Ambient Air Quality Services, Inc. 
Offering a full range of air quality consulting services
Air Quality Permitting & Compliance
Air Quality Modeling Air Quality Meteorological Monitoring Air Toxics Mapping Risk Management Engineering Design and Construction Management Landfill Services 
We attract and hiring some of the most talented & experienced air quality professionals in the industry.
Louis M. Militana, QEP –Principal Consultant
Robert A. Karpovich - Principal Consultant Philip J. Samulewicz, P.E. - Principal Consultant Sharon H. Gill - Principal Consultant Richard B. Ruch, Jr., QEP - Principal Consultant Charles P. Steiner, J.D., P.E. – Principal Engineer Robert S. Wojewodzki, P.E. Principal Engineer/Petrochemical Services |
Ambient Air Quality Services, Inc.AAQS is a total service air quality consulting firm specializing in providing senior experienced technical staff at extremely competitive costs. At AAQS, our name is our expertise. Our team of experienced air pollution meteorologists and engineers provide sophisticated air quality modeling, ambient air monitoring services, and air pollution control engineering for industry and government. AAQS has been providing air quality and meteorological monitoring solutions to industry since 1997. AAQS was established in 1997 to provide industry with air quality and meteorological monitoring solutions and equipment. AAQS, at that time, provided sophisticated monitoring systems and experienced air pollution meteorologists knowledgeable in the input requirements of air quality models and the design, operation and auditing of US EPA PSD pre-construction ambient monitoring programs. In 2004, AAQS refocused and expanded our services to our clients by adding several key individuals with broad skills and capabilities in air quality permitting, modeling, monitoring and air pollution control engineering. As a result, AAQS has become a total service air quality consulting firm specializing in providing senior experienced technical staff at extremely competitive costs.
ServicesAAQS, with its talented and experienced staff, is able to offer our clients complete air quality compliance services, ranging from project planning through startup and operation. These services include air quality modeling, ambient monitoring, air quality permitting, air pollution control systems design, compliance emission testing and routine compliance reporting. Our staff of meteorologists and engineers has over 100 years of combined experience designing, implementing and performing all aspects of ambient air quality studies. AAQS is the only air quality consulting firm with three members serving as Technical Experts for the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Greenhouse Gas Verification/Validation Body (GHG VVB) Accreditation program. Through this role as GHG Technical Experts, AAQS has gained extensive knowledge and experience in GHG verification procedures and requirements and therefore is able to provide high-level GHG management consulting services to our clients. StaffAAQS prides itself on attracting and hiring some of the most talented and experienced air quality professionals in the industry. All of our staff members have either a secondary degree in an air pollution related field or have earned professional licenses/certifications/qualifications. Most of our staff members have earned both. This additional education and training of our staff separates us from most of the other air quality consulting companies. All are members of professional/technical organizations and have published technical articles and/or have given presentations at various professional/technical conferences. Additionally, all staff members are hands-on actively working with and preparing work products for our clients, which provides further cost savings to our clients. AAQS is the only air quality consulting firm with three members serving as Technical Experts for the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Greenhouse Gas Verification/Validation Body Accreditation program. Air Quality Permitting & ComplianceAAQS’s air quality engineers and scientists possess a unique integrated knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations, engineering/scientific disciplines and pollution control technologies that enable us to prepare and obtain more flexible air permits for our clients with permit conditions that are reasonable and achievable. Our vast experience in air quality permitting includes the following areas:
Air Quality Modeling
Our staff project experience includes some of the following:
Additionally, AAQS has acquired an extensive database of meteorological surface, upper air data and MM4/MM5 data enabling rapid data processing and preparation of CALMET data files. AAQS has 3 years of MM4/MM5 data for the entire continental United States. 
