Title V permits, also called Operating Permits, are required
under the Clean Air Act and are issued to all major sources of air
pollution and to a limited number of smaller sources. Most
Operating Permits are issued at the state or local level, although
a few are issued by federal EPA (Part 71 permits). Permits include
pollution control requirements from federal or state regulations
that apply to a source.
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.
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.
Alaska’s state 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: No differences from federal
Differences in regions: No regional difference