Clean air operating permits - Illinois

Scope

Operating permits issued at the state level are known as Part 70 permits. State and local authorities have the primary responsibility to oversee part 70 permitting programs, including reviewing permit applications and issuing permits.

Title V permits are required for all major sources that:

• Have actual or potential emissions at or above the major source threshold for any air pollutant. The major source threshold for any air pollutant is 100 tons/year.
• Major source thresholds for “hazardous air pollutants” (HAP) are 10 tons/year for a single HAP or 25 tons/year for any combination of HAP. Note: Lower thresholds apply in non-attainment areas (but only for the pollutant that are in non-attainment).

Non-major sources may be required to obtain a Title V permit if the source:

• Has a Major Source Permit under the New Source Review Permitting Program;
• Is an “Affected Source” under Acid Rain Rules;
• Has Solid Waste Incineration Units under Section 129;
• Is a non-major source subject to National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) (MACT or GACT Standards), including:
  • Hazardous waste combustors
  • Portland cement manufacturers
  • Mercury cell chlor-alkali plants
  • Secondary lead smelters
  • Carbon black production
  • Chemical manufacturing: chromium compounds
  • Primary copper smelting
  • Secondary copper smelting
  • Nonferrous metals area sources: zinc, cadmium, & beryllium
  • Glass Manufacturing
  • Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Facilities
  • Gold Mine Ore Processing and Production

In addition, chemical manufacturing and municipal solid waste landfills may need Title V permits

Regulatory citation

Federal:

• 40 CFR 70 — State operating permit programs
• 40 CFR 71 — Federal operating permit programs

State: 35 IL Adm Code 201.207 - .212 and 35 IAC 270.101 - .609

Key definitions

• Attainment means an area that is meeting established air quality standards.
• Major source means a stationary source or group of stationary sources that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or 25 tons per year or more of a combination of HAPs.
• Non-attainment means an area that is not meeting established air quality standards.
• Non-major source or area source means any stationary source that is not a major source.

Summary of requirements

• Determine if an operating permit applies to your facility or activity
• Obtain an operating permit
• Operate according to the terms in the permit
• Certify at least annually that your facility is in compliance with the permit requirements

Illinois’ requirements regarding clean air operating permits include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes:

Fees: Permit fees apply

Thresholds: Same as federal

Differences in regions:  No.