Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

October, 2003

Amending Air Permits

Q. How difficult is it to get an Air Quality Permit changed, in such cases for example, a major piece of eqiupment breaks down and needs to removed from all processes. Though the Air Quality Permit was issued under the regulation that this epuipment works. Can you request to have an issued permit changed to account for broken equipment no longer being used.

A. It depends on the state in which you reside. Some states are more stringent than others. Also, it depends on the piece of equipment and what has gone wrong with it. Are you intending to take the equipment out of your facility altogether or are you intending to simply leave it in place but not use it? Do you intend to replace it with something that works? Will the nonfunctioning equipment have any effect on emissions? As you can see, there are several questions that can be asked before making a determination.