New source review - North Carolina

North Carolina incorporates by reference the federal regulations for New Source Review (NSR) Permitting; however, the state adds further requirements.

A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• For an existing emissions unit, baseline actual emissions means the average rate, in tons per year, at which the emissions unit actually emitted the pollutant during any consecutive 24-month period selected by the owner or operator within the five-year period immediately preceding the date that a complete permit application is received by the Division for a permit required under this Rule. The Director shall allow a different time period, not to exceed 10 years immediately preceding the date that a complete permit application is received by the Division, if the owner or operator demonstrates that it’s more representative of normal source operation.
• The owner or operator of the proposed new major stationary source or major modification will obtain sufficient emission reductions of the nonattainment pollutant from other sources in the nonattainment area so that the emissions from the new major source and any associated new minor sources will be less than the emissions reductions by a ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.15 for volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides and by a ratio of less than one to one for carbon monoxide. The baseline for this emission offset shall be the actual emissions of the source from which offset credit is obtained. Emission reductions shall not include any reductions resulting from compliance (or scheduled compliance) with applicable rules in effect before the application. The difference between the emissions from the new major source and associated new minor sources of carbon monoxide and the emission reductions shall be sufficient to represent reasonable further progress toward attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Related information

• EzExplanation New Source Review
• North Carolina State Implementation Plans

Citations

• Federal regulation 40 CFR Part 51-52
• North Carolina Administrative Code Section 2D.0531