Hankard Environmental - Acoustical & Noise Consultants

About Hankard Environmental

Hankard Environmental is an acoustical consulting firm founded in 1996. From our offices in Colorado and Wisconsin we have consulted on over 700 projects across the US and internationally.

We are an independent firm, beholden only to our client’s interest in meeting the laws and regulations they face on their projects.

We maintain the utmost degree of professionalism by employing only ANSI certified and calibrated measurement equipment, utilizing only industry recognized analysis tools and methods, participating in the development of peer-reviewed standards and papers, and keeping honesty at the forefront of our dealings with clients, agencies, courts, and the public.

Meet Our Staff

Michael Hankard - President and Principal

I have been measuring, analyzing, and reporting on environmental noise levels since 1990. My focus of late is utility scale wind turbines, but I also have extensive experience with noise from gas-fired power plants, solar energy projects, mining operations, industrial plants, roadways, rail lines, commercial developments, and a host of other sources. I have worked on projects across the U.S., as well as internationally, and have been principally responsible for noise control on over 700 projects. I have interacted with a wide cross section of project participants, including the public, local and state agencies, owners, operators, developers, designers, planners, and lawyers. I keep current with developments in the acoustic profession’s measurement and prediction techniques, present the results of my work at INCE and ASA meetings, and am a member of committees developing ANSI standards in the wind turbine and battery storage industries. As a dedicated acoustics professional, I enjoy bringing all of my experience to bear on some of today’s most challenging environmental noise issues.

Michael Hankard's CV - General

Michael Hankard's CV - Wind Energy

Justin Bowers - Acoustical Consultant

I'm a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Engineering Physics and a concentration in acoustics. My academic path was born of my passion for music and sound. I have been working in the field of acoustical consulting since 2018, primarily dealing with renewable energy facilities, and simple and combined-cycle gas-fired power plants. I have also done work for live concerts, agricultural facilities, and land development. My responsibilities include analyzing and processing data, conducting field measurements, and writing technical reports. I am currently a graduate student at Penn State University, pursuing a Master’s degree in acoustics with a 2024 expected graduation date. Additionally, I am currently enrolled in Noise Control Engineering Courses through the Institute of Noise Control Engineering.

Justin Bowers CV

Tom Wall - Quality Assurance Specialist

I’m a CPA who spent 35 years in the field of Finance and Accounting working in manufacturing, finance, and banking before consulting in a variety of industries. At Hankard Environmental I review all reports and other deliverables before they are issued to clients. My decades of experience in the financial world preparing and reviewing complex financial statements have prepared me well for the review of Hankard Environmental’s often detailed technical reports. I bring a layman’s perspective to the specialized field of acoustics ensuring that our reports both read well and are technically accurate.

Daniel Pring - Acoustical Consultant

I have more than 30 years of experience identifying and addressing complex environmental compliance issues. Based in the Denver, Colorado area, I support HEI’s Colorado projects, including on-site assessments and noise level measurements. Over my career I conducted and directed environmental permitting and compliance issues at industrial facilities and mining operations throughout the Rocky Mountain West.

Lessa Cerio - Acoustical Consultant

I come to the field of acoustics through a M.S. in Architectural Acoustics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Having passions for performance arts and environmental studies, I focused my work at RPI on biological and environmental noise. My undergraduate studies focused on ecology, conservation, and environmental issues, and culminated in a B.S. in Biology and Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In addition, I spent two years studying marine biology in Bremen, Germany. Working in acoustics since 2021, my responsibilities include analyzing and processing data, assisting in field measurements, and writing technical reports.

Spencer Thomas - Acoustical Consultant

I am a graduate of the University of Hartford with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an acoustics concentration. I became interested in acoustics from the audiophile world, and became more interested in the science of how it all worked. My work at Hartford was mainly focused on architectural acoustics, but included a wide range of acoustics fields. I also have minors in math and computer science. My computer science background aids in data analysis, developing and maintaining our internet connected systems, and optimizing our efficiency. My responsibilities include analyzing and processing data, conducting field measurements, writing technical reports, maintaining and updating our equipment and developing new systems to expand our capabilities to projects like airport and aircraft monitoring.

Clients

We contract with a wide variety of clients, including energy project developers, engineering and environmental consulting firms, law firms, and industrial facility operators. We have worked with over 200 different entities, many of whom become repeat clients. This list below is a sample, and the names of some clients are not published for the sake of privacy. Please contact us directly for more information.

I have been engaged in a wide variety of complex commercial and environmental matters over my 32-year career. I have in that time worked with hundreds of consultants and experts in a broad range of disciplines. Mike Hankard is one of the best I have ever encountered. He brings levels of professionalism, analytical rigor, thoroughness and intellectual honesty that are second to none.

Representative Projects

• Alle-Catt Wind Farm, New York (2019)

  Noise analysis and testimony for Article 10 application

• Badger Hollow Solar Farm, Wisconsin (2019)

  Noise analysis and testimony for state permit

• Juno Power Express Transmission Project, New York (2022)

  Permit application noise analysis for the HVDC station component of the project

• Clean Path New York Transmission Project, New York (2023)

  Permit application noise analysis for the HVDC station component of the project

• Grain Belt Express Transmission Project, Kansas and Missouri (2023)

  Permit application noise analysis for the HVDC station component of the project

• Canisteo Wind Farm, New York (2019)

  Noise analysis and testimony for Article 10 application

• Crazy Mountain Wind, Montana (2019)

  Expert report and testimony in court proceeding

• Fond du Lac Generating Station, Wisconsin (2018)

  Compliance measurements

• Freeborn Wind Farm, Minnesota (2018)

  Ambient noise survey and noise impact analysis for state permit

• Horseshoe Solar Farm, New York (ongoing)

  Noise analysis for Article 10 application

• Interstate 25 Through Colorado Springs, Colorado (2003)

  Noise analysis for EA

• Lackawanna Energy Center, Pennsylvania (2019)

  Noise analysis and compliance survey for county permit

• Lake Winds Energy Park, Michigan (2018)

  Noise level compliance survey for court proceeding

• McLean Wind Farm, Illinois (2017)

  Noise impact analysis for county permit

• Phish Concerts, Colorado (ongoing)

  Sound level monitoring

• 16th St Mall Reconstruction Noise Variance, Colorado (2023)

  Noise impact analysis, report, and presentation to Denver Board of Health

• Western NY Wind and Health Forum, New York (2019)

  Public presentation on wind farm acoustics

• Akyem Gold Mine, Ghana (2007)

  Ambient noise survey and noise impact analysis for Ghanaian permit application