions to government agencies.
  • Water Compliance: Ensure compliance with all aspects of the NPDES water permit and regulations.
  • Waste Management: Ensure compliance with all aspects of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) related to industrial waste management.
  • Air Monitoring: Ensure the daily operational uptime of all ambient air monitoring systems.
  • Water Monitoring: Ensure the daily operation and uptime of water sampling and monitoring equipment.
  • Sampling and Analysis: Collect environmental media samples for compliance and analysis.
  • Regulatory Representation: Represent EVRAZ NA during meetings and correspondence with regulatory agencies as directed.
  • Team Collaboration: Work effectively with both hourly and management personnel.
  • Permit Analysis and Compliance: Analyze regulatory agency-issued environmental operating permits and develop programs to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Project Management: Develop project scope, evaluate bids, select contractors, and manage on-site contract personnel during environmental projects.
  • Data Management and Trends: Develop environmental compliance trends through data acquisition systems and analysis of collected environmental data.

5. Environmental Engineer Accountabilities

  • Regulatory Monitoring: Monitor federal, state, and local regulations related to hazardous waste management, wastewater, stormwater, hazardous materials management, and air quality.
  • Environmental Policy Development: Assist in developing and communicating internal and external environmental policies and issues to all departments.
  • Regulatory Reporting: Produce and maintain required regulatory reports, data, and permit applications.
  • Policy Implementation and Training: Implement environmental policies and processes and assist with managing the training program to ensure compliance.
  • Inspections and Risk Assessment: Perform various and frequent environmental inspections and risk assessments.
  • Technical Documentation: Assist in developing technical documents, including EHS procedures, programs, and guidance documents.
  • Environmental Compliance: Support overall environmental compliance by participating in audits and interacting with personnel to address environmental concerns.
  • Policy and Procedure Management: Prepare, maintain, and update environmental policy and procedure manuals.
  • Emergency Response: Manage site emergency response functions and be available to respond to emergencies.
  • Data Analysis: Assist operating department managers in interpreting environmental data trends that influence production parameters.

6. Environmental Engineer Additional Details

  • Regulatory Compliance: Maintain full compliance with regulatory, permit, or license requirements  
  • Program Oversight: Oversee environmental compliance programs and sustainability initiatives  
  • Report Preparation: Develop and submit regular reports to government agencies  
  • Regulatory Interaction: Interact with regulatory bodies and ensure compliance across environmental media (air, water, waste, etc.)  
  • Compliance Training: Oversee compliance processes, develop and deliver training, and interface with regulatory officials  
  • Agency Liaison: Liaison to Federal and State environmental agencies  
  • Permit Review: Review proposed capital and expense projects for permitting requirements
  • Project Leadership: Lead environmental projects related to air, wastewater, solid waste, spill prevention, and site remediation  
  • EMS Improvement: Continual improvement of the ISO 14001 environmental management system  
  • Problem Solving: Develop and drive innovative solutions to customer problems, drawing on skills and best practices from the many domains  
  • Report Writing: Prepare detailed technical reports and present the findings of environmental work to both internal and external customers  
  • Plan Preparation: Prepare plans for Oil Spill Prevention, hazardous materials, and stormwater programs  
  • Compliance Monitoring: Monitor systems and site operations for compliance with EPL conditions  
  • Site Surveillance: Conduct routine surveillance of environmental management measures, with special attention to runoff and surface waters

7. Environmental Engineer Essential Functions

  • Team Collaboration: Work in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary project team to complete projects, incorporating contaminated site investigation, remediation, and mine reclamation  
  • Data Analysis: Assist with data compilation, analysis, and evaluation using the application of engineering principles and problem-solving skills  
  • Document Preparation: Assist in the preparation of project-related technical documents, including proposals, environmental reports, technical specifications, and drawings for review  
  • Design Support: Support the development of technical designs, including design reports, specifications, drawings, and tender documents  
  • Safety Planning: Prepare project support documents, including health and safety plans  
  • Vendor Communication: Communicate with vendors and contractors
  • Contract Support: Aid with contract administration and cost control  
  • Field Support: Support fieldwork, including environmental monitoring, drilling oversight, well installation, surface water sampling, soil sampling, and remediation contractor oversight  
  • Regulation Research: Research, review, and understand provincial and federal acts and regulations  
  • Meeting Participation: Participate in design and project management meetings  
  • Scientific Publication: Publications in high-quality scientific peer-reviewed journals, and presentations at national and international technical meetings  
  • Status Reporting: Be responsible for period status reporting and project reports (weekly/monthly/quarterly/annually) to update project managers and clients  
  • Data Validation: Validate data and documentation accuracy

