Eastern Technical Associates
is recognized as the authority in opacity consulting. Our experience and extensive knowledge of
opacity issues allows us to provide
a broad scope of services to satisfy
our clients' needs.

Please follow the links below for
more information on ETA's
consulting services:

• Training services
• Visible emission site plans and audits
• VEO form audits
• Visible emission observations (smoke readings)
• Visible emission certification program audits
• Opacity litigation support

GOOD MANAGEMENT REQUIRES every Visible Emissions Training and Certification activity be periodically reviewed and evaluated in order to assess effectiveness. Since the certification process is the foundation of the opacity observation, audits should be conducted to assure that any observer generating opacity data be duly certified.

Smoke generators are complex machines subject to specific design and operating parameters necessary for valid certifications.

ETA has developed a detailed evaluation form as an aid to conducting the evaluation of a visible emissions training program in a systematic manner. This form has been used to evaluate numerous VE training programs for ETA and state agencies for managerial purposes. It has also been used in litigation.

The audit covers every aspect of ETA's training programs:
• Staff qualifications
• Lecture content
• Equipment
• Field procedures
• Forms
• Recordkeeping
• Techniques
• Quality assurance

There are mandatory requirements for many aspects of the training and certification program stipulated by the US EPA in Reference Method 9. These items are considered the minimal program content and criteria necessary for a training program. Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources (Method 9) was published in the Federal Register (40 CFR 60), Volume 39, No. 219 on November 12, 1974. Additional items, while not regulatory requirements, make up the necessary elements of an effective VE training program. They can be found in EPA-600/4-77-027b, Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems: Volume III. Stationary Source Specific Methods, Addition Section 3.12 and guideline documents EPA-340/1-75-007 and EPA-650/4-74005-i.

Senior visible emissions trainers, utilizing the form as an evaluation aid, can ensure thorough program coverage. The form is incorporated into the detailed narrative evaluation report that more fully describes the findings and conveys conclusions and recommendations.

Contact ETA

If your company, agency, or legal staff is interested in ETA's consulting support and services,
please contact Mike Lunsford or Jody Monk at (919) 878-3188.