Source Environmental Sciences, Inc. services

Source prepares atmospheric dispersion modeling studies when required for air permit applications or upon request of its clients. These studies are performed to determine if harmful air quality impacts will occur either during routine plant operations or plant emergencies. Source maintains an extensive library of air modeling guidelines, textbooks; and manuals, as well as all EPA approved modeling codes and associated computer software. These modeling codes include standard and special purpose EPA regulatory models, state developed models, vehicle emission models, numerous screening models and various emergency release models. Current modeling information is always available for use by Source via a computer modem connection with the air modeling `bulletin board` of the U.S. EPA .

Accurate knowledge of a facility`s air emissions is important for regulatory purposes, for determining available emission offsets and for developing permitting strategies. During the past five years, Source has prepared nearly 200 air emission inventories (including the air emission sections of air permit applications and SARA Toxic Release Inventories). These inventories were for facilities ranging from very large chemical complexes to small manufacturing plants.

The Source staff can manage or perform ambient air monitoring for all criteria air pollutants, as well as for non-criteria and hazardous air pollutants. Source works with associated firms to set up and maintain continuous monitors in the field. On these projects, Source performs the data reduction and processing services by reducing data From strip chart recorders, as well as from digital data loggers. As part of its monitoring services, Source also performs community noise exposure studies by integrating sound level meters, meteorological equipment and data loggers. Statistical summaries, pollution roses and wind roses are also prepared from data collected during monitoring efforts.

An analysis of air emission control devices, called a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis, is required for most air permit applications. Through continuous review of pertinent literature, frequent contact with equipment suppliers and by use of the EPA `BACT Clearinghouse`, the environmental consultants with engineering degrees and other specialists at Source maintain up-to-date knowledge of the operations, costs and efficiency of all currently available air emission control equipment. The Source environmental consultants and scientists pride themselves on being ahead of other consultants and environmental agency personnel in their knowledge of new developments in air emission control technologies. Other engineering and consulting firms often use Source consultants with engineering degrees to prepare the BACT portion of their air permit applications.

SOURCE performs emission source testing using equipment and sampling teams located in Houston, Texas or by use of Tracer Technology sampling teams located in San Marcos, California, or by working with associated stack sampling firms. Source and its associates have performed stack sampling projects for numerous emission sources, including chemical plants, asphalt batch plants, power plants, cement plants, wood mills, incinerators, cogeneration facilities, refineries, smelters and electroplating plants.

Air quality risk assessments of airborne toxic chemical releases are performed by the Source air dispersion modeling staff. These assessments are performed as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act or upon requests from clients for emergency planning information. The risk assessment studies include hazard identification and vulnerability analyses by Source emergency response specialists and risk analyses using EPA approved air dispersion modeling procedures. The Source risk assessment procedures comply with the EPA risk assessment guidelines and the reports are presented in language, tables and figures which are tailored for easy understanding by the public.

SOURCE environmental consultants with engineering degrees and other specialists perform consulting services related to fugitive air emission monitoring. These services include establishing plant monitoring programs utilizing piping and instrumentation drawings (P&ID) or in-plant line tracing of those components that require monitoring, preparing plant monitoring plans, performing quality assurance of monitoring procedures and defining report formats, as well as assisting clients during agency audits and compliance meetings.