Water Quality Permit Scientist- Stormwater
The Department of Environmental Quality is currently looking for a Water Quality Permitting Scientist with a specialization in stormwater to join their team in the Water Protection Bureau of the Water Quality Division.
Water Quality Permitting Scientists are responsible for performing scientific and technical analyses, calculations, assessments, and determinations essential to the implementation of water quality programs in the State of Montana. This Stormwater Specialist Water Quality Permitting Scientist will be responsible for administering the three General Permits that regulate stormwater in addition to individual permit writing duties.
When a municipality, industry, or other entity wishes to discharge water to a surface water of the state, that entity must first obtain a permit from DEQ. Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) permits regulate wastewater discharges by limiting the quantities of pollutants to be discharged. The limits and/or requirements in the permit help ensure compliance with Montana’s Water Quality Standards, and State and Federal Regulations, all of which were written to protect public health and the aquatic environment.
There are two types of MPDES permits: Individual and General. DEQ develops the limits and requirements for an Individual Permit based on a facility’s operations, type and amount of discharge, and the nature of the receiving stream, among other factors.
General Permits cover facilities with similar operations and types of discharge, and whose discharges have minimal environmental impact. For example, storm water runoff results from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, and parking lots. Storm water runoff carries a variety of pollutants including sediment, oil, fertilizers, pesticides, trash, and animal waste that can negatively impact water quality. DEQ regulates discharges of storm water from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), construction activities, and industrial operations through three Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) General Permits.
The Permit Writers position includes a career ladder for professional development and pay progression. This position may be eligible for occasional telework.