Air Toxics & Modeling

SWAPE has extensive experience conducting air dispersion modeling, ambient air testing, source testing, and odor analyses. We have conducted air pollution investigations and assessments for a wide variety sites and contaminants, such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and other criteria air pollutants (e.g., SO2, NOx, etc.). Our experience conducting assessments for cases in litigation spans more than a dozen major projects. We have conducted air dispersion modeling for numerous environmental litigation cases concerning emissions from manufacturing sites, oil refineries, natural gas production sites (fracking), pulp and paper mills, petroleum refineries, chemical plants, power plants, incinerators, landfills, compost facilities, food manufacturing, confined animal feeding operations, and oil spills.

SWAPE has extensive experience performing air dispersion modeling using the U.S. EPA software, AERMOD, and utilize the most current version of the Breeze AERMOD air quality modeling system. We also perform air modeling using other U.S. EPA-approved software packages, including AERSCREEN, ISC, SCREEN3, and other dispersion models. We have extensive experience utilizing air models for evaluating criteria air pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions from construction sites for purposes of CEQA and evaluating the adequacy of proposed mitigation actions.

Odor Control

SWAPE scientists have extensive experience conducting odor assessment projects and odor mitigation engineering studies for various industries, such as compost facilities, landfills, rendering plants, and food manufacturing. These efforts are led by Dr. Paul Rosenfeld, a principal scientist of SWAPE and an expert in the assessment of odors and engineering of mitigation technologies for mitigation of malodors. SWAPE has conducted audits and air sampling assessments at a variety of sites where chemical emissions cause odors in the surrounding community.

Nuisance odors are a common hindrance to the ongoing operation of many facilities and are also a considerable issue for municipalities, counties, and companies proposing new projects that involve potential fugitive odor emissions from their facilities. SWAPE has successfully provided consulting services for existing and proposed facilities, including permitting assistance, odor assessment, engineering of mitigation controls, and preparation of reports.

SWAPE also conducts odor assessments for Plaintiffs in litigation concerning fugitive emissions of odorous chemicals in their communities. We have completed projects on litigation cases involving odor for several projects such as chemical plants, landfills, compost facilities, natural gas production sites (fracking), food manufacturing, confined animal feeding operations, and oil spills. SWAPE has testified on several cases involving communities impacted by malodors.