Air Permitting 101

Jim Newton, P.E., DEE

Course Outline

Each year in the U.S., industrial operations emit nearly 100 million tons of pollutants into the air. These pollutants make breathing difficult, form urban smog, impair visibility, and attack ecosystems. This course provides valuable information for those individuals who work either for an industry which is required to obtain an air permit or for a firm which prepares air permit applications. We will cover the basics of the Clean Air Act, discuss the need for issuing air permits, and explain various types of air permits, including the key requirements for acid rain permits, pre-construction permits, and operating permits.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to understand:

• The basics of the Clean Air Act;
• The need for an air permit;
• The types of air permits that can be issued;
• The key requirements for an acid rain permit;
• The key requirements for a pre-construction permit;
• The key requirements of an operating permit;
• The basics of the various applications; and
• The differences between the various air permits.

Intended Audience

The intended audience for this course is any professional who is involved in an operation that needs an air permit or a company that assists in preparing air permit applications.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendees of this course will understand the three basic types of air permits that EPA or a state environmental agency may issue, the reasons for the various air permits, when a particular air permit is required and the basic requirements of an air permit.

Course Introduction

Each year in the U.S., industrial operations emit nearly 100 million tons of pollutants into the air. These include pollutants that make breathing difficult, form urban smog, impair visibility, and attack ecosystems. Some of these pollutants can cause cancer or other serious health effects. Some of the many pollutants emitted into the air each year are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, carbon monoxide, benzene, mercury and dioxin. Many of the sources of this air pollution are large facilities, such as petroleum refineries and chemical plants that can have literally thousands of potential emission points. Other pollution sources can be smaller, such as gasoline filling stations, dry cleaning operations, and paint spray booths. Several of these air pollution sources, particularly the larger sources, are required by federal measures to reduce emissions and to obtain air pollution permits to ensure compliance.

There are three types of air permits that can typically be issued. These are
  • Acid rain permits (Title IV)
  • Preconstruction permits (called New Source Review permits)
  • Operating permits (Title V)

The acid rain program is a market-based system designed to lower sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide pollution levels. Reductions in emissions are obtained through a program of emission allowances. The allowance hat each facility owns must be reflected in its acid rain permit, which also includes emissions monitoring and other requirements.

The new source review program requires that industrial sources install good pollution control technology when they construct or significantly modify their facilities.

The operating permit program requires that major industrial sources and certain other sources obtain a permit that consolidates all of the applicable requirements for the facility into one document. The purpose of title V permits is to reduce violations of air pollution laws and improve enforcement of those laws

Course Content

The following web content serves as the materials for this course:

Air Permitting 101 (HTML)

You need to study all five modules contained in the above link.

Course Summary

This course discusses the need for, types of air permits, the basic requirements for obtaining an air permit and the basic elements of an air permit.

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

US EPA - Air Permit Home
Air Quality Permitting - State of New Jersey

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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