17-2081.00 - Environmental Engineers
Green occupations will likely change as a result of the green economy. Green economy activities and technologies are increasing the demand for occupations, shaping the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generating new and emerging occupations.
This is a Green Enhanced Skills occupation — green economy activities and technologies are likely to cause significant change to the work and worker requirements. New tasks, skills, knowledge, credentials may be needed. Employment demand remains the same, but there is potential for an increase.
Environmental engineers work in the following green economy sectors:
- Environment Protection — This sector covers activities related to environmental remediation, climate change adaptation, and ensuring or enhancing air quality.
- Governmental and Regulatory Administration — This sector covers activities by public and private organizations associated with conservation and pollution prevention, regulation enforcement, and policy analysis and advocacy.
They perform these tasks important to the green economy:
- Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- Advise industries or government agencies about environmental policies and standards.
- Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials.
- Assist in budget implementation, forecasts, or administration.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- Coordinate or manage environmental protection programs or projects, assigning or evaluating work.
- Design or supervise the design of systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- Develop or present environmental compliance training or orientation sessions.
- Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- Develop site-specific health and safety protocols, such as spill contingency plans or methods for loading or transporting waste.
- Develop, implement, or manage plans or programs related to conservation or management of natural resources.
- Direct installation or operation of environmental monitoring devices or supervise related data collection programs.
- Inform company employees or other interested parties of environmental issues.
- Inspect industrial or municipal facilities or programs to evaluate operational effectiveness or ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
- Obtain, update, or maintain plans, permits, or standard operating procedures.
- Prepare hazardous waste manifests or land disposal restriction notifications.
- Prepare or present public briefings on the status of environmental engineering projects.
- Prepare, maintain, or revise quality assurance documentation or procedures.
- Prepare, review, or update environmental investigation or recommendation reports.
- Provide administrative support for projects by collecting data, providing project documentation, training staff, or performing other general administrative duties.
- Provide assistance with planning, quality assurance, safety inspection protocols, or sampling as part of a team conducting multimedia inspections at complex facilities.
- Provide environmental engineering assistance in network analysis, regulatory analysis, or planning or reviewing database development.
- Provide technical support for environmental remediation or litigation projects, including remediation system design or determination of regulatory applicability.
- Request bids from suppliers or consultants.
- Serve as liaison with federal, state, or local agencies or officials on issues pertaining to solid or hazardous waste program requirements.
- Write reports or articles for Web sites or newsletters related to environmental engineering issues.