Environmental Science Associates (ESA), a leading environmental consulting, engineering, and planning firm, is pleased to announce that Dr. Tim Sturtz has joined their Air Quality and Community Development practices. One of the Northwest region’s top air quality experts, Tim will be providing expertise in air quality assessment and management, including greenhouse gas analyses and odor assessments.

For more than 14 years, Tim has studied the interplay between atmospheric emission sources, ambient air concentrations, and air-related regulations and policies. His extensive experience has touched on many aspects of air quality management, from developing maritime emissions calculation tools to conducting international jurisdictional reviews of odor regulations. From a research perspective, he’s worked with big data to tease apart unique, high-emitting vessel operations in the Gulf of Mexico and produced peer-reviewed publications on novel approaches for assessing air monitoring data.

“Tim’s reputation across the country as a national air quality expert precedes him, as he has carved out a diverse practice serving both public and private sector clients,” says Pamela Xander, ESA’s Northwest Director of Community Development. “Over the last decade, I have personally partnered with him on large-scale EIS projects involving air quality and greenhouse gas issues, and I am thrilled to continue our work together developing high-quality SEPA and NEPA environmental review documents that also focus on mitigation measures to prevent, minimize, or reduce air and odor impacts.”

Tim has managed projects and provided technical direction on air quality and odor issues for industrial facilities, airports, maritime port authorities, government agencies, and research institutions. He routinely uses high-performance computing tools and interactive data displays to provide rapid results and translate complex information into accessible formats.

“Our clients are seeking more innovative and sophisticated air quality expertise, especially as they confront the climate crisis and its implications on human health and wellbeing. With Tim on board, we are better able to offer our Northwest clients comprehensive air quality assessments, statistical analyses, litigation support, land use and environmental review, emissions research and inventories, and policy and permitting expertise,” says Margaret Clancy, ESA’s Northwest Regional Director. “He will also collaborate with our lead air quality specialists in California—Heidi Rous and Chris Easter—to further expand our service offerings in this specialized field across the company.”

Tim has led significant air quality studies for major clients such as the Port of Seattle, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and a variety of law firms. He has led air quality and greenhouse gas analyses for projects requiring SEPA review, including a methanol production facility, the modernization of a container terminal, and a convention center renovation.

Tim earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Washington, and his bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech University. He is an active member of the Washington Public Port Association, and a member of the Marine Environment and the Environmental Issues in Transportation Law committees for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Technology’s Transportation Research Board.

Connect with Tim Sturtz
Direct: 206.204.6975