Conservation Enforcement Specialist 1, 2, or 3

State of Louisiana; Monroe (LA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Enforcement, Monroe District Office, in Louisiana is seeking an enforcement specialist to perform onsite inspections of oil and gas drilling rigs and ensure regulatory compliance. The role focuses on safeguarding drinking water, containment, and proper site restoration while coordinating with state and federal agencies.

Ideal candidates will have a background in petroleum regulation or related fields, with a university degree in science or engineering.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in petroleum exploration, production, or related natural resources enforcement or investigation.
• Bachelor’s degree in biological, physical, natural, geoscience, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, or nuclear science.

Responsibilities

• Performs onsite inspections of oil and gas drilling rigs and ensures proper identification and safety equipment.
• Inspects oilfield facilities for containment, fire hazards, leakage, and proper identification of wells and tanks.
• Observes pits and restoration work to ensure proper construction and compliance with environmental protections.
• Responds to crude oil, condensate, and saltwater spills and coordinates cleanup as needed.
• Witnesses plugging and abandonment of wells to ensure environmental protection and groundwater safety.
• Interfaces with federal/state agencies in investigations of improper discharges and environmental damage.
• Performs technical investigations of production facilities for hydrocarbon segregation and compliance.
• Investigates and resolves public complaints related to oilfield operations.

Skills

Communicating effectively

Accountability

Judgement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in natural/physical sciences or engineering

Job description

Office of Enforcement – Orders-Monroe District Office

The Office of Enforcement (OENF) is dedicated to ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting public and environmental interests through rigorous inspection programs, timely enforcement actions and transparent oversight. The Office emphasizes proactive monitoring, consistent regulatory enforcement and transparent reporting. Its operations are designed to uphold compliance standards, swiftly address violations and maintain trust and accountability within Louisiana’s regulated community.

This position performs onsite inspections of oil and gas drilling rigs to ensure that the well site is properly identified, that safety prevention equipment is properly installed and in working condition, that various casing strings as required by Statewide Order No. 29-B are properly cemented and tested in accordance therewith, that reserve pits utilized for containing drilling mud and other exploration and production waste are properly constructed and maintained in such a manner that surface pollution will not occur and that underground sources of drinking water are protected, and to notify the applicable District Office on a weekly basis of the status of said drilling operating in order that the Scout Report can be generated, such information contained therein being utilized by oil and gas industry personnel, trade organizations, landowners, etc. in their review of wells.

An ideal candidate should possess the following competencies:

• Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.


• Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to take ownership of actions, behaviors, performance, decisions, and outcomes.


• Making Accurate Judgements: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.

Three years of experience in petroleum exploration, petroleum production, petroleum gas and/or anhydrous ammonia handling or distribution, natural resources regulation, natural resources enforcement, law enforcement, or investigatory work; or A bachelor’s degree in a biological science, physical science, natural science, geoscience, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, or nuclear science.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

This position is located at the Monroe District Office of the Office of Enforcement and performs work in all areas of North Louisiana.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs onsite inspections of oil and gas drilling rigs to ensure that the well site is properly identified, that safety prevention equipment is properly installed and in working condition


• Inspects oilfield production and storage facilities to ensure that adequate containment structure I firewall is provided, to ensure that all tanks are free of leakage and have structural integrity, to ensure that firewall is free of debris and liquids, to ensure that facility area is maintained free of trash and debris or that other conditions which may constitute a fire hazard are not present, to ensure that no discharges of exploration and production waste have occurred or are presently ongoing, to ensure that all wells and tank batteries are properly identified, to ensure that proper looking and sealing devices are present on oil storage tanks and BS&W valves, to ensure that firewall does not contain improper bleeder which could possibly allow a discharge of exploration and production waste to natural drainage, and to ensure that all flow lines and vessels have structural integrity and are free of leakage, etc.


• Inspects reserve pits, burn pits, compressor station pits, natural gas processing plant pits, produced water pits, washout pits, well test pits, and emergency pits which are utilized in oilfield operations to ensure that all such pits are properly constructed


• Responds to notifications of crude oil, condensate, and/or saltwater spills; files appropriate reports and coordinates cleanup of same.


• Witnesses the plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells by operators to ensure that the procedures approved by the Petroleum Scientist Supervisor and/or Manager are complied with as denoted in the Work Permit in order to ensure protection of the environment and the underground source of drinking water.


• Responsible for monitoring and ensuring that all site restoration work is performed in accordance with procedures set forth in bid proposals awarded to oilfield site restoration contractors during site restoration of oilfield sites orphaned pursuant to the provisions of the Oilfield Site Restoration Law, LSA-R.S. 30:80 et seq,


• Witnesses and Files State Potential forms to document well tests for the purpose of assigning oil and gas allowables to producing wells


• Interfaces with field representatives of other federal and state agencies such as United States Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxation, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Louisiana State Police, local Sheriff's Offices, etc. in investigations concerning improper discharge of exploration and production waste and environmental damage resulting from said discharge, theft of oil and gas production equipment, theft of crude oil, etc.


• Performs technical investigations of oil and gas production facilities utilized for the commingling of hydrocarbons


• Investigates and resolves public complaints filed by private citizens concerning matters relative to oilfield operations, including, but not limited to, damage to surface property, illegal discharge of exploration and production oilfield waste to the environment, failure to maintain well sites/facilities, etc.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Conservation Enforcement Specialist 1, 2, or 3.

Work Schedule: Work hours are flexible.

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Human Resources

Department of Conservation and Energy

PO Box 94396

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9396

Email: [e-mail]