The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is a bureau within the United States Department of the Interior. OSMRE is responsible for establishing a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations, under which OSMRE is charged with balancing the nation's need for continued domestic coal production with protection of the environment.

Duties

These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Western Region (WR), Denver Field Division (DFD), duty stationed in Casper WY and Lakewood, CO. Note: This is NOT a remote position. You will be required to report to the duty location to which you are applying. Applicants applying to multiple locations are limited to selecting a maximum of 1 duty location. At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Participate in and lead team activities, communicates regularly and effectively with team members, supports team initiatives, and demonstrates respect of management, team leaders, and team members. 2. Provide technical assistance to the states on matters relating to the development, implementation, and maintenance of coal mining regulatory and abandoned mine land programs. 3. Analyze and review Title IV abandoned mining lands (AML) and Title V (Regulatory) program amendments to ensure that they are complete, accurate, and conform with OSMRE regulations and the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). 4. Interact with other OSMRE offices State regulatory authorities, local governments, other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, the coal industry, and citizens to pass on routine information regarding the oversight process. 5. Plan and carry out inspection and enforcement activities, including site evaluations and special studies, to monitor program effectiveness and resolve program controversies as required by and consistent with SMCRA and OSMRE regulations and services grants-in-aid activities. 6. Conduct oversight inspections and field evaluations to evaluate both Title IV and Title V State programs. Evaluates State AML grant projects to determine attainment of program objectives. Makes necessary inspections to evaluate compliance and state regulatory authorities' effectiveness in implementing and administering regulatory and AML programs and prepares reports to document findings. Prepares written evaluation reports on field components of State programs, including annual evaluation reports and special studies. 7. Review, analyze, and make approval/disapproval recommendations on highly complex State and Tribal program amendments to ensure that the provisions of SMCRA are complied with by the State and Tribal regulatory authorities. Reviews, analyzes, and authors documents related to the State and Tribal amendment process for review by senior states to ensure these documents are complete, accurate, and comply with OSMRE regulations and policies. 8. Responsible for the oversight and administration of one or more programs. This will include project leadership, technical liaison, coordination, preparation, and execution of program oversight for a State program including the negotiation of grants-in-aid with a State and processing of State Program Amendments, providing technical support and assistance to States for all aspects of Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land programs; identifying, and resolving complex and sensitive issues concerning the Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land programs. OSMRE has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Work Environment: The work environment involves typical office-related risks and requires standard safety precautions. It is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, with occasional exposure to moderate risks in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. The incumbent regularly visits active and abandoned mine sites and reclamation areas to assess conditions and monitor program implementation. Such visits involve moderate risks that necessitate special safety precautions, as some mines may have explosive or toxic gases. The Environmental Protection Specialist must be knowledgeable about protective gear and navigate various terrains through air travel, driving, walking, and climbing. Driver's License Requirement: Please note: You may be required to operate a government vehicle, in completion of assigned tasks i.e. site visits, field research, etc.; therefore you must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license. Medical Requirements: Incumbent must be able to participate in prolonged bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds and is subject to medical examination prior to appointment, and incumbent must pass the work capacity test for arduous positions. Salary Information Casper, WY GS-11: $72,553 - $94,317 per annum. GS-12: $86,962 - $113,047 per annum. Lakewood, CO GS-11: $80,665 - $104,861 per annum. GS-12: $96,684 - $125,685 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Requirements

Qualifications

Qualifications: To qualify for this position you must meet the Education and/or Specialized Experience for the grade to which you are applying. GS-11 Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Interpreting Federal and State statutes and regulations pertaining to coal mining, natural resource management, or abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) to implement or oversee a permitting or AMLR program on State or Tribal land. Must Meet All. -OR- Degree: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., related to the position. -OR- Combination of Education and Experience: Only education in excess of the first two years of progressively higher level graduate education toward a Ph.D. or the equivalent doctorate degree may be used toward this combination (example: 2.5 years in a Ph.D. program (50%) plus 6 months of specialized experience (50%=100%). GS-12 To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Interpreting Federal and State statutes and regulations pertaining to coal mining, natural resource management, or abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) to implement or oversee a permitting or AMLR program on State or Tribal land; AND 2) Analyzing and evaluating rules or regulations as they pertain to AMLR or regulatory program administration and enforcement. MUST MEET ALL *NOTE: At the GS-12 level you may NOT substitute education for experience. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Contacts

• Address Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 US
• Name: HR Assistant
• Phone: 703-787-1446
• Email: [email protected]