Conservation Enforcement Specialist 1, 2 Or 3

Office of Conservation

• Engineering-Regulatory/Shreveport District

The Engineering Regulatory Division is responsible for inspecting oil and gas wells and the associated facilities to ensure compliance with LAC 43:XIX.Subpart 1 (Statewide Order No. 29-B, the processing of Unit Termination applications (Statewide Order No. 29-L-3), and the approval of Unit Survey Plats.

Additionally, the Division is responsible for implementing and administering the Oilfield Site Restoration Program [LAC 43:XI.Subpart 2] as well as the Underwater Obstruction Removal Program [LAC 43:I.Subpart 2].

Employees are eligible for flexible work schedules upon hire and 2 days of telework after 6 months.

LOCATION AND POSITION INFORMATION:

This position is located in the Engineering-Regulatory Division/Shreveport District within the Office of Conservation in Shreveport, LA and work out of the incumbent's home. Travel is required to assigned parishes

• Caddo, DeSoto, and Bossier. The incumbent in this position performs highly responsible and advanced technical inspection work related to drilling, completion, production, and site restoration phases of oil and gas activity within the State of Louisiana.  Additional duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs onsite inspections of drilling operations, diverters, BOPs, accumulators, oil and gas wells, production and storage facilities, oilfield pits, and a general review of work permits, procedures, and safety programs to ensure compliance with Office of Conservation rules and regulations and applicable law.

• Ensures safety prevention equipment is properly installed and in working condition and tested according to regulations.

• Inspects oilfield production and storage facilities to ensure adequate containment structure/firewall is provided.

• Witnesses the plug and abandonment of oil and gas wells by operators ensuring procedure compliance for protection of the environment and the underground source of drinking water.

• Interfaces with filed representatives of other federal and state agencies in investigations concerning improper discharge of non-hazardous oilfield waste and environmental damage, theft of oil and gas production equipment, theft of crude oil, etc.

• Performs mechanical integrity pressure tests of wells utilized for saltwater disposal purposes.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following skills and experience are preferred but not required:

• Extensive knowledge gained through experience with situations encountered in field operations related to oil and gas activities

• Thorough knowledge of Statewide Order No. 29-B relative to the drilling, production, and operation of oil and gas wells, oilfield pit operational and closure standards, plugging and abandonment, site restoration, etc.

• Knowledge of Statewide Order No. 29-D-1 relative to commingling of oil and gaseous hydrocarbons and Statewide Order No. 29-G-1 relative to liquid Automatic Custody Transfer procedures in addition to all state and federal laws applicable to the oil and gas industry.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPENTENCIES:

• Communicating Effectively: The ability to relay information correctly and appropriately to connect people and ideas.

• Displaying Expertise: The ability to exhibit specialized skills or knowledge gained from experience or training

• Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to form an opinion objectively and decisively based on relevant information and in accordance with established standards.

As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Conservation Enforcement Specialist 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant. Please refer to the "Job Specifications" tab located at the top of the LA Careers "Current Job Opportunities" page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications, and job concepts for each level.

Title/LevelConservation Enforcement Specialist 1Conservation Enforcement Specialist 2Conservation Enforcement Specialist 3Pay LevelTS-306TS-307TS-309Hourly Range$16.03 - $28.84$17.15 - $30.86$19.63 - $35.33Monthly Range$2,779 - $4,999$2,973 - $5,349$3,403 - $6,124Annual Range$33,342 - $59,987$35,672 - $64,189$40,830 - $76,486

Note regarding the advertised pay range: The maximum amounts listed are the maximum salary amounts a person can make at each level over their career and not the amount we are allowed to pay a new hire.

This vacancy is being announced as a classified position and is open to all qualified applicants. This position requires the selected applicant to serve a minimum probationary period of twelve (12) months. A current, permanent status state employee may be required to accept a probational appointment in lieu of promotion. Additional Vacancies may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of the closing date.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their applications to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

A copy of your college transcript to verify the specialized degree requirement MUST be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.  This may be done by way of an attachment to your online application and/or by fax/mail. Applicants possessing an international degree must submit an equivalency evaluation statement with their application. This may be done by way of an attachment to your online application.

