Overview

Assistance to Air Pollution Control Agencies

Regulatory and Strategic Analysis

Public Health Analysis

Energy Facility Licensing

Permitting Support

Compliance Support

Litigation Support

Vehicle & Engine Certification Assistance

Greenhouse Gas Assistance

  - Mobile Source Emissions

  - Stationary Source Emissions

Emission Testing Facilities

I/M Support Services

Modeling Capabilities & Data Analysis

Questions regarding Compliance Support?

Sierra Research has extensive experience providing compliance assistance, expert witness services, and strategy development for facilities subject to U.S. EPA, California Air Resources Board, and local agency enforcement actions. This support has ranged in complexity and formality from settlement negotiations with agency staff to administrative proceedings before hearing boards to expert technical support in state and U.S. District Court proceedings. Sierra frequently assists legal firms in defending against government enforcement actions, and also has lawyers on staff to address compliance issues.

Specific compliance assistance services include the following:

• Preparing emergency, interim, short-term, and regular variance petitions according to the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code;

• Representing clients at agency variance hearings before air pollution control district hearing boards throughout California;

• Providing expert witness testimony at agency variance hearings;

• Responding to Clean Air Act Section 114 Information Requests and Section 113 Administrative Orders issued by U.S. EPA;

• Providing expert witness services and technical support for clients involved in U.S. EPA enforcement actions before U.S. District Courts;

• Preparing petitions and supporting briefing materials before the U.S. EPA Environmental Appeals Board;

• Negotiating enforcement action settlements with U.S. EPA and other agencies using cost model calculations;

• Responding to agency Notices of Violation;

• Analyzing mitigating and aggravating circumstances in agency enforcement settlement proceedings;

• Preparing equipment breakdown reports and Title V deviation reports;

• Providing expert review of emissions test results used to support claimed violations of motor vehicle emissions standards; and

• Providing expert analysis and review of documentation being used to support claimed violations of California Air Resources Board regulations related to the sale of uncertified motor vehicles or aftermarket parts.