Air Quality Consulting and
Compliance Management
Navigating Complex Air Regulations With Confidence
Air quality regulations can be among the most challenging environmental regulations faced by the energy sector and chemical manufacturing industries. As more focus is given to technical issues and environmental stewardship regarding emissions and mitigation techniques that target methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), maintaining air quality compliance continues to increase in complexity.
As regulations evolve and become more restrictive, Altamira’s compliance experts and professional advisors are here to help you to ensure regulatory compliance.
Innovative Air Quality Consulting Services for Modern Challenges
Our range of inventive and flexible solutions helps clients address today’s most critical air quality challenges and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Air Quality Services
- Optical Gas Imaging (OGI/QOGI)
- Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
- Compliance Reporting
- Dispersion Modeling
- Risk Management Plans
- Annual Emission Inventories
- Compliance Auditing & Assurance Tracking
- LDAR Review, Manage and Auditing (Method 21)
- Permitting (NSR, NNSR, PSD, MSS, PBR, Title V, Major Source Construction, Minor Source Permitting)
- Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) Determinations
- Acid Rain Permit & Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Permits and Reporting
- GHG Inventory & Reporting
- Applicability Determination of Current or Proposed Air Quality Regulations (State, NSPS, NESHAP, MACT)
Navigate Complex Regulations with Expert Air Permitting Services
Streamlining Air Permit Compliance
Altamira offers extensive support in air permitting for compliance with the federal Clean Air Act and state-level environmental quality regulations. Our experts assist at every phase of the air permitting process with comprehensive services, including site-specific permitting strategies, timely permit application development and regulatory agency negotiations.
Advanced Insights into Air Permit Types and Requirements
Depending on your industry and your facility’s location, you may need to obtain different types of air quality permits in accordance with federal and state environmental agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These permits govern industrial sources that emit air pollutants, ensuring they meet compliance standards so air quality is not degraded.
We provide permitting services for the following types of permits:
- NSR (New Source Review): This regulatory mechanism oversees the construction or modification of new and existing sources of air pollutants that could potentially cause a substantial increase in emissions. This permit applies to new or modified facilities such as factories or power plants.
- NNSR (Non-Attainment New Source Review): An NNSR permit governs new or modified pollution sources in regions failing to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The goal is to prevent worsening air quality.
- PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration): In regions that meet the NAAQS, sources that emit major air pollutants must obtain this permit to avert degradation in locales with pristine air quality.
- MSS (Maintenance, Startup and Shutdown): These permits authorize emissions related to planned maintenance or activities that occur outside of daily operations that could exceed normal limits.
- PBR (Permit by Rule): A PBR streamlines permitting for facility activities and operations that produce emissions but are not considered major sources of environmental contaminants, such as renewable energy projects or gasoline dispensing facilities.
- Title V: Title V standardizes the permitting process and consolidates all air quality requirements for a facility into a single permit, including emission restrictions, monitoring protocols, recordkeeping and reporting prerequisites. Any source of actual or potential emissions above or at the major source threshold must obtain these legal documents.
- Major Source Construction: Those planning the construction of a new, large-scale facility with the potential to emit significant levels of air pollutants must obtain this permit to ensure adherence to air quality statutes. It’s often part of a broader New Source Review program.
- Minor Source Permitting: Smaller pollution sources that emit lower levels of air contaminant can pursue these permits, as they are often subject to less stringent air quality mandates.
Industries We Serve in Air Quality Compliance Management
If your facilities generate air pollutants during their operations, our air quality consulting and support services can help your organization maintain air quality standards and protect public health and the environment.
Altamira has served a wide range of industries, including:
- Petrochemical and Chemical Plants
- Coal and Natural Gas Fired Power Plants
- Oil & Gas Midstream Facilities
- Oil & Gas Production
- Crude Terminals
- Petroleum Refineries
- Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities
Gain a Competitive Advantage With Altamira
When you choose Altamira, you gain a value-driven, long-term partner to help you overcome every air quality challenge your organization may face. As a leading environmental and engineering consulting company, we offer unique benefits that exceed our client’s expectations:
- Experienced Team: Our highly skilled team brings fresh insight, creative problem-solving and practical experience to ensure you remain current and compliant with the latest air quality standards.
- Regulatory Compliance Knowledge: Our air quality professionals have vast experience with federal and state regulations, including proposed and pending rules. We apply that knowledge to support our clients in everything from routine compliance to planning and permitting of capital projects.
- Agile and Innovative Solutions: We offer strategic planning throughout the project life cycle by proactively managing permitting lead times, reducing long-term budgets and avoiding critical mistakes that delay start dates or result in noncompliance.
For more details, download our Air Quality Compliance Management brochure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality Consulting and
Compliance
Exceeding permit limits constitutes a violation and must be reported to the relevant regulatory agency within defined timeframes. Consequences can include notices of violation, compliance orders, administrative penalties and mandatory corrective actions. Proactive compliance monitoring and a strong internal reporting culture help facilities identify and address exceedances before they escalate to enforcement.
Altamira supports clients through the full air quality compliance lifecycle, including emissions inventory development, permit applications, compliance gap assessments, LDAR program development and monitoring, stack testing coordination, regulatory agency liaison and annual emission report preparation. Their team is experienced with TCEQ, Oklahoma DEQ, Louisiana LDEQ and other Gulf Coast and Midwest state air programs.
Common challenges include managing fugitive emissions from equipment leaks via LDAR programs, calculating and reporting emissions from combustion sources such as flares, engines and heaters, complying with NSPS Subpart OOOO and OOOOa for new and modified sources, navigating state permit thresholds and staying current with EPA’s increasingly stringent oil and gas air rules.
Facilities may need Title V operating permits for major sources, minor source permits, construction permits for new or modified equipment and general operating permits. The permit type depends on the facility’s emission levels, location relative to non-attainment areas and the types of equipment and processes involved. Obtaining and maintaining the correct permits is essential to legal operation.
Air quality compliance refers to meeting federal and state regulations governing air pollutant emissions from industrial sources. Key frameworks include the Clean Air Act (CAA), National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and state-specific permitting requirements. Compliance typically requires emission inventories, permitting, monitoring, recordkeeping and periodic reporting.
Choose Altamira for All of
Your Air Quality Consulting Needs
Your Air Quality Consulting Needs
With air quality regulations becoming more complex each year, you need air quality consultants with the technical experience to navigate compliance standards. Altamira’s experienced staff have the expertise you need. Speak to an expert today.