Transcripts can either be mailed or faxed to the Louisiana Department of State Civil Service. Fax: 225-219-1041. Mailing Address: Department of State Civil Service, P.O. Box 94111, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9111.

• Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Department of Energy and Natural Resources

PO Box 94396

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9396

Email: DNR-Recruiting@la.gov

The Department of Natural Resources is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment-related resources available for those with disabilities, refer to the Louisiana Employment Resources Guide at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/LRS/EmploymentResourceGuide_2018.pdf.

The Department of Natural Resources is a participant in the E-Verify system for identification and employment eligibility purposes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A baccalaureate degree with 18 semester hours in any one or a combination of the following fields: agriculture, agronomy, a biological science, chemistry, ecology, engineering, environmental science, forestry, geography, geology, horticulture, mathematics, nuclear science, physics, soil science, statistics or toxicology.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Experience in petroleum exploration, petroleum production, petroleum gas and/or anhydrous ammonia handling or distribution, natural resources regulation, natural resources enforcement, law enforcement, or investigatory work will substitute for the required baccalaureate degree and specialized hours on the basis of 30 semester hours of general coursework with approximately 4.5-5 semester hours of specialized coursework for one year of experience when using a combination of college hours and experience to meet the educational requirement.  Four years of this experience will substitute for the baccalaureate degree and 18 specialized hours when not using a combination.

NOTE:

Subprofessional petroleum exploration or petroleum production work includes such jobs as driller, driller's helper, gauger, helper on an oil well cementing crew, pumper, or roustabout. Petroleum gas and anhydrous ammonia work includes jobs such as a bottle filler, tank installer, dealer, bobtail driver, technician, or piping installer.

NOTE: Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

FUNCTION OF WORK:

To regulate exploration and production operations, injection wells, surface mining operations, hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines and related facilities by serving as an inspector, performing enforcement, emergency response, data collection and evaluation, and investigation tasks to insure compliance with State and Federal regulations.

LEVEL OF WORK:

Entry.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Close supervision from a Conservation Program Manager, Petroleum Scientist Supervisor, or unclassified Director. May also receive guidance from higher-level Conservation Enforcement Specialists. Other reporting relationships may be approved by SCS.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None.

LOCATION OF WORK:

Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, all Divisions and programs, statewide; Department of Public Safety.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from Conservation Enforcement Specialist 2 by the absence of independent responsibility. Primary function at this level is as a training position preparing for higher levels which will include more complex duties and independent performance of duties.

Serves as training position preparing for higher level positions and more involved responsibility to:

Assist in on-site inspections of exploration and production operations, injection wells, surface mining operations, hazardous liquids pipelines and natural gas pipelines and related facilities to assess compliance with State and Federal regulations.

Assist in review of industry records to insure hazardous liquid pipeline and natural gas pipeline facilities are performing random drug and alcohol testing as required under the regulations.

Assist in collection and review of preliminary data required in on-site inspections.

Assist in the presentation of findings obtained during inspections/investigations of exploration and production operations, injection wells, surface mining operations or hazardous liquid pipeline systems and natural gas pipeline systems or related facilities.

Assist in field investigations in response to citizen complaints.

Participate in emergency response activities involving well blowouts or spills, explosions, environmental emergencies, pipeline leaks and related accidents.

Prepare written reports documenting inspection activities, investigations and/or citations for review by higher level officials.

Operate and maintains various specialized monitoring equipment.

Assist in presentation of technical seminars for industry representatives.

Attend classes and seminars which are required by the Federal government and are sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior or the U.S. Transportation Safety Institute in order to remain up-to-date on regulations and enforcement requirements.

Performs statewide inspections and compliance audits to implement the rules and regulations enforced by the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission to protect public safety.

Assist with conducting safety inspections of all transportation equipment, school buses and mass transit vehicles powered by Liquified Petroleum Gas.

Assist with approving installations of Liquefied Petroleum Gas for places of public assembly.