Air Quality Meteorological Monitoring
Sample Weather Web Sites Developed: AAQS is a Campbell Scientific Integrator. Visit the Campbell Scientific web site at www.campbellsci.com
Air ToxicsAir toxics or hazardous pollutants monitoring is a specialized subset of ambient air quality monitoring and requires specialized equipment and analysis techniques. US EPA has developed specific guidance and techniques to perform air toxics monitoring. The AAQS staff is intimately familiar with this guidance and has extensive experience in the following sampling methods:
The AAQS staff has used these sampling methods in long-term and short-term monitoring programs for fence line sampling at hazardous waste sites, pre- and post-operational programs for resource recovery facilities and active industrial facilities. MappingAAQS incorporates mapping software as a tool for analyzing and presenting air quality modeling and monitoring data. Mapping lends itself particularly well to air quality modeling analyses and affords numerous advantages to standard database or contouring software. AAQS uses mapping techniques to perform the following:
Risk ManagementThe AAQS staff has assisted various chemical, food, and power generating clients in developing and maintaining Risk Management Plans that meet both Federal and State requirements. AAQS can compliment plant personnel in the development and maintenance of the plans or can provide full service to our clients if internal resources are not available. AAQS staff’s relationships with State and Federal regulators, combined with experience in emergency response, make AAQS uniquely qualified to perform these activities. The professionals at AAQS can assist you with all aspects of the Risk Management Program:
By developing a strong Risk Management Plan, not only do our clients meet the regulatory requirements, but also they reduce the risk to plant personnel and surrounding stake holders. AAQS understands the risks involved in the use of extremely hazardous substances and can assist in cost effective means to minimize the liabilities of our clients. AAQS works with the client as a partner to achieve the following:
Green House Gas ManagementAAQS is a leader in GHG Management services being the only consulting firm with three technical experts for the ANSI GHG VVB Accreditation Program. By virtue of our involvement in the Accreditation program, AAQS has extensive experience with the verification/validation and standards and requirements for GHG emission inventories reporting and GHG reduction projects. Our knowledge and experience include ISO14064-1,14064-2 and 14064-3, 14065, Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) and The Climate Registry (TCR). Additionally, two of our staff members are active members of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC 207 which develops U.S. positions on the evolving Greenhouse Gas Standards and enables AAQS to stay abreast of future GHG requirements. Some of our GHG Management services include:
Engineering Design and Construction ManagementTo complete a successful pollution control project, both the expertise in permitting issues and the capability to perform detailed engineering design and construction management tasks are necessities. AAQS is a unique company in that we excel in both of these attributes. Using a full service engineering approach, AAQS has performed numerous successful design/build solutions for environmental control projects. A full service permitting-engineering approach offers the client a multitude of benefits that contribute directly to the bottom line. These advantages include the following:
Engineering Design and Construction Management - EngineeringGeneration of Drawings
Engineering Design and Construction Management - DesignIndustrial Ventilation Systems for Air Emission Compliance
Engineering Design and Construction Management - FabricationVentilation Systems
Engineering Design and Construction Management - InstallationIndustrial Ventilation Systems for Air Emission Compliance
Landfill ServicesAmbient Air Quality Services, Inc. (AAQS) has a staff of meteorologists with experience helping landfills meet the DEP guidance for meteorological monitoring at landfill. AAQS provides Site Selection, Installation, Audits, Reporting, Web Display, and Wind Corridor services to help you successfully solve your pollution control needs. Landfill Services - Meteorological Tower Site SelectionMet towers can be sited virtually anywhere. The lack of power and communications is not a problem with a selected site. AAQS has installed and successfully operated landfill monitoring systems powered by solar panels. Communications is achieved using low cost license-free radio systems. Monitoring locations can be on capped landfill areas with no power and no hardwire or phone system. Data communications can also be achieved using a cellar telephone. Site selection is very important for the proper collection of meteorological data. EPA-454/R-99-005 defines the standard exposure height of wind instruments over level, open terrain as 10 meters above the ground. Open terrain is defined as “the distance between the instrument and any obstruction is at least ten times the height of that obstruction.” Obstructions can be man-made or natural (trees, hills). Siting of equipment at landfills should meet the specifications in the guidance document, unless that is impossible to achieve at the landfill. Sensors placed on top of a building can be affected by aerodynamic effects of the structure. Wind sensors should be placed on buildings only as a last resort. As a rule of thumb, the sensors should be placed 2.5 times the height of the building.
