AQC Environmental Engineers (AQC) was founded in 1984 by Southern California industrialist, Edwin (Ed) Laird, a Chemist by profession, who started a paint manufacturing company (Laird Coatings Corporation) in the early 1970s, when environmental regulations were just being introduced. Soon his paint customers needed help with obtaining permits for their equipment and Mr. Laird with his Chemistry background found it easy to assist his industrial paint customers with all their permitting needs. In 1966 the first environmental regulation, Rule 66, was enforced in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). Mr. Laird, after starting his paint manufacturing company in the early 70s also gradually started providing permitting services to his paint customers as an extra service through late 70s and early 80s before he registered Air Quality Consultants, Inc. (AQC) in 1984 as a separate company. Since then, AQC continued to expand and provide it clients (manufacturing, commercial, and small business) with their environmental, permitting, and compliance reporting to various local, state and federal environmental regulatory agencies. With expanded services in Environmental Engineering, Air Quality Consultants, Inc. began doing business as AQC Environmental Engineers and has been a key player in Southern California during the last few decades. AQC has been associated with the Small Business Coalition in Southern California and represented their interests in the South Coast AQMD’s regulatory system since the early 1990s. 

In 1989 the EPA approved the 1st VOC Emission Trade and Banking Program in South Coast Air Quality Management District. AQC senior staff members served on the South Coast AQMD VOC RECLAIM advisory Task Force in the early 1990s. In 1994 AQC made the first RECLAIM NOx Emissions Credits trade in South Coast AQMD jurisdiction. In addition, AQC has assisted several manufacturing facilities in compliance reporting to South Coast AQMD (Annual Emissions, AB2588 toxics, RECLAIM NOx, and Title V Compliance reports), Air Resources Board (SB-14), and EPA reporting. AQC’s senior staff members had served in advisory roles to government regulatory agencies including South Coast AQMD rule development task forces to help assess environmental impacts from solvent, paint, and coating formulations, and developing emissions rules. In 1998, AQC received an Environmental Award for Outstanding Achievement in Air Pollution Control awarded by Southern California Finishers and Fabricators Association. In 2019 AQC celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Over the years, AQC kept expanding, bringing in highly qualified engineers and scientists who have worked in various parts of the United States and since AQC also started providing services in other states such as Texas, Colorado, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alaska, etc.

AQC has assisted over 1,000 customers with their Environmental and Engineering needs – Air Pollution/Quality Control, Wastewater Treatment, Hazardous Waste Management needs; Environmental Compliance, Permitting New Equipment and Equipment Modifications including new and relocated facilities, and all Environment, Health, and Safety Requirements to achieve and maintain compliance. 

AQC’s mission is to efficiently help industrial, commercial, and business clients with the applicable environmental rules and regulations promulgated by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and enforcement authorities. From simple permits to planning complex industrial engineering projects including compliance support/agency negotiations, from small businesses to large industrial organizations, AQC has successfully helped solve its clients’ Air Quality and Environmental issues in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

AQC’s team has over 300 years of combined engineering and environmental experience, including Air Quality, Water Quality, Waste Management, CEQA, Safety, and Industrial Hygiene.

Since its acquisition by Protech Engineering Resources (PROTECH) in 2021, AQC has been operating as a division of PROTECH.

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