A Fellow of the Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA), Mr. Levy is a meteorologist with almost 35 years of experience in all managerial and technical phases of air quality. His focus has been on strategic air quality support (including global climate change), compliance and litigation support, air quality permitting, regulatory analysis, agency negotiation, and rule development. Mr. Levy’s areas of expertise also include atmospheric dispersion modeling, ambient air quality monitoring, and air pollutant emissions assessment. In addition to managing air quality projects, he has provided expert testimony and managed multi-million dollar, multi-disciplinary environmental assessments and analyses.
Mr. Levy began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as a meteorologist assigned to assist the Florida air quality regulatory program. In this capacity, he was the principal dispersion modeler for the State, assisted in permitting and special studies, and managed the ambient air quality monitoring program for the State.
Since 1977, Mr. Levy has been providing consulting services to natural resource, mining, energy, chemical, refining, food, and manufacturing clients in the private sector, as well as to military, intelligence, and regulatory agencies in the public sector. He has conducted many dispersion and modeling analyses, stack sampling and emissions quantification efforts, and multiple ambient air quality monitoring studies. Mr. Levy has provided strategic air quality support on a variety of issues including rule development and global climate change to many industrial and trade organization clients. Mr. Levy has provided expert testimony or expert consulting support in multiple venues, including before legislative bodies.
Mr. Levy is currently a member of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change’s Technical Work Group. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the Maryland Industrial Technology, the state’s largest environmental group for heavy industry. He was the General Chair of the AWMA’s 95th Annual Conference and Exhibition, which was attended by approximately 4,000 professionals. He is currently on AWMA’s Editorial Advisory Board. Mr. Levy has been on the faculty of Florida State University, an invited lecturer for the EPA Air Pollution Training Institute, and a faculty member of an AWMA/EPA Workshop Series. He has held numerous workshops and training sessions for Industry.
Supervised the design and operation of a multi-year ambient air quality and meteorological monitoring program at the Vulcan Materials Havre de Grace quarry. Monitored PM10 and silica, together with meteorological parameters. Sited and installed three monitoring sites. Negotiated with state agency and local citizens group. Provided expert testimony.
Assessed the air quality impact of a train derailment and fire in Alabama.
Analyzed the air quality impact of oil and gas operations in Yemen.
Designed and implemented Prevention of Significant Air Quality Deterioration (PSD) baseline ambient air quality monitoring programs for the Calvert Lignite Mine, Oxbow Lignite Mine, and Star Lake Coal Mine.
Designed and implemented PSD baseline ambient air quality monitoring program for the Monument Draw Steam Electric Station.
Supervised the renovation and operation of ongoing ambient air quality monitoring program at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. Program included two continuously monitoring trailers, with meteorological and multiple air pollutant monitoring instruments.
Analyzed causes of observed exceedances of annual ambient particulate matter standards at Deadman Wash Valley.
Prepared air quality analyses, regulatory analyses, emissions assessments, and/or dispersion modeling analyses for the following mining projects:
· Malakoff-Cayuga Lignite Mine
· Karnack-Woodlawn Lignite Project
· Choctaw Lignite Mining Project
· Oxbow Lignite Mine
· Calvert Lignite Mine
· South Hospah Coal Mine
· South Hallsville Lignite Mine
· Cole Creek Lignite Mine
· Proposed Milam County Mine
· Chicot-Pollux Lignite Mine
· Liberty Lignite Project
· Demery Lignite Project
· Jewitt Lignite Mine
· Star Lake Coal Mine
· Delta Star Lignite Mine
· Meeker Area Coal Mine
· Vanderrick Coal Mine
· Trinity Lignite Mine
· Cummins Creek Lignite Mine
· Dry Fork Coal Mine
· Coal Ridge Coal Mine No. 1
· Red Dog Zinc/Lead Mine
Managed analysis of potential adverse human health effects due to airborne emissions from Fayette Power Project and Cummins Creek Mine.
