WHAT DOES AN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN DO?
Updated: Jun 11, 2025 - The Environmental Technician manages hazardous and special waste through proper segregation, logging, and shipping while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Equipment and tools are maintained in good condition through regular inspections and proper usage, with any defects reported for repair. Emergency response and environmental campaigns are actively supported to promote workplace safety and sustainability.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Environmental Technician
1. Environmental Technician Details and Accountabilities
- Waste Water Treatment: Operate, maintain, and clean the Waste Water Treatment Plant
- Sewage Treatment: Operate and maintain the Sewage Treatment Plant
- Settling Studies: Perform settle ability studies on waste streams
- Effluent Sampling: Collect effluent samples as per MOE established protocol
- Sample Preparation: Prepare samples for shipment to an outside laboratory
- Flow Calibration: Take responsibility for calibrating flow monitors
- Record Keeping: Keep records of sampling/flow monitoring per MOE requirements
- WWTP and STP Record Keeping: Keep records for WWTP and STP per MOE requirements
- Waste Audits: Perform waste audits within the plant to reduce waste
- Surface and Groundwater Sampling: Sample surface water and groundwater from the landfill site
2. Environmental Technician Additional Details
- Air and Water Compliance: Support air and water compliance programs following applicable regulatory obligations
- Process Improvement: Continuously improve the processes and minimize business and community risks
- Routine Inspections: Conduct routine inspections, and follow up on findings to ensure completion and continuous improvement
- Visual Emission Observation Training: Sustain training (Smoke School) required for visual emission observation and maintain recordkeeping requirement
- Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR): Conduct Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) monitoring and recordkeeping activities
- ODS Program Support: Work with the facility support group to assist on Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) program leak identification and reporting
- Storm Water Management: Support Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and conduct routine inspections
- SPCC Program Support: Assist with the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) program and conduct the required inspection and follow up with a corrective measure
- OKRs/Goal Development: Plan, strategize, and develop Objectives, and Key Results (OKRs/Goals)
3. Environmental Technician General Responsibilities
- Safety Leadership: Be a courageous safety leader, adhere to and sponsor safety and environmental rules and procedures
- Compliance and Environmental Support: Collaborate closely with site departments to confirm compliance and environmental conditions in sampling and monitoring programs, and support regional hydrometric and bathymetric programs
- Data Management: Collect, upload, and review data in the EQuIS database
- Equipment Calibration: Perform checks and calibration on-field equipment
- Field Audits and Inspections: Participate in and lead field audits and inspections
- Contractor Coordination: Coordinate contractors to ensure work is being conducted safely and following project scope
- Permit Knowledge: Understand applicable permits and associated requirements
- Environmental Project Supervision: Participate in and supervise various environmental projects, such as remediation, maintenance of pollution control infrastructure, and field sampling programs
- Environmental Protection Planning: Develop and review Environmental Protection Work Plans
- Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze field and analytical data to draft technical reports and communications
4. Environmental Technician Responsibilities and Key Tasks
- Personal Protection Equipment: Use Personal Protection Equipment
- Unsafe Act Reporting: Communicate unsafe acts or conditions to the supervisor
- Emergency Participation: Participate in an emergency, Chemical spill
- Waste Shipping Management: Manage waste shipping (cardboard, plastic, universal waste)
- Hazardous Waste Log Management: Manage Logs of hazardous waste and special waste
- Environmental Campaign Management: Participate in the management of environmental campaigns
- Hazardous Waste Warehouse Management: Manage the hazardous waste warehouses
- Waste Record Reporting: Make waste records reporting weight using the scale
- Measurement Equipment Calibration: Manage calibration of measurement equipment
- Waste Segregation Compliance: Contribute to the correct segregation of waste by reporting non-compliance conditions
- Tool and Equipment Care: Take care that the tools or equipment are not damaged by negligence or improper use
- Device and Equipment Use: Use devices, accessories, tools, and equipment according to the process, verifying that they are in good condition of use, and reporting those that are in poor condition for their repair
- Policy and Regulation Compliance: Comply with the Policies, Regulations, and Code of Conduct of the Organization
5. Environmental Technician Duties
- AUL Management: Manage the Command Authorized Use List (AUL) within the Government’s Microsoft Access database for all locations
- AUL Online Management: Manage the Command AUL in the Air Force Environmental Safety and Occupational Management Information System online database
- Hazardous Material Inspections: Perform inspections of hazardous material storage locations and identify, track, and resolve deficiencies
- Hazardous Waste Program Support: Assist in administering the government sites' Hazardous Waste Program performing/coordinating waste pick-ups from work centers/designated turn-in locations
- Hazardous Waste Documentation: Manage all paperwork and documentation as required by state and federal hazardous waste regulations as well as the Joint Base Charleston Hazardous Waste Management Plan for in and out-processing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste into the Command 90-day storage facility
- Battery Recycling Management: Manage the battery-recycling program to include assisting in the purchase of recycle boxes and packaging and shipping the recycle boxes back to the vendor
- Waste Collection and Research: Collect waste, conduct research in support of waste characterization efforts, and store waste following applicable requirements
- Data Entry and Maintenance: Enter and maintain required data in the online Air Force Air Program Information Management System (APMIMS) to include storage tank monthly/annual inspections and all maintenance events, emergency generator monthly run times and all maintenance events, and maintenance events for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units with greater than a refrigerant charge of 50 pounds
- Database and Documentation Accuracy: Ensure databases are updated daily with accurate data, hazardous waste paperwork is 100% complete and accurate with no rework, and the Command AUL is accurate and updated per Government Hazardous Material Management and Control Program Supplemental Safety Procedure