Iowa Air Permitting Issues

Written October 17, 2019

Iowa does have a Title V permit program in place. Sources with the potential to emit more than 100 tons of VOC per year, or 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. Any equipment purchased or modified after September 23, 1970 needs to be permitted. Construction permits are required for installation or construction of any new equipment or air pollution control equipment at any facility.

Any facility within the state that is required to obtain a Title V permit may opt for a voluntary operating permit instead by meeting the following requirements: limiting the facility's potential to emit to less than 100 tons of Volatile organic compounds over a twelve month rolling period; predicted actual emissions are to be less than 100 tons per 12 month rolling period; and that the actual emissions of each hazardous air pollutant is predicted to be less than 10tons over a 12 month rolling period and the actual emissions of all regulated hazardous air pollutants are predicted to be less than 25 tons per 12 month rolling period. The other option is a Small Source Permit.

Facilities which qualify for a Small Source Operating Permit are those whose potential emissions exceed the major source thresholds for Title V, but whose actual emissions are less than fifty percent of the major source thresholds for every 12-month rolling period. By registering for a Small Source Operating Permit, the owner agrees to limit plant-wide actual emissions of each regulated air pollutant to below fifty percent of the major source thresholds.