8. Environmental Engineer Role Purpose

  • Site Assessment: Conduct fieldwork for Phase I, II, and III Environmental Site Assessments  
  • Site Investigation: Perform investigations at CERCLA, RCRA, and Petroleum Sites  
  • Sample Collection: Collection of soil and water samples using various sampling techniques  
  • Report Writing: Report writing, generation of figures, tables, and database management  
  • Plan Preparation: Assist in the preparation of remedial action plans and engineering documents  
  • Compliance Documentation: Assist in the preparation of SWPPP, SPCC, and other compliance documents  
  • System Monitoring: Remediation system installation and operation, maintenance, and monitoring
  • Regulatory Guidance: Take responsibility for guiding regulatory requirements  
  • Project Management: Working within agreed timescales and budgets so that the needs of the client are fully met, together with the business needs of the company  
  • Knowledge Support: Provide the required theoretical knowledge and mathematical models to the systems engineer  
  • Content Development: Develop required content for the teaching platform  
  • Team Communication: Closely communicate with team members to ensure the project status is aligned with the schedule  
  • System Support: Providing system support to end-users and taking up administration duties for organizing workshops and seminars  
  • Website Maintenance: Update the project website

9. Environmental Engineer General Responsibilities

  • Program Oversight: Oversee all plant programs and activities for compliance with all environmental guidelines and regulations  
  • Vendor Management: Oversee vendors performing outsourced maintenance programs and activities for their compliance with company, local, state, and federal environmental guidelines and regulations  
  • Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance during plant modifications and additions  
  • Facility Inspection: Conduct inspections of plant facilities, equipment, buildings, plant site, and surrounding areas to ensure conformance to management expectations and regulations  
  • Issue Evaluation: Assist at all levels of Management regarding the evaluation of environmental and chemical issues and make recommendations for resolution  
  • Stakeholder Interface: Interface with vendors, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, local officials, engineers, and any other personnel to ensure compliance and safety  
  • Program Execution: Perform routine energy and environmental program tasks, including monitoring, testing, inspections, and data collection
  • Data Entry: Populate documentation and enter data into spreadsheets/tracking software  
  • Non-conformance Reporting: Identify/report non-conformance and seek out resolution  
  • Report Preparation: Contribute to the preparation of energy and environmental reports  
  • Performance Tracking: Generate metrics to track energy and environmental performance  
  • Liaison Support: Support site energy and environmental liaisons  
  • Audit Assistance: Assist with site audits, inspections, and resolution of findings  
  • Equipment Monitoring: Monitor the operation/maintenance of environmental monitoring and control equipment  
  • Contractor Support: Support contractors who perform on-site activities such as inspections, testing, maintenance, and cleaning activities

10. Environmental Engineer Roles and Details

  • Global Interaction: Interact with global individuals, inside and outside of the Environmental Affairs department, including worldwide facility EHS Managers, outside data management vendors, and service providers  
  • Data Management: Manage worldwide environmental sustainability and compliance data using IHS Essential Suite Software (ESS), an internet-based platform  
  • Data Analysis: Analyze data trends/anomalies for follow-up investigations to identify data errors and opportunities for sustainability improvements  
  • Compliance Support: Assist plants and distribution facilities with reporting and backup documentation for regulatory-specific environmental compliance reporting  
  • Audit Support: Support Audits, prepare comprehensive audit protocols, load, review, and analyze compliance data, and develop processes  
  • Task Management: Manage facility task management in the ESS software  
  • Record Development: Assist in the development of electronic records standards and filing for record retention
  • System Administration: Database system administration for various systems used in the Environmental function  
  • Platform Research: Research existing environmental performance modeling platforms, define parameters, and establish relevant scientific knowledge and weather databases  
  • Simulation Execution: Perform environmental simulation using software  
  • Climate Understanding: Understand climate phenomena related to climate models  
  • Online Teaching: Work in online teaching platforms  
  • Data Procurement: Procurement of relevant weather databases and licenses  
  • IP Development: Develop new intellectual property based on innovative research

11. Environmental Engineer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Site Access: Assist NETL staff in obtaining cooperation from natural gas operators and/or landowners to secure site access agreements for field campaigns  
  • Campaign Design: Design field campaigns for the determination of emission rates from natural gas infrastructure in multiple regions  
  • Data Collection: Collecting, recording, and analyzing CH4 concentration/emission rate and meteorological data  
  • Performance Improvement: Continuously improve and sustain environmental performance across the business and identify further opportunities for improvement in line with recognized best practices  
  • Efficiency Driving: Drive commercial efficiencies and correspond with environmental projects and performance improvement opportunities  
  • Standards Alignment: Transform existing practices to ensure that they are aligned with, uphold, and deliver company Values, HSSE Management Standards, Commitments, and Objectives  
  • HSSE Coaching: Continuously develop personnel, promote company Values, and improve HSSE performance and culture by acting as an HSSE coach and mentor  
  • Best Practices Integration: Bring external best practices into the conversation, collaborating and integrating within HSSE and across the business
  • Process Optimization: Optimize existing waste management processes and drive energy efficiencies across the business, as well as reduce, remove, and remediate legacy waste and environmental contamination sites  
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including the local authorities, contractors, suppliers, and training providers  
  • ESG Leadership: Take a leading role in establishing ESG reporting with experience in Environmental, Social, and Governance activities
  • TCFD Implementation: Analyse the TCFD requirements and implement the criteria within the organization in a fit-for-purpose manner  
  • Progress Reporting: Prepare quarterly progress reports and internal presentations on project progress  
  • Result Dissemination: Disseminate results via journal articles and national conference presentations
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