Career Center

The Hydro Compliance Specialist provides technical analysis for all relevant current environmental compliance requirements as they apply to the Hydroelectric facilities. With minimal direction, the position develops, monitors, and administers compliance data and requirements with all regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), FERC Division of Hydropower and Compliance (FERC DHAC), United State Forest Service (USFS), California Energy Commission (CEC), United States Geological Survey (USGS), State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), CA Fish and Wildlife (CDFWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cal EPA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Emergency Services, Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE), North American Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC), etc., ensuring that the facilities maintains compliance and is receiving up-to-date information from these agencies as required.  Leads evaluations and filings for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) for various projects and programs. Maintains related records for the facilities and trains, develops and assists the facilities in their effort to maintain compliance.  Supports the Operations Supervisor in compliance tracking for the Hydroelectric facilities personnel safety programs.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position requires the incumbent reports for work on time and maintains satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives to meetings and appointments on time; reports to the Chief Dam Safety Engineer (CDSE) and performs special assignments for the Plant Manager or others as assigned.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hydro Regulatory Compliance (40%)
•    Reviews and interprets environmental laws and regulations
•    Performs CEQA/NEPA analyses
•    Monitors operation and maintenance activities for compliance with regulatory agency requirements and develops regulatory correspondence as necessary
•    Ensures regulatory action items, and regulatory correspondence, are tracked in Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and resolved on a timely basis
•    Acts as liaison to regulatory officials of USFS, CDFW, EPA, CEC, DOE, FERC DHAC, Water Quality, etc.
•    Prepares and files reports, feasibility studies, cost analysis, maps, drawings and specifications as needed
•    Researches, analyzes, and provides project technical data
•    Provides environmental technical guidance to NCPA personnel as directed by management
•    Manages safety, environmental, and compliance projects and related contractors and consultants

Engineering Responsibilities (40%)
•    Maintains various data files and spreadsheets utilized for regulatory reporting, e.g. dam safety surveillance monitoring reports, USGS water records, etc.
•    Manages hydrography software for the USGS performing all necessary data entry and analysis for working a water record.
•    Prepares monthly Table A reconciliations
•    Manages Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) and Security Plans (SPs)
•    Prepares and files reports, feasibility studies, cost analysis, maps, drawings and specifications as needed
•    Researches, analyzes, and provides project engineering technical data
•    Provides technical guidance to NCPA personnel as directed by management
•    Manages projects and related contractors and consultants

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) responsibilities (20%) 
•    Identifies and resolves issues relating to safety. Implements improvements to the safety program to ensure effectiveness and compliance with regulations for Hydroelectric facilities
•    Ensures that the safety of the public and employees are maintained during operation and maintenance of Hydro facilities conducting contractor safety audits
•    Participates/Chairs in the NCPA Agency Safety Committee and chairs and/or assists in the Hydroelectric Safety Committee providing guidance and support as needed
•    Manages EH&S documents in SharePoint
•    Manages and provides safety and/or compliance training
•    Supports and/or oversees the updating and rewriting of the environmental and safety procedures manual, and operating procedures as they pertain to safety
•    Ensures SDS documents/information and personal safety equipment is available for the employees at Hydro
•    Manage EH&S safety plans, including the Risk Management Plan (RPM), Hazardous Material Business Plan (HMBP), Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Plan (SPCC), Emergency Response Plan (ERP), and O&M Health & Safety Plan
•    Performs other job-related duties as required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Level II
Education and/or Experience      
Bachelor's degree in environmental, civil, or mechanical engineering is preferred or other closely related degrees from an accredited four-year college or university; Minimum of two (2) years related hydroelectric regulatory compliance experience and/or training in environmental regulations and compliance. 

Level III
Education and/or Experience      
Bachelor's degree in environmental, civil, or mechanical engineering is preferred, or other closely related degree from an accredited four-year college or university; Minimum of three (3) years related progressively responsible hydroelectric regulatory compliance experience and/or training in environmental regulations and compliance.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES 
Knowledge:
Working knowledge of State & Federal environmental programs and regulations associated with Hydroelectric Projects and the corresponding regulatory agencies. Knowledge of regulatory requirements, and interpretations. Knowledge of hydroelectric industrial hygiene related to EH&S responsibilities. Knowledge to be proficient in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, MS Project, and CMMS.

Abilities:
Exhibit problem solving skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work on multiple projects at one time while meeting deadlines; Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form; Work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry; Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations; Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals;  Aptitude to solve problems quickly with advanced conflict resolution skills; Ability to demonstrate strong leadership and facilitation skills; Build and maintain effective work relationships; Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, regulatory agencies, and the public and work effectively and accurately without supervision.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

•    Valid California Driver's License and insurance
•    Some travel will be required
•    May coordinate activities with other staff, consultants or regulatory personnel when completing above assignments
•    Provides technical support for plant and process improvements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat, and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

About Northern California Power Agency (NCPA)

The Northern California Power Agency (NCPA), a California Joint Action Agency, was established in 1968 by a consortium of locally owned electric utilities to make joint investments in energy resources that would ensure an affordable, reliable, and clean supply of electricity for customers in its member communities. NCPA members include municipalities, a rural electric cooperative, and other publicly owned entities for which the not-for-profit agency provides such services as the purchase, aggregation, scheduling, and management of electrical energy. Most critically for its 16 members, NCPA over the past four decades has constructed and today operates and maintains a fleet of power plants that is among the cleanest in the nation, and that provides reliable and affordable electricity to more than 600,000 Californians. NCPA made a major investment in renewable energy in the early 1980s when it developed two geothermal power plants and financed and built a 250 megawatt hydroelectric facility. Thirty years later, these resources continue to generate reliable, emission-free electricity for its member communities. NCPA’s 775 megawatt portfolio of power plants is approximately 50% ...greenhouse gas emission-free. NCPA’s mix of geothermal, hydroelectric, and natural gas resources is well positioned to help its members achieve California’s goal of a 50% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2030. NCPA member utilities also have invested heavily in the most environmentally friendly form of electricity—the megawatts that you don’t use. NCPA’s commitment to the environment reflects its status as a not-for-profit public entity whose policies and values are set not by investors, but by locally elected or appointed officials who serve as the energy regulators in the cities, towns, and districts that are members of the Agency.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Northern California Power Agency (NCPA)