Environmental Scientist

Position Details

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to work in a high-profile position to help California communities address water quality issues? Do you enjoy a fast-paced environment with opportunities to innovate and lead positive change? If so, then this is the position for you! Apply today and join our dedicated and driven team.

The State Water Resource Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance has an opening for an Environmental Scientist in the Loans and Grant Branch, Drinking Water Environmental Review Unit, located at 1001 I Street, 16th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Under the close supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent is expected to:

• Prepare, review and process environmental documents (i.e., Notice of Exemptions, Initial Studies, Negative or Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, and associated mitigation monitoring measures) for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) projects and other funding projects, when the State Water Board is lead or responsible agency under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 
• Conduct site visits/inspections throughout the State to evaluate projects’ significant environmental impacts, confirm compliance with environmental conditions and attend public hearings as necessary. 
• Coordinate, research, and analyze environmental data used in the preparation of biological reports and environmental documents. 
• Ensure funding projects meet the CEQA, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal environmental cross-cutting requirements. 
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local governmental agencies to determine the need for additional studies and/or mitigation measures to ensure compliance with CEQA and/or associated federal environmental laws/authorities and initiate consultation if necessary. 
• Consult with Native American tribes on the State Water Board’s Assembly Bill 52 list pursuant to CEQA. 
• Review historic property identification reports to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) requirements. 
• Draft State Historic Preservation Officer consultation letters. 
• Coordinate with the Division’s Senior Cultural Resources Officer to ensure compliance with Section 106 requirements. 
• Work with environmental consultants and applicants to coordinate the preparation and review of CEQA notices, Initial Studies and Negative and Mitigated Negative Declarations, as appropriate, when the State Water Board is the CEQA lead agency; and file Notices of Exemption, Notices of Completion, and Notices of Determination with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, State Clearinghouse. 
• Attend project meetings and provide environmental information and guidance to State Water Board staff and project applicants. 
• Prepare Board Items, make presentations or briefings to the State Water Board members. 
• Review and comment on draft environmental documents prepared for SRF projects, and water supply permits to ensure compliance with the CEQA, NEPA and other federal environmental cross-cutting laws/authorities. 
• Work cooperatively with stakeholders (general public, federal, state and local government agencies, tribes and other interested parties), and participate in stakeholder meetings. 
• Develop environmental review clearances; perform field reviews and compliance inspections; and prepare project files and updated databases.