Project Specifics

A new data center located in Mesa, Arizona, needed assistance in complying with air permitting requirements for the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. They looked to Geosyntec for support in obtaining the required air operating permit application and for continued compliance following permit issuance.

Geosyntec Scope of Services

Using the facility’s planned site layout and emission-source information, Geosyntec was able to accomplish the following:

• Identify potential sources of air pollution emissions and prepare emission calculations for the facility’s regulated air pollution sources, which include a large quantity of compression ignition emergency generators and multiple emergency fire pumps.
• Determine the maximum operating hours for the emission sources in order for the facility to remain below Title V permitting thresholds.
• Perform a regulatory applicability analysis to determine which local and federal air quality regulations apply to the facility.
• Conduct air dispersion modeling based on the planned facility layout to determine compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This task included preparing and submitting an air dispersion modeling protocol, conducting air dispersion modeling using AERMOD, and preparing and submitting an air dispersion modeling report.
• Prepare and submit a Non-Title V Air Permit application.
• Review the draft permit and provide comments to Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
• Prepare a compliance matrix and monthly checklist outlining the client’s monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements as required by the client’s air permit.
• Prepare and submit an operations and maintenance plan for the emergency generator engines.

Following issuance of the facility’s air permit, the client modified the planned facility layout. To continue to meet regulatory requirements, Geosyntec was retained to complete the following:

• Conduct additional air dispersion modeling to demonstrate that the new layout would not affect the facility’s compliance with the NAAQS, which also included preparing and submitting a new air dispersion modeling protocol and report.
• Prepare and submit a Non-Title V Permit Non-Minor Modification application.

Notable Accomplishments

In addition to our relationships with the regulatory agency, Geosyntec’s expertise in air permitting, air dispersion modeling, and air compliance helped the client obtain the appropriate operating permit and understand their air permitting obligations.

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