District of Columbia Air Quality Analyses

We have been there from the beginning! Since the inception of the District of Columbia's AQA regulations, Applied Environmental, Inc. has been at the forefront performing AQA services and helping to keep District of Columbia development projects in compliance.

The 1-hour and 8-hour CO concentration data output generated from the models is compared with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to determine the impact of the project on the local community and the environment.

We have provided comprehensive AQA services for a variety of development projects including offices, condominiums, retail, universities, hospitals, embassies, and theaters since the implementation of the D.C. requirement in the late 1990s. In addition to preparing the report and supporting documentation for submission to the D.C. Department of Health, we can also coordinate the preparation of a traffic analysis, which is required as part of the AQA.

We maintain regular contact with the D.C. Department of Health to remain apprised of regulatory and administrative changes to the AQA preparation and review process. As a leader in this field, our experience enables us to create quality reports with prompt turnaround times for any development project in the District of Columbia that requires an AQA.

Applied Environmental, Inc. performs Air Quality Analyses (AQA) to fulfill the requirements of D.C.'s EISF. To perform the AQA, our personnel utilize the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality models that are approved by the D.C. Department of Health:

  • MOBILE6 is used to estimate annual local impacts of carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). MOBILE6 input is derived from local climate data, local vehicle fleet characteristics, and project-specific anticipated driving patterns.
  • CAL3QHCR is used to estimate worst-case hourly CO concentrations from mobile sources using input from MOBILE6, physical roadway and intersection parameters, and regional meteorological data.
  • SCREEN3 is used to estimate the magnitude and distance from the project at which the maximum hourly CO concentrations from vehicle parking facilities will be exhibited.

    • Contact Ilka Morris, Environmental Engineer, at (703) 648-0822 or e-mail