air quality regulations and academic institutions steve hall environmental engineer ii nc denr –...

Air Quality Regulations and Academic Institutions

Steve Hall

Environmental Engineer II

NC DENR – Division of Air Quality

Raleigh Regional Office

Typical Air Emission Sources at Academic Institutions

• Boilers

• Boiler fuel handling equipment

• Emergency generators

• Incinerators

• Miscellaneous particulate emission sources

Facility Permit Classifications• Title V

(Potential & actual criteria emissions > 100 tpy)

• Synthetic Minor (Potential criteria emissions > 100 tpy and actual criteria emissions < 100 tpy)

• Small (Potential & actual criteria emissions < 100 tpy)

• Additional emission thresholds for hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) – 10/25 tpy

Federal Air Quality Regulations

• New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

• National Emission Standards for Hazardous

Air Pollutants (NESHAP/MACT)

• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

• New Source Review (NSR)

Typical State Regulations

• Visible emissions (VE) rules

• Particulate matter (PM) rules

• Sulfur dioxide/nitrogen oxides (SO2/NOX) rules

• Incinerator rules

• Odor rules

Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance issues determined through: • Routine state inspections• Citizen complaints • Periodic compliance reporting

Enforcement response:• Notice of Violation (NOV) and possible civil

penalty assessment

Common Air Quality Violations at Academic Institutions

• Failure to obtain an air permit prior to installation of new equipment

• Failure to maintain equipment

• Failure to keep compliance records

• Failure to submit required notifications

• Failure to submit compliance reports

Air Permitting Reminders

• Start permitting process early• Research federal and state regulations• Know specific source emissions • Communicate with state air permitting office • Hire a qualified consultant if necessary• Do not install equipment without permit

Compliance Reporting Pitfalls

• Scheduling issues / forgetting

• Staffing issues

• Postal service issues

• New/changing permit requirements

• Multiple/confusing permit requirements

• Miscommunication

Compliance Reporting Solutions

• Establish a system

• Designate primary and secondary environmental contacts

• Use certified mail

• Read all new permits carefully

• Request changes to permits

• Contact your regional office

Open Burning Regulations Regulated by state agencies

(15A NCAC 2D .1900 in NC) NC rules regulate residential open

burning and land clearing operations Only vegetative materials originating

onsite may be burned with restrictions Fines can reach $10,000 per violation Potential health effects include:

Lung and eye irritation Headaches, dizziness Asthma attacks Coughing and wheezing, and Even death in some cases

NC DENR – Division of Air Quality Regional Offices

NC DENR – Division of Air Quality Regional Offices

• Asheville Regional Office (828) 251-6208

• Fayetteville Regional Office (910) 486-1541

• Mooresville Regional Office (704) 663-1699

• Raleigh Regional Office (919) 571-4700

• Washington Regional Office (252) 946-6481

• Wilmington Regional Office (910) 395-3900

• Winston-Salem Regional Office (336) 771-4600

Any Questions?

Steve Hall, Environmental Engineer II

NC DENR - Division of Air Quality

Raleigh Regional Office

(919) 791-4200

steve.hall@ncmail.net

For more information about the Division of Air Quality, visit our website at http://www.ncair.org.