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19-2041.00 · Task explorer

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

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Read the task inventory

This source lists 22 tasks, including 12 marked Core and 10 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2023.

22 tasks shown

Core · Task 15219 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.

Core · Task 1530 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.

Core · Task 15218 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.

Core · Task 1517 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.

Core · Task 15220 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.

Core · Task 15221 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.

Core · Task 1514 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.

Core · Task 1519 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.

Core · Task 1523 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.

Core · Task 1529 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.

Core · Task 15222 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.

Core · Task 1526 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.

Supplemental · Task 1515 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.

Supplemental · Task 1520 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.

Supplemental · Task 1525 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment.

Supplemental · Task 1524 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees.

Supplemental · Task 1531 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Design or direct studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects.

Supplemental · Task 1522 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.

Supplemental · Task 15223 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control or treatment or pollution abatement methods.

Supplemental · Task 1528 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Develop programs designed to obtain the most productive, non-damaging use of land.

Supplemental · Task 1534 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.

Supplemental · Task 1533 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Develop methods to minimize the impact of production processes on the environment, based on the study and assessment of industrial production, environmental legislation, and physical, biological, and social environments.

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  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

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