1 SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS INSPECTOR
Bargaining Unit: Professional Employees’ Group
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Class Code:
Created: 8/21/2025
Revised: N/A
DEFINITION:
Under general supervision of the Environmental Programs Manager, the Senior Environmental Programs Inspector conducts complex program activities and advanced facility investigations to determine compliance with hazardous materials laws and regulations. This classification is responsible for implementing Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) requirements, including hazardous materials business plan, hazardous waste generator, on-site hazardous waste treatment, underground storage tank, Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act, and California Accidental Release Prevention programs. The Senior Environmental Programs Inspector plays a key role promoting community health and safety by evaluating chemical storage and use practices, identifying violations, and enforcing corrective actions.
CLASS CHARACTERISITICS:
This is a senior-level, professional classification that requires the use of independent judgment in the field to perform complex inspections and investigations to determine and enforce compliance with hazardous materials management laws, regulations, and standards.
The Senior Environmental Programs Inspector is distinguished from the Environmental Programs Inspector position by the advanced competencies and technical training required in all aspects of the CUPA Program. The Senior Environmental Programs Inspector is distinguished from the next higher class of Environmental Programs Manager, in that the latter manages and administers the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) program for the City of Union City and the Clean Water inspection program for commercial and industrial facilities.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (illustrative only):
• Conduct compliance inspections of CUPA regulated businesses, focusing on the most technical programs, including California Accidental Release Prevention, Underground Storage Tank, and Onsite Hazardous Waste Treatment. • Prepare CUPA-related reports to the State, review technical building permit plan submittals, and write zoning Use Permit conditions of approval. • Compile, submit, and coordinate with the Water Board on timely submission of State reports including semi-annual UST Report 6 and Federal Energy Policy Act compliance reporting.
• Provide advanced support for state CUPA Evaluation submittals and deficiency corrections.
2 • Analyze and interpret hazardous materials and hazardous waste analytical laboratory results.
• Participate in the citywide Development Review Committee as a technical expert for hazardous materials.
• Gather evidence and prepare CUPA formal enforcement case file, including writing Administrative Enforcement Orders.
• Assist in spill or discharge investigations and provide technical support at emergency response incident scenes.
• Serve as a technical resource to the Planning Division for industrial zoning determinations and the Building Division for Occupancy classification. • May stand in for the Environmental Programs Manager and act as CUPA Manager in their absence.
• Perform other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Three (3) years of qualifying experience in CUPA hazardous materials management, including conducting routine compliance inspections in CUPA program elements and participating in formal administrative enforcement actions.
And Meets education requirements as specified by Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 27, § 15260 by:
PATTERN I
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in biology, microbiology, chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental health, environmental science, fire science, fire technology, geology or soil science, hazardous materials management, industrial hygiene, physics, physical science, sanitary engineering, or toxicology.
OR PATTERN II
Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist.
OR PATTERN III
Thirty (30) semester units or forty-six (46) quarter units from an accredited college or university or other institution in biology, microbiology, chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental health, environmental science, fire science, fire technology, geology or soil science, hazardous materials management, industrial hygiene, physics, physical science, sanitary engineering, or toxicology. One year of 3 qualifying experience in hazardous materials management, regulation, analysis, or research, environmental research, monitoring, surveillance, enforcement, or resource recovery may be substituted for a maximum of fifteen (15) semester units or twentythree (23) quarter units.
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Possession of International Code Council (ICC) certification as an UST Inspector is required within six (6) months of employment. Maintenance of the ICC certification is a requirement for continued employment.
Successful completion of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Above Ground Storage Tank Inspector training program is required within six (6) months of employment.
A forty (40) hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification must be obtained and maintained once hired as a condition of employment.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge Of:
• Federal and state requirements governing hazardous materials management and CUPA program responsibilities.
• Citywide planning, licensing and permitting activities. • Fire and life safety education, employee training documentation, disaster and emergency response planning.
• Administrative Enforcement Order penalty assessment and negotiation techniques.
• Sampling methodologies and use of instrumentation for detecting and sampling hazardous substances.
• Advanced inspection and investigation techniques, and ability to effectively communicate corrective action requirements.
• California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) database operations. • Interviewing, enforcement case development, collection and preservation of evidence, and chain-of-custody documentation.
Ability To:
• Work independently and/or with minimal supervision.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply laws, codes, regulations, ordinances, policies, and procedures.
4 • Interpret technical plans and specifications, analytical laboratory data, and reports.
• Conduct thorough inspections of hazardous materials facilities. • Identify environmental, health and safety hazards, and recommend effective corrective actions.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Interact tactfully and effectively with the public, City employees, and with owners/operators of facilities.
• Operate a personal computer and use a variety of database systems.
WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
The City of Union City is an equal opportunity employer. The City of Union City will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities.
Positions in this class typically require sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and ability to perform repetitive motions. This position lifts/carry items up to approximately 15 pounds (e.g., laptop, paper files, etc.). Performs inspections, attends trainings, and responds to emergencies in an industrial/non-office setting.
Travel: Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.