Articles and Case Studies from Trinity Consultants

GHG quantification reporting and lifecycle assessment: does one size fit all?

Corporate and government entities have been developing and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories, some for well over a decade. The basis for developing these inventories has evolved from voluntary mechanisms (e.g., sustainability ...

Nov. 10, 2011 John P Fillo

Modeling emissions from offshore drilling

To regulate drilling activities proposed by oil and gas companies in the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico (GOM), governing agencies require the submittal and approval of certain plan documents before drilling activities can be initiated. For drilling ...

Nov. 10, 2011 Shreyas Erapalli, Laura Christensen

New air quality rules challenge oil & natural gas industry

EPA Administrator signed a suite of proposed new air regulations affecting both the Production/Processing and Transmission/Storage sectors of the oil and natural gas industry. The proposed rules mandate the use of emission controls as well as work ...

Jul. 28, 2011 Christi Wilson, Jessica Coleman

Dispersion modeling— New downwash calculations change the playing field

For many people, the terms “stack height” and “dispersion model” do not ring a bell. Others grapple with these terms as they can be challenging factors in the process of obtaining an air construction permit. Have you ever ...

Nov. 10, 2011 Angela Wanger, Kasi Dubbs

CSAPR - The new transport rule

The core of the new Transport Rule was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 48208), approximately one year after the main rule proposal (75 FR 45210) (covered in the Fall 2010 Environmental Quarterly, Federal Transport Rule — the ...

Aug. 8, 2011 Russell Bailey

Bar code functionality enhances EH&S data management

Last year a manufacturing company chose T3, a division of Trinity Consultants that implements EH&S information management solutions, to implement an EH&S management information system (EMIS) at three of its facilities. The manufacturer ...

Aug. 9, 2011

MRR deadlines and updates

The U.S. EPA has made several changes to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mandatory Reporting Rule (MRR) during the spring and summer of 2011. Reporters should be aware of the following reporting deadline and rule update. Annual reports covering calendar ...

Aug. 9, 2011 Aimee Andrews

New permitting requirements for sources in Indian country

In a June 10, 2011 signed rule (published in the Federal Register (FR) on July 1, 2011) , EPA finalized a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for “Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian Country.” The rules, originally proposed ...

Jun. 10, 2011 Aaron Day

States propose attainment designations for the new 1-hour So2 NAAQS

The U.S. EPA revised the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) on June 2, 2010 by implementing a new 1-hour standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb) (calculated as the three-year average of the 99th percentile ...

Jun. 2, 2011 John Colebrook

GHG reporting updates

The U.S. EPA’s regulation for reporting of greenhouse gases (GHG), or the Mandatory GHG Reporting Rule (40 CFR part 98), has undergone many changes since it was initially published on October 30, 2009. Key changes include the following: A ...

May 12, 2011 Aimee Andrews

Section 112(r) RMP deadline approaching

The Clean Air Act Section 112(r) Risk Management Program rule regulates the storage, handling and/or processing of specified toxic and flammable substances. Affected facilities must develop and register a Risk Management Plan (RMP) that includes a ...

Dec. 12, 2011

Accidental releases analysis for toxic aqueous solutions

Abstract As a result of the cluster rule for the control of the hazardous air pollutants, pulp and paper mills are in the process of further substituting chlorine with aqueous chlorine dioxide for their bleaching operations. In addition, ammonia ...

Dec. 12, 2011

Greenhouse gas reporting in the ethylene manufacturing sector

Abstract The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mandatory Reporting Rule (MRR), codified in Part 98 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, requires numerous manufacturing sectors including ethylene manufacturing plants in the U.S. to report actual GHG ...

Dec. 12, 2011

Avoid a challenge to your air permit - choose the right off-site meteorological data, presented at EUEC 2010

Modeling Requires Many Inputs To set the stage, you need: Elevation data Fence lines Receptor grids Building locations Building dimensions Stack coordinates Stack heights Stack diameters Exit temperatures Exit velocities Volume ...

Dec. 12, 2011

`An evaluation of aermod model sensitivity to variations in landuse characteristics,` presented at guideline on air quality models: next generation of models conference 2009

Abstract The development and release of the AERSURFACE landuse preprocessing program forAERMET/AERMOD has substantially changed the process for determining the landusecharacteristics (i.e. surface roughness, albedo, and Bowen ratio) that surround ...

Dec. 12, 2011

`Comparison of onsite and NWS meteorology data sets based on varying nearby landuse,` presented at guideline on air quality models: next generation of models conference 2009

Abstract For regulatory modeling conducted in the United States using AERMOD, the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the use of onsite measurements whereavailable or in the absence of onsite data five years of reliable, ...

Dec. 12, 2011

`Top 10 Things You Should Be Asking Your Dispersion Modeler Now,` presented at the 2008 FET Conference

Agenda Introduction to Modeling (short course) Top 10 List – Questions you should beasking your dispersion modeler Introduction to Modeling Definition Why Model? Types of Models AERMOD background Definition Dispersion ...

Dec. 13, 2011 Clay Raasch, Tony Schroeder, Angie Wanger

`Major Stationary Sources - What’s New, What’s Changing and What to Do About It,` presented at the 2006 PA Chamber Annual Environmental Laws and Regulations conference

Clean Air Mercury Rule(CAMR) Session Objectives Background on CAMR Rule NSPS & Cap-and-Trade Program Monitoring and Controlling HgEmissions Pennsylvania’s Proposed Hg Rule Clean Air Rules Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule Clean ...

Dec. 13, 2011 Jenna Glahn

`Refinery MACT II Compliance - Are We There Yet,` presented at the 2004 NPRA Environmental Conference

Introduction Refinery MACTII. 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart UUU, was published in Federal Register on April 12. 2002 by the U.S. Knvironmental Protection Agency (KPA). This rule, as a subpart of the National Kmission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants ...

Dec. 13, 2011 Hung-Ming (Sue) Sung, Pat Kittikul

What is Your Organization`s EHS Culture?

Each organization has a unique EHS culture. It is critical to understand and manage your organization’s EHS culture in order to maintain positive EHS performance. EHS performance is most often driven by employee actions and behaviors, which ...

Oct. 9, 2014