Air Dispersion Modeling and Environmental Monitoring & Sampling Services

During the mid-1990s, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), retained Sullivan Environmental to assist in developing a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for coke oven operations in the Pittsburgh area.  Support included conducting meteorological studies, software development, and air modeling assistance. The SIP was approved as a model-based SIP for coke oven operations.

Furthermore, in 1993, Sullivan Environmental developed the current version of the EPA TOXST model.  Additionally, our firm was retained by the EPA after creating a successful prototype under contract with a significant chemical manufacturing organization. This model allows for a reduction in conservatism when modeling short-term exposures to air toxics from sources that emit on a variable or batch basis.

From 1997 to the present, the firm has been heavily involved with evaluating and managing exposures associated with pesticide use in the agricultural setting.  

Additionally, our staff has conducted numerous large-scale research studies comprising air sampling, meteorological sampling, and analysis. This includes air modeling analyses and evaluating measures to reduce exposures from applying agricultural fumigants. Sullivan Environmental has worked with the following fumigants: metam-sodium, chloropicrin, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, methyl bromide, 1,3-dichloropropene, and others.  

Additionally, this work has resulted in identifying methods to substantially reduce off-gassing rates and exposures for the significant alternatives to replace the widely used methyl bromide fumigant, which is being phased out as an ozone-depleting substance. Sullivan Environmental developed the Monte Carlo modeling system FEMS, which was approved by the EPA Science Advisory Panel (SAP) to evaluate buffer zones.