Intern, Environmental Technician

Dimensions

Provide field-based and office support to the Site Supervisor.

There are no direct reports.

Purpose

To provide assistance and support to the Legacy Site Team during the summer construction and operation season.  Including support for the operation of a highly automated waste water treatment plant that includes limited chemical handling, maintenance, and bench scale testing. Assist in sustaining an environmental compliance and monitoring program that includes sample collection/submission, accurate data input/reporting and records-keeping. Provide labour support for other remediation tasks as scheduled through the season.

Essential Duties

• Completes tasks with minimal supervision, under the guidance of the Site Supervisor, employing logical problem solving skills, knowledge of treatment plant operations and maintenance, environmental/health/safety procedures, techniques and regulatory requirements.
• Participates in  daily tailgate safety meeting/records and conducts/records Activity Hazard Analysis for the various tasks at the site.
• Provides labour and technical support to operations staff and contractors as requested and/or scheduled throughout the operational season. This may include, general labour, progress monitoring, note taking, and general site inspection and clean-up.
• Assists Plant Operator with waste water treatment plant operations including sample collection, maintaining/cleaning equipment, daily operational checks, bench meter sample analyses, pH calibrations, inspections, preventive maintenance, and record keeping.
• Prepares, collects and ships environmental samples with appropriate/updated chain of custody documentation and sampling records for analysis of water samples in accordance with established procedures and protocols.
• Organizes warehouse including general site clean-up. Including debris identification and collection across the site.
• Updates the Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) to ensure that Safety Data Sheets in all Hazard Awareness Centers are current along with performing area inspections for conformance to WHMIS requirements including the maintenance of training records.
• Ensures compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations and company Health and Safety/Loss Prevention, Environmental and Social Responsibility policies and procedures by following established procedures and direction.

Essential Duties (continued)

• Completes and logs all monitoring and inspection requirements (including unscheduled events such as spills and incidents).
• Operates light duty vehicles and all-terrain-vehicle (ATV/UTV) as needed to facilitate operational requirements including but not limited to sample collection. 
• Operates standard business software (MS Office & Excel) and applicable specialized software.
• Completes daily inspections of ARD collection system to verify operation and to detect and report deficiencies.
• Complete monitoring on waste rock stockpiles (oxygen, temperature, piezometers, etc).
• Remove woody species from waste rock stockpiles cover and various dams by cutting and/or using herbicide.
• Assist in installation of equipment and sample collection as part of annual environmental effects monitoring.
• Assist with tailings pond and water dam monitoring including reading of vibrating wire piezometers and inclinometers.
• The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

• Completes and logs all monitoring and inspection requirements (including unscheduled events such as spills and incidents).
• Operates light duty vehicles and all-terrain-vehicle (ATV/UTV) as needed to facilitate operational requirements including but not limited to sample collection. 
• Operates standard business software (MS Office & Excel) and applicable specialized software.
• Completes daily inspections of ARD collection system to verify operation and to detect and report deficiencies.
• Complete monitoring on waste rock stockpiles (oxygen, temperature, piezometers, etc).
• Remove woody species from waste rock stockpiles cover and various dams by cutting and/or using herbicide.
• Assist in installation of equipment and sample collection as part of annual environmental effects monitoring.
• Assist with tailings pond and water dam monitoring including reading of vibrating wire piezometers and inclinometers.
• The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Training & Experience

• Preference given to those who are working towards a technical or technological diploma or degree, in Engineering, Environmental or related sciences, plus previous  or relevant field experience, preferably related to the mining industry. Preference also given to local First Nations candidates.
• Requires good organizational skills with exceptional communication skills in oral, written and presentation mediums and can work to resolve issues independently or in a team setting with self-initiative to continually identify and improve on systems and procedures.
• Competency, through knowledge, training or experience, and familiarity with environmental and occupational health and safety regulatory requirements within the  Ontario jurisdiction would be a definite asset.
• Experience in process control systems, programmable logic controllers, minor mechanical repair/replacement of process equipment, instrumentation, electrical and computer software and systems/networks maintenance a definite asset.
• Training certificates for First Aid, Confined Space Entry, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Workplace Hazardous Information System, OHS Awareness Training, Pleasure Craft Operator Card, Fall Arrest, ATV Operation will be considered  for the position.
   

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in the field at the closed/decommissioned Equity Silver site and also within the water treatment plant but includes exposure to weather extremes and wildlife (including bears, moose, wolves, coyotes, lynx) for outside duties around the Tailings Facilities and water sampling.
• Confined space entry and fall arrest equipment use is a requirement.
• Requires lifting, and sorting of materials, equipment and boxes and possibly small equipment repair.
• Requires operation and interaction with general office computers and process control computers connected to Programmable Logic Controllers used at the water treatment plant. 
• Hearing and vision sufficient to distinguish various pitches/colours of warning alarms.
• Walking on rough, uneven, inclined or wet terrain for outdoor sampling/inspections and climbing stairs/ladders to access monitoring equipment and top of process tanks. 
• Wearing of personal protective equipment including hard hat, steel toe shoes, safety glasses, face shields, fall arrest harnesses and lanyards, respirators, earplugs or earmuffs, gloves or any other equipment to perform duties safely.
• Incumbent may be exposed to environmental hazards when completing repairs and maintenance on process piping or pumps and while investigating spills and collecting samples.