AIR QUALITY RELATED SERVICES

PSD & Non-Attainment NSR Permits

Federal New Source Review (NSR) Permits

What are Federal PSD and Nonattainment NSR Permits?
Under Title I of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, there are National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants, i.e.: The United States is divided into attainment and nonattainment areas for each pollutant with respect to these NAAQS standards.

A federal PSD permit may be required for major sources of pollutants in areas which are in attainment of the NAAQS and which meet certain other criteria. The program is designed to maintain good air quality with some allowances for economic growth.

A non-attainment NSR permit may be required for major sources of pollutants in nonattainment areas which meet certain other criteria. Emissions increases must be offset and controls must be installed which meet the lowest acheivable emission rates.

Liaise PSD and Nonattainment NSR Permitting Services
If it is possible that your facility requires a PSD or Nonattainment Area Permit, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal to assess PSD/NNSR applicability and to prepare a full application if required.

If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

State Permits, Amendments, & Renewals

States may have their own air permitting programs. In addition, several federal permitting programs have been delegated to the states. These include PSD & Non-Attainment NSR Permits , as well as Title V Operating Permits. To determine the requirements in your state, take a look at the Liaise Environmental Links page which contains a link to your state's environmental agency.

What is a State Permit?
Facilities that produce air emissions above a certain level may require a state permit. Requirements vary by state and location within the state. If an air permit is already in place, modifications to equipment and/or processes including increased production rates above current permit allowable rates, may require a permit amendment. An air permit has a specified lifetime (usually 5 years) after which it must be renewed.

Liaise State Permitting-Related Services

If you're considering doing a State Permit Application, Amendment, or Renewal for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

Exemptions from Permitting

Most states have mimimum air emissions threshold levels, below which an air permit is not required. In addition, certain activities may be listed as "de minimus" with respect to air emissions and not require a permit. In some instances registration with the state agency may still be required and documentation which demonstrates eligibility for exemption status should be maintained.

To determine the requirements in your state, take a look at the Liaise Environmental Links page which contains a link to your state's environmental agency.

TNRCC Permits By Rule (Formerly Standard Exemptions)

What is a TNRCC Permit by Rule (Formerly Standard Exemption)?
A Permit By Rule is a simple registration that exempts a facility from the requirements of a permit provided that the facility meets a specified list of process and emission criteria. The criteria required for a Permit By Rule varies from industry to industry. Permits By Rule were formerly known as Standard Exemptions; at this time the two are identical and only the name has changed.

Liaise Permit By Rule Services

If you're considering a Permit By Rule registration for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

Title V Operating Permits

A Title V Operating Permit is a Federal Permit required for sources with the potential to emit air contaminants at or above the major source threshold limits. The Title V Permit is intended to list all applicable air-quality related regulatory requirements in one permit along with the method to demonstrate compliance.

What are the emission levels that trigger a Title V Operating Permit?
The major source emission levels which trigger Title V are based on a facility's potential to emit at maximum capacity:

Areas in Attainment of NAAQS
  • 10 tons per year of any Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP)
  • 25 tons per year of any combination of HAPs
  • 100 tons per year or more of any air pollutant

    Areas Not in Attainment of NAAQS
    Emission levles will vary depending on the severity of the non-attainment area and specific pollutant.

    Liaise Title V Services

    If you're considering a Title V Operating Permit for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Air Dispersion Modeling

    Air Dispersion modeling is usually performed to meet permitting requirements with respect to demonstrating compliance with state and federal ambient air quality standards and/or health effects guidelines. Regulatory models utilize multiple mathematical algorithms to predict ground level concentrations of pollutants at and beyond the plant property line. The model input includes meteorological data, terrain elevation data, and specific source parameter data.

    Liaise Air Dispersion Modeling Services

    If you're considering Air Dispersion Modeling for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Pollution Control Technology Evaluations
    (e.g. BACT, MACT, RACT, LAER)

    What is involved in a Pollution Control Technology Evaluation?
    Technical review of emission controls and analysis of the appropriate Pollution Control Technology is a requirement of the permitting and regulatory compliance review process. The following are all very specific regulatory control requirements.

    Evaluations consider the technology of your facility's equipment in relation to the equipment being used in your industry and the technology available. Facilities are required to meet a certain level of pollution control technology depending on their industry and emission levels.

    Liaise Pollution Control Technology Evaluation Services
    We will determine whether or not your facility is required to meet control technology standards based on your permitting status and emission levels of specified pollutants. If it is determined that controls are required, then we will recommend the type of control technology best suited to your facility.

    If you're considering a Pollution Control Technology Evaluation for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Emissions Inventories

    What is an Emissions Inventory?
    Air emissions inventories are performed to identify and quantify actual emissions from plant equipment and operations. The emissions data which is developed may be used for permitting, regulatory compliance evaluations, or to meet air release reporting requirements such as state required annual emissions inventories, EPA TRI Form R, CERCLA Continuous Release Reporting or other purposes.

    The requirements for Emissions Inventories vary from state to state. For more information, look up your state environmental agency on our Environmental Links page.

    Liaise Emissions Inventory Services

    If your plant requires either an initial Emissions Inventory or annual Emissions Inventory udpates, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Development of Credible Emission Factors

    What are Credible Emission Factors?
    Emission Factors are established to correlate production volumes or other operational parameters with air emissions. Emission factors are most often based on actual source test data conducted during maximum production scenarios. Available emission factors are from EPA (e.g., Compilation of Air Pollutant Emissions Factors-AP-42) and industry organizations as well as state approved factors for various operations. Often AP-42 factors are very conservative and overestimate emissions. This may be acceptable unless there are regulatory concerns related to the "overestimated" emissions.

    Liaise Emission Factor Development Services

    If you are considering developing emission factors for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Record Keeping Development & Maintenance

    What is Record Keeping Development & Maintenance?
    Record keeping is often required to demonstrate compliance with various air permit provisions and emission thresholds. Record keeping is developed for each facility to best meet its record keeping needs. The record keeping system should be revised on a regular basis to ensure that emissions and/or other parameters are being accurately monitored.

    Liaise Record Keeping Development & Maintenance Services

    If you are considering a record keeping system for your facility, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) and Air Toxics Related Projects

    How are Hazardous or Toxic Air Pollutants Regulated?
    Title III of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 regulate air pollutants classified as hazardous. In addition, there are various federal and state air quality regulations which govern the release of hazardous air pollutants.

    A federal Title V Operating Permit is required for major sources of HAPs. For major sources of HAPs the Clean Air Act Amendments require industries to meet maximum available control technologies (MACT).

    Liaise Hazardous Air Pollutant and Air Toxics Related Services

    If you are considering evaluating Hazardous or Toxic Air Pollutant impacts, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources

    What is it?
    Many air quality reglulations contain opacity standards regulating the visibility of emissions from stationary sources. One method that is commonly required by the regulations to determine the opacity of air emissions is EPA Method 9 - Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources. The procedure for conducting EPA Method 9 involves using a qualified observer to visually determine the opacity of air emissions.

    Liaise Services
    Liaise Environmental, Inc. is certified to perform EPA Method 9. If your facility is subject to a regulation which contains opacity standards and you need an opacity determination, Liaise would be happy to provide a proposal to perform this service.

    If you require Opacity Determination, Liaise would be happy to provide you with a free proposal.

    If you would like to receive a free proposal, please contact us at: info@liaise.org

    Have a question about our Air Quality Related Services? Please ask, we'd be glad to help.

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