Provided strategic support and guidance in the development of the air quality management plan for the Dubai Municipality (DM), the first such plan ever developed in the United Arab Emirates. Developed recommendations for addressing complex issues associated with incorporating monitoring and emissions data into the plan. Assisted in preparing the plan and acted as liaison between representatives of DM and U.S. regulatory agencies. Also, assisted in training of DM personnel.
Evaluated the impact of fugitive emissions from surface coal mines on the operations of mine-mouth electric utility power plants. The results of this project, conducted on behalf of the Utility Air Regulatory Group, were used to help define prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) requirements for utilities.
Managed effort to evaluate MACT compliance strategy for a Fortune 200 pharmaceutical manufacturing company. This innovative effort included both an inward look at how individual plants have designed and implemented strategies to comply with various MACT standards, and an outward look at how other pharmaceutical corporations are meeting their MACT requirements. The latter viewpoint was established by conducting a double-blind survey of the nation’s major pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Provided technical assistance to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) as it worked with EPA to develop the pharmaceutical Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Standard. Conducted quality assurance and technical analyses of data originally collected by EPA. Formulated regulatory language. Participated in technical meetings with EPA and state agencies. Lectured at PhRMA workshops.
Managed the preparation of the Texas Acid Deposition Workplan on behalf of the Texas Energy & Natural Resources Advisory Council. This was the state government’s first attempt to assess the magnitude of acid deposition impacts on the Texas environment.
Managed multi-million-dollar environmental activities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, including a comprehensive multi-disciplinary environmental assessment at Space Launch Complex 3, exhaustive air toxics emissions inventory, air permitting, ambient air quality monitoring, and a source sampling and emissions characterization program. Directed the first historical recordation conducted under revised Historic American Engineering Record rules.
Managed evaluation of the air quality impacts associated with an incident at Sasol NA’s Baltimore facility. Participated in assessment of possible chemical reactions that led to the catastrophic over-pressurization of a reactor vessel and quantification of air pollutant emissions resulting from the explosion and subsequent fire. Assessed possible ambient air quality impacts of emissions. Negotiated with State regulatory personnel. Participated in public hearings.
Managed, on behalf of the Center for Environment and Energy (a regional utility trade association), a comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment of the sensitivity to acid deposition of various Western ecosystems. Assessed the impact on air, soils, geology, water, flora, and fauna. Conducted enhanced analyses of the three ecosystems identified as most likely to be affected by acid deposition.
Provided management oversight of permitting for the Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility, the then-largest LNG terminal and storage facility in the U.S. Permitting of major modifications to this existing facility was complicated by public concerns arising from the 9/11 attacks and by the sale of the facility during the permitting effort. Participated in agency negotiations and public meetings.
Managed the development of portions of the Title V permit applications for City Public Service of San Antonio. Prepared applications for multiple electric generating power plants and ancillary facilities. Also, prepared PSD permit applications and amendments for major expansion at Lake Calaveras facility.
Managed and quality assured risk assessment of air pollutant emissions from the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in the Mojave Desert. Identified sources of air pollutants and quantified emissions rates. Determined potential indoor exposures to air pollutants emitted to the atmosphere but re-entrained into the building air-handling system. Also, managed effort to inventory all toxic air pollutants emitted from the facility.
Managed complex, multi-disciplinary project for the Charleston Development Board to assess the impact of sulfur dioxide emissions on the flora and fauna of a coastal Class I area in South Carolina. Conducted detailed assessment of emissions in the area, flow of sulfur in the environment, and potential for harm to the spartina and other sea grasses.
Developed air-quality-related analyses and support for Chicago Bridge & Iron proposed deepwater crude oil terminal in Galveston, Texas. Also analyzed potential threat of explosion and other catastrophic events associated with proposed facility.
Assisted the Florida air pollution control program in formulating new regulations, (including the State’s first PSD rule), conducting the State air-quality modeling program, and providing meteorological expertise. Conducted modeling and other analyses of permit applications. Developed air quality maintenance plans. Managed operation of air quality monitoring program for State of Florida. Included monitor siting, assessment of data, and coordination with EPA on ambient monitoring issues.