Environmental Compliance Inspector
Annual salary: $89,241 to $123,588
An Environmental Compliance Inspector monitors and investigates environmental compliance which may include illicit discharges and illicit connections, and performs field tests of harmful liquids, gases and solids found in the public right-of-way, storm drain system, waterways, and receiving waters; performs health hazard identification of materials and substances found on public property or in the public right-of-way; inspects construction site operations and industrial and commercial facilities for conformance with solid resources, storm water and pretreatment regulations and contract terms; prepares investigation reports for criminal cases and provides court testimony; oversees the remediation of chemical spills and abandoned chemicals; enforces applicable Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC), State, and Federal regulations governing proper management and disposal of solid resources, solid and liquid industrial wastes and other discharges to wastewater systems and the environment; conducts inspections of biosolids beneficial use sites to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and contractual obligations; inspects solid waste facilities, solid waste collection operations, and solid waste hauling companies to ensure compliance with contract requirements, applicable regulations and LAMC provisions; handles the inspection, investigation, compliance and safety of the City's controlled oil drilling sites; may be required to carry out various duties as a public officer, such as serve warrants, issue citations, and make arrests; and does related work.
Requirement(s)/Minimum Qualification(s)
Two years of full-time paid experience in a position at the level of Laboratory Technician in physical or chemical testing, in wastewater, solids, recyclables and/or storm water treatment, or in explaining or enforcing environmental health laws, ordinances, or regulations pertaining to wastewater, solids, recyclables and/or storm water treatment; or
Completion of 24 semester or 36 quarter units from an accredited college or university in biology, chemistry, environmental science, biochemistry, solid waste management technology, water supply technology, storm water or wastewater treatment technology, or engineering.
Process notes:
- Applicants who lack six months or less of the required experience may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement is met.
- A valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of filing. Applicants will be disqualified and not eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI.
- Applicants qualifying under Requirement #2 that have completed courses in biology, chemistry, environmental science, biochemistry, solid waste management technology, water supply technology, storm water or wastewater treatment technology, or engineering, must list the course titles with the number of semester or quarter units, school attended and completion dates in the Supplemental Questions Section of the City application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.
- Please note that qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at (Download PDF reader).
- Candidates completing the examination process will be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their transcripts (annotated with courses in biology, chemistry, environmental science, biochemistry, solid waste management technology, water supply technology, storm water or wastewater treatment technology, or engineering, credit earned, and grade received) to their on-line application at the time of filing in the Attachments section.
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors may be required to utilize their personal vehicle in the performance of their duties. Upon appointment, they may be required to furnish an automobile, properly insured, for use in City service. Mileage and per diem will be paid in accordance with established rates.
- An employee in this position may be subject to weekend, evening and holiday work assignments.
- Incumbents in some positions may be required to attend the Los Angeles Police Academy for additional training.
- See the corresponding "Job Preview" for additional information regarding the duties of an Environmental Compliance Inspector. The Job Preview is available on-line at (Download PDF reader).
Selective Certification
In accordance with Charter Section 1010(b) and Civil Service Rule 5.31, selective certification will be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. Only persons possessing the following at the time of filing may be considered for appointment to fill such positions:
- Possession of a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Penal Code Section 832 Certificate (Arrest and Firearms Course).
- Current registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the California Department of Public Health.
- Possession of a current Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPERS) certification (40-hour training), or a Hazardous Materials Specialist (HAZMAT) certification, both as certified by the California Specialized Training Institute, Office of Emergency Services.
Note: Applicants must attach a copy of the certificate(s) to the on-line application at the time of filing. The certificate(s) must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate(s) is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted the certificate(s). Applicants who fail to submit the certificate(s) at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered for this part of selective certification.
Where To Apply & Application Deadline
Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at
Note: Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed below:
Applications are not currently being accepted. Future filing periods may be added based on the city's hiring needs.
The examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. Filing periods may change without prior notice or additional dates may be added, as needed, at a later date. For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen on the dates noted in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin.
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the interview in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City Promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.
Selection Process
Examination weight: Multiple-choice test. The examination score will be based entirely on a multiple-choice test. In the multiple-choice test, emphasis may be placed on the candidate's experience, training, and professional development as they have provided the knowledge of: the requirements of the City of Los Angeles governing the treatment, control, and discharge of industrial wastes or non-storm water discharges into sewers, storm drains, channels, water courses, and ditches (e.g., applicable provisions of the Municipal Code, applicable administrative policies and regulations, Environmental Protection Agency requirements, State Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements, State and County Health Departments, and State Solid Waste Management Board); inspection methods, sampling, and testing procedures used in obtaining and testing sewage, industrial wastes, and non-storm water discharges; basic principles of physics, biology, and chemistry applicable to industrial waste and emergency response activities; the basic principles of oil and gas wells operation; and the ability to inspect pretreatment facilities, measuring and recording devices, and similar equipment for conformance with specifications and provisions for permits; interpret laboratory reports and other technical information sufficient to determine compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; identify health hazard determinations; perform basic mathematical calculations, such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication sufficient to complete industrial waste and emergency