The Executive: Lisa Kay, President, Alta Environmental

By Samantha Mehlinger, Editor- January 14, 2019

​(Editor’s note: The Executive is a new series profiling presidents or CEOs of growing local firms. Lisa Kay has served as president of Long Beach-based Alta Environmental for five years, and has 25 years of experience in the field of environmental consulting. Alta operates offices in Oceanside, Irvine and Van Nuys, and has 50 employees. The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.)

Message from Alta’s President Lisa Kay

Thank you to our clients and friends for your trust and partnership! At Alta we work with you to ensure your businesses and communities are clean, strong and safe. As we look ahead to 2019, we will continue to keep you abreast of environmental, health and safety regulations and trends. At Alta we track the regulations and are actively involved in regulatory development on behalf of our clients.

We at Alta Environmental are pleased to announce that Cecile Felsher has become a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).

Cecile Felsher has more than 10 years of experience in environmental, health and safety services. Cecile has been providing industrial hygiene services such as air sampling, ergonomic assessments, PPE assessment, program development and implementation and training.
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Alta’s EHS & Air practice is here to serve your needs. Contact us at info@altaenviron.com, contact Cecile at Cecile.Felsher@altaenviron.com or (888) 608-3010.

Eight Simple Steps to Improve Conditions When No Obvious Air Quality Problem is Identified

Fires, Ozone Levels, Particulate Levels, Santa Ana Winds and Global Warming - we hear much about these outdoor pollutants and all of these do affect indoor air quality. However, these are not ordinary conditions but extraordinary conditions that have a major effect on the quality of the air inside a home, school or public building.

​Indoor air quality may also be affected in a subtle manner by very ordinary conditions as well. The USEPA has compiled a checklist for facility managers to review the various factors that may have a negative impact on the air quality inside a building. This checklist, originally developed for use in schools, is long (5 pages) and not necessarily user friendly.

Quick Guide to Compliance

A hazardous waste tank assessment is required by local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) to certify the acceptable conditions of hazardous waste storage containers, secondary containment, and ancillary equipment based on the requirements in 22 CCR §66265.190-200. This flyer is intended to assist large quantity generators of hazardous waste on how to achieve and/or remain in compliance with the hazardous waste tank requirements.

Climate change resilience in a changing environment

By Michelle Hallack, PhD, Water Resources Engineer

​The recent multi-year drought (2011-2016) impacted groundwater availability and water supply. In 2015 alone up to 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in losses was reported. As a result, California is actively seeking alternative water resources and aggressively promoting water conservation. Numerous agencies, organizations and companies have implemented sustainable approaches including storm water capturing and use in urban areas as an alternative. In addition, coping with drought under climate change conditions is challenging and groundwater is becoming the most prevailing reserve. While, climate change is an urgent global issue, regional and local impacts threaten the success and longevity of planning and management actions, that trigger a broad range of effects to water resources resulting in increasing runoff, pollutant loads, more frequent multi-year/seasonal droughts and pressure on existing systems in the San Diego Region.

Donald Trump's initiative to reduce fuel efficiency standards will have unintended consequences of putting a greater burden on industries in order for California to reach its emission goals. As mobile sources - vehicles - contribute less to these goals, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will be forced to crack down on stationary sources. We need a new strategy that will continue to support our health and economy with this new federal initiative.