Environmental Engineering Technician
Civil engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals, or may work independently in fields such as structural engineering, municipal engineering, construction design and supervision, highways and transportation engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering and environmental protection.
Typical Duties:
- Inspects facilities to ensure adherence to regulations governing the handling of dangerous substances such as asbestos, lead, of contaminated wastewater;
- Oversees the disposal of hazardous materials;
- Assists in cleanup activities in cases of hazardous materials spills;
- Maintains and deploys decontamination equipment;
- Assesses new technologies employed to clean industrial sites or to rehabilitate degraded natural environments;
- Decontaminates field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water;
- Provides technical advice during the planning stages of such engineering projects as wastewater treatment plants;
- Assesses the environmental impact of proposed construction projects and develops pollution prevention programs;
- Evaluates the ability of natural environments to remove or reduce contaminants for air, soil, or water;
- Develops models of how pollutants move through or impact the environment;
- Works in laboratories testing samples and recording results;
- Compiles and analyzes statistical data on air and water samples submitted by industry to a public agency;
- Produces environmental assessment reports and presents results to officials, clients, and the public;
- Designs improvements to chemical processes to reduce toxic emissions;
- Develops work plans for environmental safety programs at industrial facilities.
Educational Requirements:
Two-year college program in civil engineering technology