Air Pollution Specialist Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established December 15, 1971

Scope

This series specification describes a two-level air pollution specialist series which analyzes, designs, and conducts air pollution monitoring and control programs.

Definition of Series

Classes in this series apply scientific methods and principles in the identification, study, and solution of air pollution problems. Incumbents design, conduct, and evaluate air monitoring, investigation and control programs, and motor vehicle test programs; develop and validate air quality simulation models; collect, analyze, and evaluate data on the effects of air pollutants on human health, vegetation, wildlife, water supplies, and other aspects of the environment; assess the impacts of new emission sources; collect and analyze vehicle test data to determine compliance with current regulations; conduct and evaluate air monitoring programs; design storage and retrieval systems for emissions and aerometric data; coordinate air pollution control programs with other public agencies; develop regulatory measures and implementation plans and procedures for air pollution and vehicle emission control; enforce compliance with air quality standards; prepare feasibility studies and compute cost effectiveness of proposed standards and control measures; and develop trend data of air pollution from mobile and stationary sources in relation to various factors.

Incumbents may also represent the Air Resources Board in various joint operations, speak before groups, answer inquiries, and prepare reports and correspondence.

Entry To the Series

Entry to this series is typically from (1) outside State service at the Air Pollution Specialist level; or (2) promotionally from the class of Air Resources Technician II.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Positions will be allocated to the levels in this series according to variety and complexity of assigned work; independence of action; consequence of error; impact of decisions on statewide programs; extent of program planning and policy development responsibility; demonstrable effect on major Board and statewide programs; and degree of originality and initiative required.

Definition of Levels

Air Pollution Specialist

Range A is the entry and first working level of the series. Incumbents perform less difficult professional air pollution control work under close supervision.

Range B is the intermediate working level at which the incumbent performs and assists higher level staff in air pollution control work of average difficulty.

Range C is the full journeyperson level. Incumbents independently perform the more responsible, varied, and complex work, and provide consultation or coordination in joint studies.

Staff Air Pollution Specialist

This is the fully qualified independent specialist level for program and policy development work. Incumbents carry program or project responsibilities with extreme sensitivity and complexity usually dealing with emerging or undefined issues or problems and typically involving intense conflict among issues such as "State of the Art," public concern, local, State, and Federal Government concerns, costs, and business interest. Assigned work requires the development of broad policy and legislative proposals with immediate and long-range impact. Positions at this level require expertise that is significantly greater than standard full journey level analytical assignments, and this expertise is critical to the Board's basic mission.

Minimum Qualifications

Air Pollution Specialist

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service in a position comparable in level, duties, and responsibilities to an Air Resources Technician II.

Or II

Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Staff Air Pollution Specialist

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing air pollution work comparable in level, duties, and responsibilities to that of an Air Pollution Specialist (Range C).

Or II

Experience: Five years of varied and responsible air pollution experience in the engineering, research, or the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, at least two years of which must have included responsibility for consultation, analysis, or determination of program design and methods for studies in air pollution. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. (Possession of a doctorate degree in any physical, biological, or environmental science, mathematics, engineering, or a related degree may be substituted for two years of general experience; possession of a master's degree in the same fields may be substituted for one year of general experience.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Air Pollution Specialist

Knowledge of: Engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, natural sciences, and meteorology as related to air sanitation; research methods; scientific computer programming/modeling applications; methods of statistical analysis; principles and methods of measuring atmospheric conditions and pollution levels; methods of measuring automotive emissions; chemical and physical characteristics of air impurities and their interactions with the environment; principles and procedures of air quality management and vehicular emission control; complex statistical techniques and their fundamental bases; laws and regulations applicable to air quality and motor vehicle emission control.

Ability to: Collect environmental data; collect vehicular or stationary source emission data; analyze data and reach sound conclusions; calibrate complex air monitoring equipment; apply scientific methods and principles; apply computer programming and modeling skills; analyze situations and take effective action; work cooperatively with others; prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports; communicate effectively; plan, organize, and carry out studies and analyses; make oral presentations; coordinate the work of others; evaluate data and develop recommendations based on findings; operate in a lead capacity for special studies and projects.

Staff Air Pollution Specialist

Knowledge of: All of the above, and research techniques, including the planning of studies and investigations, determining variables, and developing reference materials; research reporting techniques; techniques and procedures for evaluating research results; mathematics, atmosphere chemistry, and physical meteorology; Air Resources Board and Federal Environmental Protection Agency policies and programs.

Ability to: All of the above, and prepare project plans; design studies; develop techniques for handling a large variety of detailed data and analyze these data; communicate the results and implications of studies to nontechnical persons; perform unusual and difficult research and analytical work.

Desirable Qualifications: Experience as a project or program expert in air quality analysis or motor vehicle pollution control.

Class History