Incorporated in 1985 as a Virginia Corporation, Sullivan Environmental opened its doors for business in January of 1988. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Sullivan Environmental served primarily as an EPA contractor. Our staff was responsible for managing and conducting approximately 10 urban-scale air quality studies, with eight of these studies in U.S. metropolitan areas and three studies in Eastern Europe (Russia, Czech Republic, and Poland).

In 1987 and 1988, the staff of Sullivan Environmental provided extensive modeling support to the EPA Office of Solid Waste. This project was focused on evaluating exposures to metal releases from incineration. Modeling was conducted in 30 areas throughout the U.S. and methodology was developed to support EPA’s efforts in this area.

In 1989 during the EPA Kanawha Valley Study of Air Toxics, Sullivan Environmental developed the first prototype version of what was eventually named the EPA TOXST model. This model employed Monte Carlo methods to more realistically model acute exposures. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Hlinka were the principal analysts for the study initiated by the EPA Administrator, Lee Thomas, subsequent to the Bhopal tragedy in India. The primary area of that review was a cancer risk assessment associated with the major chemical industries in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia (Charleston area).

During the mid-1990’s, Sullivan Environmental was retained by Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) to provide assistance in the development of 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.

In 1993, Sullivan Environmental developed the current version of the EPA TOXST model. Our firm was retained by EPA after developing a successful prototype under contract to a major chemical manufacturing organization. This model provides the opportunity to reduce the degree of conservatism when modeling short-term exposures to air toxics from sources that emit on a variable or batch basis.

From 1997 to the present time, the firm has been heavily involved with evaluating and managing exposures associated with pesticide use in the agricultural setting. Our staff has been conducting numerous large scale research studies that are composed of air sampling, meteorological sampling and analysis. This includes air modeling analyses, and evaluating measures to reduce exposures from the application of the agricultural fumigants. Sullivan Environmental has worked with the following fumigants: metam-sodium, chloropicrin, dimethyl disulfide, furfural, methyl bromide, 1,3-dichloropropene, and others. This work has resulted in the identification of methods to substantially reduce off-gassing rates and exposures for the major 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.