Louisiana Air Permitting Issues
Written October 17, 2019
Louisiana has a Title V permit program in place. Sources with the potential to emit more than 100 tons of VOC per year; 50 tons per year in the parishes surrounding Baton Rouge; 10 tons of one hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or 25 tons of a combination of Hazardous air pollutants are required to apply for a Title V permit.
The state's program does contain provisions for a synthetic minor designation. Synthetic minors are those facilities that agree to federally enforceable limits that restrict their potential to emit to less than the major source threshold. The state's program includes the option of obtaining a general permit. A general permit is a permit issued to a group of similar sources.
An owner or operator of a facility that is not a major source by the above definition can apply for an exemption from the permitting requirements if the following criteria are met: the source emits and has the potential to emit no more than 5 tons or any regulated air pollutant, such as volatile organic compounds; the source emits and has the potential to emit less than the minimum emission rate listed in the state's air toxic regulations; no enforcement permit conditions are necessary to ensure compliance; and no public notice is required for any permitting or other activity at the source.
The state's program does contain provisions for a synthetic minor designation. Synthetic minors are those facilities that agree to federally enforceable limits that restrict their potential to emit to less than the major source threshold. The state's program includes the option of obtaining a general permit. A general permit is a permit issued to a group of similar sources.
An owner or operator of a facility that is not a major source by the above definition can apply for an exemption from the permitting requirements if the following criteria are met: the source emits and has the potential to emit no more than 5 tons or any regulated air pollutant, such as volatile organic compounds; the source emits and has the potential to emit less than the minimum emission rate listed in the state's air toxic regulations; no enforcement permit conditions are necessary to ensure compliance; and no public notice is required for any permitting or other activity at the source.