Air Quality > Air
Operating Permits
Air Operating Permits
What is an Air Operating Permit?
An Air Operating Permit is a tool for applying regulatory requirements to
individual, major sources of air pollution. Regulatory requirements may
include emission limits; work practice standards; and monitoring, reporting,
and recordkeeping conditions. The permit combines all the applicable
requirements into a single document for each source. This enables the permit
holder to more easily identify permit conditions and rules. The Air
Operating Permit program also requires sources to submit periodic reports
certifying compliance with permit terms and conditions.
Who needs an Air Operating Permit?
A facility is required to obtain an Air Operating Permit if it has
the potential to emit any of the following:
- More than 100 tons per year of any pollutant, or
- More than 10 tons per year of any hazardous air pollutant, or
- More than 25 tons per year of a combination of hazardous air pollutants.
Even if a facility does not have the potential to emit the
above amounts, it may still need an Air Operating Permit if it is subject
to certain federal air quality requirements, including:
- the Title IV Acid Rain Program,
- New Source Performance Standard (NSPS), or
- a National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP).
Facilities that have the potential to emit more than the
thresholds for major source status, but actually emit less, can ask for
and receive a legal order from the permitting authority. The order will
place limits on the operation of the facility and the emissions will be
limited to below the thresholds. Examples of limitations could be:
limits on the hours of operation, limits on types of solvents allowed at
a facility, requirements to install and use the latest air pollution
control device, or changes in fuel makeup in order to be considered
synthetic minor sources.
Who writes and issues the permits?
Ecology and local air quality agencies are authorized by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to administer the Air Operating Permit
Program. Ecology publishes notice of permit actions in the
Operating Permit Register.
For more information about an individual permit action listed in the
Permit Register, contact the appropriate
local air agency or Ecology Regional Office.
How do I get an Air Operating Permit?
- An air operating permit facility must submit a
complete
Air Operating Permit Application within 12 months from the time the
facility becomes subject to the permit program.
- Ecology and local air agencies
process
Air Operating Permit applications according to the Operating Permit
Regulation. An Air Operating Permit is issued for a five year term, and
must be renewed prior to expiration. Sources must submit
applications for permit renewal six to 18 months before the permit expires.
Where can I find Washington Air Operating Permits?
| Regulatory Agency |
Jurisdiction (counties) |
Location/Phone |
|
Department of Ecology: Central Regional Air Quality Office |
Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan |
Yakima, WA (509) 575-2490 |
|
Department of Ecology: Eastern Regional Air Quality Office |
Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman |
Spokane, WA
(509) 329-3400 |
|
Department of Ecology Industrial Section |
Statewide Pulp and Paper mills and Aluminum Smelters |
Olympia, WA
(360) 407-6916 |
|
Department of Ecology Nuclear Waste Program |
Hanford Reservation |
Richland, WA
(509) 372-7950 |
| Benton Clean Air Authority |
Benton |
Kennewick, WA
(509) 783-1304 |
|
Northwest Clean Air Agency |
Island, Skagit, and Whatcom |
Mt. Vernon, WA (360) 428-1617 |
|
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency |
Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston |
Seattle, WA (360) 586-1044 |
|
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency |
King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish |
Seattle, WA (206) 343-8800 |
|
Southwest Clean Air Agency |
Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum |
Vancouver, WA (360) 574-3058 |
|
Spokane
Regional Clean Air Agency |
Spokane |
Spokane, WA (509) 477-4727 |
| Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority |
Yakima |
Yakima, WA (509) 834-2050 |
|
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA/Region 10 |
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska Tribal Lands |
Seattle, WA (206) 553-8087 |
| State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council |
Statewide Major Energy Facilities |
Olympia, WA (360) 956-2121 |
| Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office |
San Juan County |
Redmond, WA (425) 649-7000 |
PDF forms and other type documents may require one of these free readers.
Contact Us
|
