Debra J. Wolfe
Air Quality Specialist
Permitting and Compliance Division
Air Resources Management Bureau
Air Quality Policy and Planning Section
Background... Deb says that she is an eastern Montana farm girl from Malta. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies / Biology from the University of Great Falls. For six years before coming to DEQ, she specialized in commercial law and environmental litigation at Browning, Kaleczyc, Berry & Hoven, a Helena law firm.
Time at the DEQ... She has been with the department for 5 years.
Why the DEQ... Deb says that while she worked at the law firm, she sorted and analyzed prodigious volumes of data regarding environmental cleanup at superfund sites, drafted contracts, researched applicable law, and prepared facts for use in deposition and trial. She says. "I wanted to use my skills in a more active manner, serving the cause of responsible environmental regulation.
Job duties... Deb is the senior air quality specialist for the DEQ's Air Quality Policy & Planning section. She participates in regional planning bodies to develop policies for fire emissions and visibility protection. She says, "I serve as a liaison to the Montana / Idaho Smoke Management Group providing advice regarding Montana's regulatory structure, preparing the annual budget, and developing open burning policies. I also track and update rules submitted to the SIP."
Typical day... She says that her duties vary. When she was interviewed, she was preparing for next fiscal year's contracts that fund local area programs. She works with compliance people to account for all regulated sources in local areas and with fiscal people to properly allocate funds. She says," I check with monitoring people to account for all ambient monitors and locations; and I discuss necessary tasks with county staff."
Qualities needed for the job... Deb says that a role like hers consists predominantly of planning. She says that, "A planner must hold a comprehensive view of a regulatory scheme and understand the interests and contributions of each staff member, the public, and the regulated community to the whole." She also believes that excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. That's because "In my position, I often convert technical information into layperson-friendly, comprehensible text. I work with people from other sections of the Department and outside the Department to negotiate contracts for funding tasks related to local regulation of nonattainment areas and to implement a smoke management program." Deb also thinks that her legal background has provided her with a significant advantage in understanding rules, administrative process, and policy development.
She says, "I enjoy working at a job that matters with people who feel deeply about the mission of the Department. I work with dedicated people who care about the environment and work diligently and imaginatively to develop and implement rules, policies, and programs that result in smart, environmentally-friendly growth." Deb says that the DEQ Air Program consists of innovative, creative people who balance the health and livelihoods of the citizens in Montana as they model emissions, write permits and rules, test source compliance, and file documents. She says, "These are people who know they are working at a very important job that will never be finished and is unlikely to result in public accolade or material reward."
