1

Receive and assess the request for environmental information

1.1

Confirm and record the source, nature and priority of the customer’s request

1.2

Redirect the request to a more relevant person, if appropriate

1.3

Check authority/approval to release information by referring to enterprise procedures or relevant personnel

2

Prepare the response

2.1

Identify sources and/or locations of required information

2.2

Resolve any problems with accessing information in consultation with supervisor

2.3

Extract and copy the required information

2.4

Check that the information is accurate, complete and reliable and conforms with enterprise requirements

2.5

Address any information gaps or deficiencies by sourcing additional information or obtaining inputs from relevant personnel

2.6

Keep the customer informed of progress when it is not possible to answer their request within the agreed timeframe

3

Provide environmental information

3.1

Prepare correspondence or report using clear, concise language and in the specified format

3.2

Check/revise text to ensure that the intended meaning is not ambiguous

3.3

Check spelling, punctuation and grammar and correct any errors

3.4

Use the most appropriate communication method given the priority, cost and confidentiality involved and the customer’s facilities

3.5

Check that the information supplied meets the customer’s needs and, if not, take appropriate action

4

Record details of request and response

4.1

Record all details of the request and information supplied n accordance with enterprise procedures

4.2

Notify other relevant personnel of request and response in accordance with enterprise procedures

4.3

File/store records in the designated place in accordance with enterprise procedures

Required skills

Required skills include:

applying enterprise procedures for the receipt of information requests, release of information and record keeping

analysing and prioritising requests for information

locating and organising relevant information from a range of sources

providing information that is accurate, clear, unambiguous and meets the client’s needs

preparing written documents that are free from spelling, grammatical and formatting errors

seeking advice when requests for information are unclear or are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

listening actively and asking questions to clarify a client’s understanding

maintaining security and confidentiality of information in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintaining records

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

common sources of environmental information

environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles

site/project/program characteristics and the nature of activities

environmental legislative/regulatory requirements relevant to site/project/program within scope of responsibility

enterprise environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site/project/program within scope of responsibility

environmental management values, environmental issues, risks and impacts for site/project/program

enterprise procedures for the receipt of information requests, release of information and record keeping

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered by this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

following enterprise procedures for providing environmental information to customers

locating and supplying accurate, reliable information that meets the customer’s needs

providing authorised information using language, style and format that is readily understood

communicating information within the expected timeframe and confirming the client’s understanding.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS025003A Report environmental data

environmental monitoring units, such as the MSS024000A and MSS025000A series units of competency.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

site/project/program history

relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, strategies, procedures and checklists

access to a computer, internet, data sets, enterprise information management system and reports.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of environmental information provided by the candidate to a range of customers

feedback from supervisor and customers that the candidate consistently provides timely information which meets their needs

oral/written tests involving environmental management terms, principles, legislative/regulatory requirements, enterprise environmental management plans, policies and procedures.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, codes, policies, strategies, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

national strategies, such as:

National Water Quality Management Strategy

National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development

National Greenhouse Strategy

environmental management plans, and site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements

information about site processes and work schedules

information about emergency preparedness and response

monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks

sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soil)

job hazard analyses, safe work procedures, work method statements and material safety data sheets (MSDS)

enterprise procedures for the receipt of requests for information and release of information data and results

enterprise procedures for the confidentiality and security of enterprise information

Environmental information

Environmental information may include:

details of legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards, codes of practice, licence conditions, approvals and permits

enterprise environmental management plans, policies, strategies, procedures, required actions

site/project initial advice statements and risk/impact assessments

records of site consultations with interested parties

site/project environmental reports (e.g. weekly/monthly monitoring of air, water and noise)

flora and fauna survey results

environmental data sets, such as

satellite imagery and remote sensing data

geophysical, geochemical, geological, hydrological and meteorological data

ecological data, such as distribution of vegetation, fauna and pests

social science data, such as demographic and census information

land use data, zoning and property classifications

historical records and photographs

enterprise information about sites/projects/programs for stakeholders and interested parties

entries for enterprise website

cost, quantities and time estimation

contractual variations and claims

notification of environmental issues and problems

internal environmental audit/inspection findings

environmental training records

Customers

Customers may include:

internal customers, such as site environmental officer, environmental manager, construction manager, operations manager and project manager

external customers, such as regulatory authorities, government departments, suppliers, contractors, consulting engineers, scientists, planners and community groups

Sources of information

Sources of information may include:

enterprise intranet/information management system

contractors providing environmental services

government departments and agencies (e.g. environment, climate change, agriculture and mining)

regulatory authorities

utility authorities/companies (e.g. water, gas and electricity)

land title office and Valuer General

local government records

Geoscience Australia

Australian Social Science Data Archive

internet, library/archive collections, annual reports and community newsletters

media reports (e.g. TV, video, audio and photographs)

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health