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Health Risk Modeling

Ashworth Leininger Group’s health risk assessment (HRA) practice leverages our expertise in air toxics emissions inventory development, best available control technology for toxics (T-BACT) determination, and air dispersion modeling on behalf of industrial and regulatory clients.

Our Strengths

  • Develop defensible toxic air contaminant (TAC) emission inventories under the California Air Toxics Hot Spots Program (AB 2588);

  • Use Geographic Information System (GIS) to develop key input data for HRAs;

  • Perform air dispersion modeling consistent with EPA, ARB, and local air district modeling guidelines;

  • Execute health risk assessment models that use the source emission rates developed in the emission inventory task and the output of the air dispersion modeling to quantify potential health effects;

  • Prepare comprehensive HRA reports; and

  • Provide assistance in making T-BACT determinations and developing Risk Reduction Plans

Health Risk Modeling Project Examples

  • Air Dispersion Modeling: Performed preliminary air dispersion modeling for the potential expansion of an electric generating station. Designed a meteorological monitoring network to support refined complex terrain modeling and assisted in developing permitting strategies;

  • Refined Health Risk Assessment: Prepared refined health risk assessments to comply with AB 2588, the California air toxic "hot spots" program, for a variety of facilities in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern, and Monterey Counties, including a glass manufacturing plant, large fuel storage and distribution facilities, chemical plants, petroleum production facilities, a semiconductor manufacturing facility, a winery, and a major university;

  • Air Quality Impact Analysis: Managed air quality impact analysis task for an expansion project at a glass container manufacturer. Calculated operational emissions for the proposed expansion. Performed air dispersion modeling and health risk assessment for the project to demonstrate that impacts are below significance thresholds established by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Results of these analyses were incorporated into the EIR prepared by the city;

  • HRA and AQIA: Completed a HRA and criteria pollutant ambient air impact analysis for a large scale refinery modification project in southern California that included mobile and construction emission sources;

  • Accidental Release Modeling: Performed accidental release modeling of a variety of regulated toxic and flammable substances at a refinery. The offsite consequence analysis included worst-case releases and alternative release scenarios. Results were incorporated into the Risk Management Plans for the facility

Our Team

ALG’s dedicated modeling team includes geographers, environmental scientists, and engineers who have prepared and analyzed air modeling data for a wide range of industrial projects.

"For the past 15+ years the Ashworth Leininger Group (ALG) staff has provided proficient and professional Oil & Gas Environmental consulting services. Their comprehensive workforce expertise provides highly qualified levels of compliance, technical, project management and engineering related services.

They have been instrumental in our California and State-wide Operations extensive Air Programs to comply with all aspects of Air Quality Compliance Regulations including Permitting & Modeling, Emission Inventories, Source Testing, Title V Re-evaluations and all-encompassing ARB GHG Reporting."

- Environmental Coordinator, Major Oil and Gas Company

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