Apex Companies, LLCApex

A natural gas pipeline company needed to renew their Title V permit  for a compressor station in rural Indiana. Apex thoroughly reviewed the facility’s permit data to evaluate compliance under the current federal and state requirements. We prepared a streamlined permit renewal package that satisfied the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requirements. IDEM accepted our client’s renewal application without comment.

An automotive parts re-tooling client in Missouri wanted to consolidate its manufacturing facilities and required assistance with air permitting. Apex was able to work through historical permitting discrepancies  with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to re-permit the facility based on current equipment and operations. We conducted an equipment inventory, defined operating parameters, calculated potential emissions, and prepared permitting documentation, and we were able to help our client close  the facility without a fine or penalty and successfully re-distributed its equipment for consolidation. To complete the process, Apex secured the Synthetic Minor permit for the receiving facility.

Apex makes tracking progress towards emission reduction goals easy. From gathering data to performing calculations, to preparing forms and submitting reports, we’ve got our client’s emissions inventory needs covered. We provide these services for numerous crude oil and natural gas pipeline clients throughout the Midwest covering hundreds of miles of pipeline spanning over ten states.

A military client wanted to proceed with numerous construction, blast cleaning, and painting operations.  Not only did Apex develop a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) air permit amendment application and a Title V revision application, we were able to expedite this process with regulatory agencies.  Our work resulted in more than doubling the allowable emissions while maintaining site wide caps and material flexibility.  Because of our Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis, VOC controls were not required.  The result?  A cost savings to the client of $20-50 million over a 10-year period.

A leading power company planned to construct a 1,200 MW power plant in comprised of four gas-fired combined cycle turbines and associated equipment.  Apex performed a fatal flaw analysis evaluating the proposed site location and prepared the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) air permit application.  We worked with our client to develop the site layout, prepare emission rate calculations, and conduct the regulatory applicability analysis and Best Available Control Technology (BACT) review.  Apex worked with regulatory agencies to expedite the permit application review and negotiated permit provisions, and we collaborated with our client and the agency to respond to EPA comments.  Through our intense efforts, we were able to obtain the PDS permit in 10 months, enabling our client to begin construction ahead of schedule.

To ensure compliance with the state regulatory agency, a major refinery needed to submit a comprehensive air quality analysis (AQA) quantifying the impacts from refinery maintenance, startup, and shutdown (MSS) operations and routine refinery operations.  Apex prepared and submitted a comprehensive AQA that described the modeling approach and presented results.   Despite the regulatory agency requiring substantial revisions to AQAs submitted by various other consulting firms for this client, the AQA Apex submitted was approved with minimal comments and requests for additional information.

Providing reliable, low-cost electric power is the goal of many power generators.  A Fortune 500 power generation company wanted to upgrade their generating capacity by installing a new unit at one of their largest facilities.  The proposed design of the new unit set the environmental standard for clean pulverized coal-fueled electric generation.  Apex led the expert witness team for high profile hearings to support the state-of-the-art environmental emissions control technologies for the proposed new unit installation.  The air permit was approved based on the technical merits presented by the expert witness team.

An aerospace client was issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) by the EPA and assessed a $70,000 fine for having a regulated substance present at one of their facilities in greater than the threshold quantity and for not developing the required Risk Management Plan (RMP).  Apex conducted an independent review of the facility operations and the regulatory applicability.  We determined that the rule was only applicable to the substance at higher concentrations than used by our client at the facility, and we drafted and submitted a response to the EPA requesting that the violation and fine be dismissed.  Based on Apex’s response, the EPA completely dismissed the NOV and related fine.