Landfill Services - InstallationAAQS meteorologists have over 25 years of experience in the installation of meteorological equipment. AAQS can provide guidance on equipment that has passed the test of time. Landfill Services - Meteorological Performance AuditsTypically, onsite monitoring audits should be performed within 30 days of system startup and on a bi-annual basis (once every six months). The performance audit should challenge the meteorological sensors with known values or compare sensor responses with values from sensors with a known accuracy. All audit devices should be traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards whenever possible. AAQS sends its audit equipment for re-certification and re-calibration on an annual basis. Each AAQS performance audit will include the following audit techniques:
Landfill Services - Reporting
Landfill Services - Web DisplayMany of AAQS’s landfill clients have taken the proactive approach of providing the data collected on a web site. This approach is good for community relations and provides a valuable service to the community. In addition, if an odor complaint is received, site personnel with web enabled phones can view the data without going onsite to print and review the data. This is especially useful if the complaint is received after hours. Data is updated on the web at set intervals. A separate web site can be developed such as yourlandfillweather.com so the data are not incorporated into your landfill web site. Links to sample web sites AAQS has developed are listed below. Landfill Services - Wind Corridor
Wind Corridor is a GIS application that will plot a wind channel onto a MapInfo Professional map. Wind Corridor operates in a manual mode or in an automatic mode. In the automatic mode, Wind Corridor checks the status of a meteorological file, and when changed, a new wind corridor is generated. In manual mode, the user enters the meteorological parameters or supplies a file to generate a wind corridor. Wind Corridor can be configured to work with other dataloggers that can produce a comma delimited or text output files. Wind Corridor is particularly useful for assessing odor complaints. By using the built-in features, a user can select the location of an odor complaint and back-flow the winds to see if they crossed your location. Wind Corridor can be set to draw in the direction the winds are flowing towards or from which the wind is blowing. In an emergency, Wind Corridor can provide a first cut view of areas that are being affected. Wind Corridor also displays the time of the corridor, wind direction, wind speed, standard deviation, and temperature (if available) on the map. Wind Corridor is not a dispersion model and does not provide any estimates of concentration. The projection of the maps must be a geographic system (an Earth Coordinate system i.e. Longitude / Latitude, UTM, State Plane, etc.). Wind Corridor will not work correctly for a Non-Earth coordinate system. The system requires the Windows version of MapInfo Professional® which is included in the price of the software. Louis M. Militana, QEP - Project DirectorMr. Militana has a Master of Science in Meteorology and has over 26 years of experience in air quality management consulting for industry. He is the former Air Quality Department Manger for WESTON's West Chester, PA, Air Quality Department and Air Quality Practice Leader for UAI Environmental, Inc. Mr. Militana has performed and managed numerous air quality permitting projects including New Source Review (NSR) permits, PSD permits, construction permits and Title V Operating permits for electric utilities, proposed cogeneration facilities, glass manufacturing facilities and hazardous waste incinerators. Mr. Militana has also performed and managed dispersion modeling and ambient air quality analysis projects in support of Environment Impact Statements (EIS), Final Safety and Analysis Reports (FSAR), air quality permits and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) applications. Robert A. Karpovich - Technical ManagerMr. Karpovich has a Master of Science in Environmental Science and has over 32 years of experience in environmental air quality consulting for industry and government. Mr. Karpovich’s expertise includes monitoring, modeling, database development, and GIS. He has designed, installed, and operated over 40 meteorological and air quality monitoring stations. He has performed air quality and air toxics modeling studies using ISC, CTDM, AERMOD, and AERMET and performed full CALPUFF visibility modeling studies. Using his experience in environmental database management, Mr. Karpovich has saved clients requiring extensive air quality dispersion and visibility impact analyses significant amounts of time and money. Mr. Karpovich has also developed GIS programs that allow the combining of real time environmental data with GIS software. Mr. Karpovich is a former advisory board member of Drexel University's School of Environmental Science, Engineering and Policy and a current board member of Philadelphia High School Academies, Inc. environmental high school. Philip J. Samulewicz, P.E. - Senior Project ManagerMr. Samulewicz has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and has over 15 years experience in environmental management consulting and industry. Mr. Samulewicz’ expertise includes coordination of solutions to client’s environmental and engineering needs and technical expertise in managing environmental design projects for a wide array of industrial clients including chemical, pharmaceutical, power generation, automotive and semiconductor industries with emphasis in