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Air Permitting: Frequently-Asked Questions

What business activities could cause my business to need an air permit?

• use of adhesives, paints, inks, other solvents or solvent containing materials,
• heating with any fuels (not including electricity),
• or any grinding, sanding, welding, material handling or any other activity that creates dust (particulate matter) or fumes.

What is an air permit, anyway?

Air permits are legal documents that itemize operation and federal and state record keeping requirements for larger air pollution sources. This document includes all the air regulations that a specific source is expected to comply with. Prior to issuing a permit to new sources or currently operating sources, Department of Natural Resources staff write a "Preliminary Determination" document that allows us to make an internal decision on whether to allow this type of operation to start or continue to operate. Staff usually perform source-specific modeling of the pollutants listed in the permit application before issuing a permit for a source. All these documents are public and can be viewed at the local Air Management office. Copies are also available for a small photocopying fee. The public has the right to comment on the permits prior to issuance. A public notice is printed in the local newspaper in the area where the facility is located, which starts a 30-day public comment period. Operation permits are scheduled to be renewed every five years.

Why do some facilities have permits and others don't?

Facilities that emit greater quantities of criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants are regulated in a more formal manner than facilities that emit smaller quantities of air pollutants. Currently, all existing sources that may emit more than 10 tons of any criteria air pollutant per year must meet operation permit requirements. New sources that may emit more than 25 tons per year of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or 40 tons per year of sulfur dioxide or carbon monoxide or various levels of hazardous air pollutants, are required to apply for a construction permit prior to commencing construction.