Air Quality Permitting
Air quality permitting can be a complicated and expensive process. At Zephyr, we simplify this task for our clients by focusing on their needs and providing only those services necessary to meet their objectives. The engineers and scientists at Zephyr have prepared more than 1,500 approved permit applications, permit amendments, permit exemption applications, and related studies over the past 30 years. Our permitting project experience includes the preparation of:

  • State minor source permit applications
  • Federal New Source Review (PSD and Non-attainment) permit applications
  • Title V operating permit applications
  • Exemption applications
  • Permitting strategies
  • Feasibility evaluations

Control Technology Evaluations
Zephyr's staff stays abreast of the latest emissions control technologies available to industry and routinely assists its clients in selecting the most appropriate technologies for controlling their emission sources. Zephyr provides the following services in this area:

  • Abatement equipment specification and conceptual design
  • Recommendations for modification of existing controls
  • Pollution prevention through process optimization and improvements
  • RACT, BACT, MACT, and LAER analyses
  • Input to regulatory agencies in the evaluation of emissions control strategies

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Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling
Zephyr's meteorologists are recognized experts in atmospheric dispersion modeling evaluations. We have developed, tested, and gained regulatory agency approval for model algorithms to simulate the dispersion of releases to the atmosphere from our clients' facilities. In addition, our meteorologists have published articles on atmospheric dispersion modeling techniques and applications and have taught college-level dispersion modeling courses. To maintain our capabilities as state-of-the-art, Zephyr staff members routinely attend and present papers at technical conferences. Zephyr's modeling professionals provide a variety of modeling services, including:

  • Accidental release and dense gas dispersion modeling
  • Building and structure wake effects evaluations
  • Good Engineering Practice stack height evaluations
  • Simple and complex terrain modeling
  • Toxics/health effects modeling
  • Hazardous release modeling
  • Line source and mobile source modeling
  • Radius-of-impact determinations
  • Federal and State regulation compliance modeling

Zephyr's mathematical modeling services typically are based on the use of EPA Guideline models, including ISCST3 and SCREEN3. In addition, we use other public domain models, such as SLAB and RMP-COMP, for specialized applications. We have been instrumental in the development and testing of AERMOD, the state-of-the-art dispersion model currently proposed by EPA for regulatory applications, and are experts in its use.

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Emissions Inventories
Zephyr's staff has prepared emission inventories for bulk fuels terminals, chemical manufacturing facilities, oil and gas facilities, electric generating stations, petroleum refineries, non-ferrous smelters, microelectronics manufacturing facilities, cement plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, food processing operations, general manufacturing facilities, and numerous other industries throughout the United States. These inventories have been used for annual state submittals, compliance tracking tools, strategic planning, Title V permit applications, and regulatory applicability analyses. In many instances, Zephyr has automated all or part of the inventory process to minimize extensive manual data entry and calculation.

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Emissions Banking and Trading
Banking and trading of volatile organic compounds (VOC), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions can be profitable and provide flexibility with applicable regulations. At Zephyr, we can assist you in generating, purchasing, selling, and using Emission Reduction Credits (ERC), Discrete Emission Reduction Credits (DERC), and Mass Emission Cap and Trade (MECT) allowances. Additionally, we can help you to meet the requirements of the Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compound (HRVOC) Cap and Trade Program. Our staff can also assist with questions about the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). Our experience in the Texas market consists of hundreds of generation, transfer, and use applications, including:

  • ERC and DERC generation and use applications
  • MECT and HRVOC allowance certifications and annual reports
  • Credit and allowance transfers

Climate Change Services
Tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions is a relatively new challenge for many companies. Typical reasons for doing so include:

  • Compliance with voluntary inventory reporting programs, such as the Department of Energy's;
  • Compliance with regulatory inventory reporting programs, such the State of California's and the European Union's;
  • Compliance with contractual cap and trade programs, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange;
  • Assessing business impacts of proposed regulatory cap and trade programs, such as those under review for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states region, and Texas; and
  • Reporting on continuous environmental improvement obligations, such as for ISO 14000 certifications, National Environmental Performance Track program membership, or corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship initiatives.

Whatever the driver, locale or industry, Zephyr has the expertise to prepare baseline and annual direct and indirect greenhouse gases emissions inventories using EPA and/or International Panel on Climate Change guidelines. We can also support cap and trade programs compliance, and development of regional, national and international emissions reductions strategies.

Visible Emissions (Opacity) Evaluations
Air quality permits often dictate that opacity measurements, expressed as the percentage of the emissions' ability to obscure an observer's view through an emissions plume, be taken by certified personnel. Zephyr employs a certified Opacity Reader in each of our three offices. These personnel are certified to read opacity and evaluate visible emissions in accordance with EPA Reference Test Methods 9 and 22, and provide the following visible emission monitoring services:

  • Determine source compliance

  • Satisfy air permit conditions

  • Identify problem sources

  • Support permitting efforts

  • Evaluate sources for litigation support

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