providing turnkey environmental solutions for industrial clients. Mr. Samulewicz has expertise in air permitting and risk management planning for a wide array of industries. He is also experienced in storm water management, industrial wastewater, spill containment, and sub-surface contamination remediation. Sharon H. Gill - Project LeaderMs. Gill has a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science and has over 12 years of experience in environmental management consulting for industry. Ms. Gill is an air quality specialist with emphases on air permitting, modeling, emissions inventory development, and meteorology. She has completed multiple Title V applications for utilities in Delaware and Pennsylvania and Title V renewals for utilities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. Ms. Gill has also performed air quality and air toxics modeling studies using ISCST3, AERMOD, ISC3-PRIME, and CALPUFF models. Richard B. Ruch, Jr., QEP - Project DirectorMr. Ruch has a Master of Science in Meteorology and has over 30 years of experience in air quality management consulting. His air quality expertise includes permitting, modeling, monitoring, emission/risk characterization and control system evaluations. He has managed or directed alternative fuels studies, site development/regulatory assessment studies, due-diligence/compliance audits, multi-pathway risk assessments, process safety/risk management planning, industrial hygiene studies, landfill gas recovery, storm water management, spill prevention and sediment/erosion control plans and environmental data management. Mr. Ruch has also been involved in regulatory negotiations for establishing permit requirements, permit conditions and enforcement actions and has provided expert witness testimony and support as part of enforcement action or in civil litigation. Charles P. Steiner, P.E. - Project DirectorMr. Steiner is a Professional Engineer in Chemical Engineering, an attorney and has over 20 years of experience in environmental permitting, air quality management, regulatory affairs consulting, environmental auditing, EMS development, and environmental training. He has specific expertise in identifying process and wastewater treatment options for meeting National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), which mandate Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) for polymer production facilities. Mr. Steiner has also provided environmental compliance consulting services to the specialty chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Services have included estimation of VOC and HAP emissions from batch pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, such as batch reactors, dryers, centrifuges, liquid/liquid extraction units, vacuum distillation units, filters and storage tanks. Robert S. Wojewodzki, P.E. - Principal Engineer/Petrochemical ServicesRobert S. Wojewodzki is a Professional Engineer in Chemical Engineering and has over 25 years of experience working for several major oil refining companies as a Senior Staff Engineer and Environmental Department Manager. Responsibilities during that time included Air Quality Construction permitting for new facilities, CEM compliance reporting, evaluating and reviewing new and evolving federal regulatory applicability determinations for refineries and their associated petrochemical complexes, compliance determinations, and report development. Mr. Wojewodzki has served on numerous state committees and Governors Task forces to help develop new rules and regulations on behalf of the regulated community. He is a Subject Matter Expert in several areas including air permit compliance issues, PSD/NSR issues, MACT issues, BWON issues, SOCMI HON issues, NSPS (e.g. Subpart J/Ja) issues and Title V permitting, compliance and reporting. |
Our air pollution meteorologists have extensive experience performing air quality modeling analyses to support NSR/PSD Permit applications, Health Risk Assessments, risk management planning, odor assessments, stack height optimization analyses, Supplemental Environmental Programs (SEP), air pathway analyses for superfund sites and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Our staff has extensive experience with US EPA modeling guidance and air quality models, including the ISC3, AERMOD, CALMET/CALPUFF, CTDMPLUS, CTSCREEN, ALOHA, TRACE and SLAB models.
AAQS staff is experienced in the design and operation of air quality and meteorological monitoring programs. These programs have been utilized to characterize existing or background conditions, support PSD preconstruction monitoring, collect representative meteorological data for air quality modeling studies and support the operations of site remediations over a period of 4 to 12 months and multi-year programs of 3 to 5 years. These monitoring programs cover a range of configurations including Doppler SODAR systems, tall meteorological towers with multiple levels of sensors, continuous monitoring of SO2, NOx, O3, CO and periodic sampling for TSP and PM10.
The design and operation of these monitoring programs include developing monitoring plans, standard operating procedures, and performing system and performance audits. AAQS staff is experienced in all of these components of an air quality and meteorological monitoring program.
AAQS provides data review services to landfills. An AAQS meteorologist reviews the data on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis for possible problems. A monthly report of the data is generated that contains data recovery, missing data report, climatological summary information (maximum, minimums, etc), and wind roses.