Air Permitting & Compliance

Planning new facilities or modifying existing facilities and operations requires compliance with current state and federal regulations. Operations or facilities emitting regulated pollutants must obtain some form of authorization. Regulated pollutants include: nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, particulate matter 10 , sulfur dioxide, lead, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and other specific chemicals listed in Section 111 or Title VI. Authorizations are by exemption or by permit. There are several types of permits, depending on the air quality in the location of the facility. Major sources of pollutants are required to apply for a Title V/Part 70 permit. Major source thresholds also vary by location. Other permits include pre-construction permits, PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) and NNSR (Non-attainment New Source Review) permits. Minor sources may be required to obtain a state minor source permit.

Preparation of a complete and technically accurate permit application is essential since construction, modification, or operation can generally not begin before the permit is issued. Some applications may require an emissions inventory or modeling. It is important to consult with the agency or an air quality expert before investing time and resources only to discover that netting, offsets, or additional control technology is required.

In order to claim an exemption or apply for a permit, facilities must show an acceptable compliance history and demonstrate that the proposed operations will result in compliance with current regulations. Ongoing compliance must be demonstrated with emissions calculations using acceptable emission factors, equipment tests applying approved methods, and detailed record keeping. Records of monitoring data, material or fuel usage, throughputs, inspections, maintenance, and analyses must be kept and available to agency personnel upon request.

Argent’s staff of trained environmental engineers and scientists can help you understand and comply with the many aspects of permitting as well as save you time, money and aggravation.