Operating Permits (Air)

Once a construction permit has been obtained and construction completed, a facility must request an operating permit. Operating permits are a compilation of facility-wide equipment, emissions limitations, record keeping and reporting requirements, including specific requirements from construction permit(s). The operating permit is revised as facilities make changes such as equipment replacement, expansion or other operational changes. Additionally, operating permit revisions include incorporating any new construction permit activities.

General and Registration Permits (Air Quality)

Advantages of General Permits

  • Simplified application and permit issuance process
  • Standardized permit conditions providing consistency across industry sectors
  • Additional individual public notice and comment period not required
  • Pre-determined eligibility criteria

Advantages of Registration Permits

  • Simplified application and permit issuance process
  • Standardized permit conditions providing consistency across industry sectors
  • Dual permitting process - construction and operating permit combined
  • No professional e

Textile Operations

A textile operation may be eligible for coverage under one of the two general permits if the facility produces any of the following:

  • Staple fibers and filaments suitable for conversion to or use as yarns, or for the preparation of woven, knit, or non-woven fabrics;
  • Yarns made from natural or manufactured fiber;
  • Fabrics and other manufactured products made from staple fibers and filaments and from yarn; and/or
  • Garments and other articles fabricated from fibers, yarns, or fabrics.

Facilities may be comprised of the following:

Sawmill Operation

A sawmill is where logs (greenwood) are cut into lumber. Sawmill operations may be eligible for coverage under the registration permit or the general state operating permit if the facility is comprised of the following:

Petroleum Distribution Operations

Petroleum Distribution Operations, for purposes of this permit, will cover a variety of sources which provide bulk storage and distribution of gasoline, petroleum distillates, fuel additives, and ethanol. Facilities may only have storage tanks, loading racks and associated control devices where applicable (including but not limited to vapor combustion units, open flares, and vapor recovery units.), fuel burning operations (including but not limited to boilers), emergency generators, and other approved equipment may be eligible for a general permit for petroleum distribution operations.

Concrete Plants

Concrete batch plants, concrete block production facilities, and pug mills may be eligible for coverage under the general construction permit and the general state or general conditional major operating permits if the only sources of emissions are as follows:

Asphalt Plants

Asphalt plants may be eligible for coverage under the general synthetic minor and the general conditional major permits if the facility produces asphalt only and is only comprised of the following:

Cotton Ginning Operations

A cotton gin is defined as any facility or plant that separates cotton lint from cotton seed. This process typically includes cleaning (removing plant material, dirt, and other foreign matter) and packaging the lint into bales. Cotton ginning and some grain handling operations may be eligible for coverage under the registration permit if the facility meets the criteria listed below.