Ascent professionals possess extensive air quality management, analysis, and regulatory experience in both the public and private sectors, coupled with an advanced educational background and on-going training. We emphasize the importance of using cutting-edge analysis tools and technique for efficiency and the clear presentation of analysis data and results, along with developing effective and feasible solutions. Ascent’s air quality consulting services encompass a set of skills for assessing plan- and project-level impacts ranging from dispersion modeling and health risk assessments to mass emission estimations.

We offer additional expertise in air quality guidance, threshold of significance, analytical method, and reduction strategy development. Ascent’s air quality-related services include:

  • Development of analytical methods, emission reduction strategies, and thresholds
  • Technical analyses (mobile, stationary, and area source mass emissions and dispersion modeling; contour development; health risk and odor assessments)
  • Environmental impact analysis and mitigation
  • Construction (dust/asbestos) and operational mitigation plan/fee development
  • Permitting and emission inventories
  • Constraints and design-stage analyses
  • Federal Clean Air Act conformity applicability analyses and conformity determinations
  • Development of guidance for assessing air quality impacts for regulatory agencies, including CEQA guidelines

Our analyses are conducted in accordance with rules, regulations, and guidance from federal, regional, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Department of Transportation, California Air Resources Board, and air quality management and pollution control districts (Bay Area Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District). This includes the use of, but not limited to, the following: Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS), Emissions Factor Models (EMFAC, MOBILE), Road Construction Emissions Model, Direct Traffic Impact Model (DTIM), American Meteorological Society/EPA Regulatory Model (AERMOD), Industrial Source Complex (ISC), Line Source Dispersion Models (Caline/Cal3QHC), and Hot Spots Analysis and Reporting Program (HARP).