General Permit Information
When Must a Permit Be Secured?
An Air Quality Permit must be secured for basic equipment, air pollution control equipment, and all secondary source projects BEFORE ANY CONSTRUCTION, ERECTION, INSTALLATION, ALTERATION, OR REPLACEMENT of equipment are begun in each of the following situations. When new equipment or a secondary source project or operation is to be constructed or installed. Whenever equipment or a secondary source operation is to be replaced or altered, except in case of identical replacement of machine or machine parts or when the change is purely structural not changing quality or quantity of air contaminants. Whenever equipment is to be moved to a new address, a separate application is required for each distinct operation, which consists in whole or in part of equipment; the use of which may cause the issuance of any air contaminant for which emission limits have been established by the Air Pollution Control District. Such an operation may consist of one individual piece of equipment, a group of two or more items including air pollution control equipment, or an operation that may attract secondary source emissions. When installation is completed and equipment is ready to operate, the Air Pollution Control District must be notified and arrangements made for an inspection of the equipment in operation. If performance conforms to the District's Rules and Regulations, a PERMIT TO OPERATE will be issued.
Who Must Apply for A Permit?
The corporation, company, individual owner, or government agency that is to operate the equipment or establishes a secondary source operation must apply.
What Information is Required?
Plot plan, drawings, flow sheet and other pertinent data must accompany each application to show how the proposed equipment or operation is designed, and in what manner it will be operated and controlled or mitigated. The Rules and Regulations of the Air Pollution Control District require that the Air Pollution Control Officer shall deny (a) an AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT if the applicant does not show that the equipment or operation is so designed, controlled, mitigated, or equipped that it may be expected to operate without violating any provisions of the District Rules and Regulations, and (b) he shall deny an Air Quality Permit if the equipment or operation cannot operate without violating provisions of the District Rules and Regulations.
How Much Does A Permit Cost?
A $100.00 filing fee is required with each application. Any additional applicable fees under the current fee schedule as set by the District rules and regulations will be determined during the application review.
Are Permits Transferable?
Permits cannot be transferred from one location to another, or from one piece of equipment, or operation to another, or from one person to another, but under certain circumstances a new PERMIT TO OPERATE CAN BE ISSUED for a reduced filing fee.
How Long Does It Take to Get A Permit to Construct and Operate?
The engineering study of an application is made as rapidly as possible. The submission of complete data with an application expedites the processing. It is advantageous to apply well in advance of the scheduled start of construction. Regulations require processing within a reasonable time after receipt of an application and all necessary information.
Why Must Data and Drawing be Submitted with Applications?
Complete information is necessary for the District to make the detailed engineering study required to evaluate proposed designs from the point of view of air pollution control. Plans and operating data must be furnished to show how the equipment or operations is designed and in what manner it will be operated and controlled or mitigated. Several reasons for this procedure are presented below: The Plans are checked to insure that adequate air pollution control or mitigation measures exist at points or areas of potential emission of pollutants. Detecting inadequate design features in the planning stage saves money and possible pollution problems and loss of production later. Changes in some design feature may accomplish proper control, or may permit simpler control or mitigation measures to be used. Because of nuisance considerations, it is entirely possible that certain types of equipment may be approved at one location and not at others. That is why a plot plan is required showing equipment location and information about zoning or use of surrounding properties.