Navigating the planning arena can be confusing and as a result costly for many public and private clients. TAHA provides many services that can help clients successfully certify environmental documents or adopt plans, programs and projects such as peer review, concept development and sustainability analysis for plans, projects and programs. In addition, TAHA has the tools and experienced staff members who can synthesize complex documents and present them to a board or community group in a way that can be easily understood.

TAHA has prepared and managed every type of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document, including Initial Studies, Environmental Impact Reports, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.  We have completed a wide range of assignments, primarily throughout Southern California, but also in Northern California, Arizona, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C.  

TAHA specializes in community impact assessment and community development planning. Our considerable experience allows us to offer specific services including land use analysis, demographic, market, and socioeconomic profiles and analysis, building condition surveys, and site development concepts applied to private development and public infrastructure projects. 

TAHA reports use, to maximum advantage, photographs, maps, chart comparisons, and illustrative techniques to convey the results of findings.  We take pride in conducting technically complete and professional work that facilitates policy decisions by public bodies and business decisions by private clients, and encourages increased community knowledge.

Air Quality Impact Assessments and Monitoring Studies

TAHA uses the USEPA's Industrial Complex Short Term Dispersion Model (ISCST) extensively and has included utilization of digital terrain data from the U.S. Geological Survey.  In addition, TAHA provides localized traffic-related air quality dispersion modeling, using CALINE4, as well as the USEPA's CAL3QHC model. TAHA is fully knowledgeable in the operation of emissions factors models such as the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) EMFAC program and the USEPA’s Mobile Program. TAHA maintains up-to-date listings of all USEPA’s AP-42 emission factors and uses SCREEN3 and FUGITIVE DUST MODEL.  TAHA also collects field data from and maintains instrumentation used to assess particle distribution and impact on communities.  The data collection includes use and calibration of sensitive instruments, such as Sequential Filter Samplers, DustTraks, Federal Reference Method instruments. 

Air Quality Conformity Analyses

For transportation and transit projects, TAHA has prepared analyses related to conformity with the provisions of the Clean Air Act. 

Global Warming Analyses

TAHA has thorough knowledge of State and local greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations (e.g., State Assembly Bill 32).  TAHA calculates GHG emissions associated with construction and mobile source activity.  In addition, TAHA calculates GHG emissions related to natural gas consumption and electricity generation.  Generally, the GHG emissions analysis discuss whether a project will disproportionately increase vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) or energy consumption within a region. 

Health Risk Assessments (HRA)

Using the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessments (OEHHA) guidelines, TAHA conducts HRAs to identify cancer risks due to increased levels of diesel emissions from stationary and mobile diesel sources, and construction and operational emissions. 

Noise Impact Analysis

TAHA provides services related to mobile and stationary noise sources.  TAHA uses the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM), as well as other models, (i.e., Optima/Stamina and Caltrans’ Sound 32) to estimate transportation-related noise impacts during a peak travel hour throughout the day and night.  TAHA has applied these models to a wide variety of transportation improvements, including roadways, transit lanes, freeways, parking lots and rural roads.  TAHA also predicts changes in ambient noise resulting from the use of construction equipment, mechanical equipment, industrial/construction processes, or the use of amplified sound.  TAHA’s work typically involves recommendations for noise abatement.  Included within this work is the conceptual design and location of noise walls, berms and other barriers as well as insulation and glazing measures to reduce interior sound in residential and commercial buildings.  TAHA also takes on special noise assignments and has addressed unique noise sources, such as athletic activities, crowd noise, entertainment, and unusually loud conversations in public places.  TAHA provides services to local jurisdictions to address conditional use requirements pertaining to noise. 

Ambient Community Noise Field Measurements

TAHA utilizes certified and calibrated integrating sound level meters to provide accurate field measurements, including noise equivalent and peak noise levels.  Meters are capable of storing field measurements and printing standard reports and histograms for measured events. 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

TAHA uses GIS for modeling/analyses of census data, land use impacts, flood plain identification, employment density, spatial analysis, and geocoding. 

Visual and Aesthetic Impacts

TAHA provides a full range of services to address aesthetic and visual impacts of both public works and private development projects.  TAHA has evaluated the visual effects of a wide range of development types, including, highways, hillsides roads, bridges, multi-story housing or commercial projects, athletic fields, marquee signs, etc.  Services provided by TAHA include: Viewshed and Vista Analysis following US Forest Service and/or BLM type guidelines; lighting contour analysis using simulation software to identify lighting spillover effects; shade and shadow analysis using three-dimensional software to identify shadow lengths during key seasons throughout the year.  In addition, TAHA prepares photographic simulation and compositing services to insert proposed projects or improvements into existing photographs to give decision-makers and the general public a preview of “before and after” characterizations of sites, streetscapes or areas affected by development or other changes.  

3-D Modeling/Animation

Using advances in 3-D modeling programs, TAHA can provide clients with moderate resolution 3-D models of plan areas, illustrating building heights, development patterns, shadows, etc.  These models can be presented at various points in time (animated changes over the course of a day or over the life of a plan area). 

Land Use Field Surveys

TAHA has an experienced staff capable of conducting land use surveys and creating associated databases. 

Land Use Digital Video Surveys

TAHA has pioneered the use of digital video for preparing land use surveys from vehicle-mounted cameras.  The audio and visual elements of a video survey lend themselves to creating a documented base of information that can remain as film or be translated to compact disc for archiving and use during community meetings. 

Internet Document Hosting

For many public clients TAHA has posted environmental documents to our internet site (webtaha.com).  The ability to post documents and up-to-date information concerning the project quickly has proven invaluable.  The location of TAHA’s web site can be linked from a public agency’s own page or identified in any mailers or public announcements regarding the proposed project. 

Interactive On-Line Documents

In addition to hosting environmental documents, TAHA also can enhance the accessibility of the documents by adding navigational tools, as well as other multimedia tools, including video and text to speech audio files.  

Spanish Language Translation

TAHA has the capability to produce simple to technically complex Spanish translations of notices, flyers, handouts, graphics, PowerPoint presentations and executive summaries relating to environmental projects.  TAHA uses native speakers to translate the documents in conjunction with consultation of standard and technical Spanish language dictionaries to ensure accuracy and relevance. 

Environmental Sensitivity Training

TAHA has developed short courses offering environmental sensitivity training and manuals to assist field staff in understanding the importance of environmental resources and concerns.