Title V of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) creates an operating permits program that’s implemented by the states.

California air districts, which the California Health and Safety Code authorized to issue stationary source permits, were required to develop and submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) operating permit programs by November 15, 1993. The California Air Resources Board (or CARB) consulted with the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (or CAPCOA) Title V Task Force to develop a model Title V operating permit program and rule. Many California districts use the model program and rule as the basis for the Title V operating permit programs.

Permit applications

In general, the sources that must submit Title V operating permit applications include:

• Any "major source" covered by the CAA’s general definitions,
• Any "affected source" subject to CAA Title IV’s acid rain requirements,
• Any solid waste incinerator subject to CAA Section 129(e), or
• Any source in a source category designated by U.S. EPA rule.

Owners or operators of sources required to obtain Title V operating permits had to prepare and submit applications within one year after U.S. EPA approved the state/district program. However, many California districts required certain sources to apply within three or six months of program approval.

The permit applications contained:

• Descriptions of emissions points, emissions rates, and other emissions-related information as required by the district;
• A description (or citation) of all applicable federal air pollution control requirements, including test methods to determine compliance;
• Any exemptions from federal requirements;
• A compliance plan for all sources;
• Proposed methods for certifying compliance and a statement of the source's compliance status;
• A certification statement; and
• Other information.