Senior Environmental Scientist

$35.37 - $53.05 Hourly

$73,568 - $110,352 Annually

This position is a Pay Band C10

This position is located in Artesia or Hobbs only.

The Oil Conservation Division of EMNRD regulates oil and gas activity in New Mexico. The Division's core responsibilities include issuing permits for new wells, enforcing state and division rules, collecting data on well production, managing the spill reporting process, ensuring abandoned wells are properly plugged, and requiring the responsible restoration of land affected by oil and gas operations.

This position is part of the Division's Environmental Bureau, which is responsible for regulating the environmental aspects of oil, gas, operations throughout the state. Its primary goal is to protect groundwater, public health, and the environment by responding to incidents, remediating spills, and reclaiming impacted lands.

As a valued new employee to EMNRD, you will receive five (5) full days of leave in your leave balances right from your start date.

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.

This Senior Environmental Scientist assists the Environmental Field Compliance Program of the Oil Conservation Division's Environmental Bureau; this program works on remediating contaminated lands around abandoned or orphaned wells. This position primarily will conduct environmental well-site inspections and witness and review various remediation activities including spill and release remediation, pit and below grade tank operations and final reclamation of sites. This position will also assist in the Environmental Bureau administrative permitting program by processing applications and permits including: spill remediation and closures, pit permits, pit closures, and other remediation plans. This position will have the expertise to: help coordinate and implement division programs to ensure that they meet legal requirements; help advise senior management on legal and management issues, policies and rules, and have in-depth familiarity with the Oil and Gas Act and Rules and the Water Quality Act and Rules, that govern the Division's Environmental Bureau.

This position plays a vital role in the Division's regulatory responsibilities of: fluid management and waste disposal; handling of produced water and drilling fluids; environmental assessment, remediation and restoration.

1. Assist the Conservation Division's (OCD) Environmental Bureau in Incidents review and Field Inspections which includes: Help effectively develop, implement, and administer the OCD Environmental Bureau District Office according to the NM Oil and Gas Act and Rules and address new technical, administrative and legal issues as they arise.

2. Work with the Environmental Supervisor and Engineering Bureau to locate and inspect well sites, incident sites and facilities in need of field inspection. Collect technical site information and use the information for detailed investigations and reviews. 

3. Locate, evaluate, investigate and document reported leaks, releases, and incidents. Perform site assessments and review the technical aspects of a release. Advise the responsible parties of the rule requirements and provide guidance on the how to accomplish the requirements.

4. Ensure operators are in compliance with requirements of the rules and permits including OCD, OCC, or WQCC orders.

5. Perform the technical and administrative review of: C-141 environmental incidents reporting; characterization reports; requests for deferral; review and approval of remediation plans; closure reporting; closure of release incidents in the OCD database; requests for variances; characterization and remediation of impacts to groundwater or surface water releases; review and approval of Stage 1 and Stage 2 abatement plans for investigation; groundwater monitoring reports; review and approval of modifications to abatement plans; notice requirements under OCD rules; and review that closure standards have been met.

6. Review applications for temporary pits, multi-well fluid management pits, and permanent pits, registrations of below-grade tanks and closure reports for pits and tanks, registrations for produced water recycling facilities and containments, inspect those facilities, review monthly produced water volumes; permitting and inspections of refineries and permitting of discharge permits.   

7. Other duties as assigned.

This job supports the oil and gas industry, other state and federal agencies and the general public. This position plays a vital role in protecting natural resources, public health, the environment, and groundwater resources of New Mexico.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who understands the environmental aspects of the oil and gas industry. The candidate should have expertise in the principles of environmental and regulatory reviews and is passionate about helping the state identify and implement oil and gas regulations in an effort to protect human health, the environment, and the proper utilization of New Mexico resources during oil and gas operations.

The ideal candidate should have:

- Experience in environmental compliance

- Regulatory experience

- Oil and gas experience

- Procurement and contracting experience

Bachelor's Degree in Physical, Natural, or Environmental Science, Soil Science, Engineering, or Chemistry and four (4) years of experience in public/environmental health, environmental science, animal science, natural science, biological science, physical science, air quality management, engineering, chemistry, geology, hazardous waste management, wildlife management, and/or water resources. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and obtain a Defensive Driving Certificate.

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Travel and field/facility site inspections required.

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Agency Contact Information: Brittany Hall (505) 517-5333 Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.