Page 50 - Wastewater Solids Incineration Systems

Permitting and Emissions Regulations 19

This chapter reviews air quality permitting requirements and emission limita-
tions that apply to thermal treatment technologies processing WWTP residuals. The
goal is to provide WWTP managers, operators, engineers, and planners with an
understanding of air quality permitting requirements for this source group. The
chapter is organized by project phase, including planning, implementation, construc-
tion, startup, and operation.
Online resources for environmental regulations include the U.S. EPA Home Page
(http://www.epa.gov). The Government Printing Office (GPO) also provides online
access to the Code of Federal Regulations (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html).
State environmental regulations can be found online for most state and local agencies.
Some states caution that the online regulations are provided for informational purposes
only, the published version is the official document.

2.0 PROJECT PLANNING: PRE-PERMITTING
The nature of the regulatory review and emission limitations depend on the type of
facility, the magnitude of the potential emissions, and attainment status for the area
where the plant is located. If the facility is located in an area that is not in attainment
of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), stringent air pollution con-
trol requirements and emission limits will apply (CAA, Title I, Part D, Plan Require-
ments for Nonattainment Areas, as amended). A facility located in an area meeting
the NAAQS may still be subject to a comprehensive permit review (CAA, Title I, Part
C, Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality, as amended), but the
resulting emission limits may be less stringent than a facility located in a nonattain-
ment area.
To anticipate the nature of the air permitting review and the applicable emission
limitations, air permitting should begin in the project planning stage when detailed
information about the proposed facility is still being developed. Information that can
be obtained at this planning stage includes:

• Attainment status of criteria pollutants for the proposed facility’s location.
• Classification of the facility as to its status as a major or minor air emissions
source considering ownership of the adjacent facilities and industrial classifi-
cation.

• Potential emission rates of the new facility or net change in emissions from an
existing facility.