Small Business Clean Air Assistance Program

Air Pollution Permits

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues air pollution permits to a wide range of businesses. Knowing whether you need a permit, submitting an application, and operating under your air pollution permit is a complex process. Review the following information to determine how the air pollution permit requirements apply to your business. It is important to note that if your construction or modification project requires a permit, you need to obtain the permit before starting any construction activities!  

Are You Exempt?  Calculate Your Emissions First

• DNR Permit Primer - The DNR's Permit Primer Air Pollution section will help you walk through the process of determining if you are exempt or which permit option will be best for your facility.  Information provided below will help you as you wade through the permit process once you know what type you need.
• Actual Emissions Calculations - The new actual emissions based exemptions may allow more facilities with very low emissions to avoid air permit requirements. 
• MTE Calculation Examples — Calculating the maximum theoretical emissions (MTE) for the general exemptions can be difficult to understand. These examples try to make it more straightforward.

Gathering Information for an Application

For either type of air pollution permit (construction or operation), there are many issues about the application, review or post-issuance stages of the process that are unclear to most businesses. These can be very complex issues and the speed at which a business is issued their permit can depend on the applicant's understanding of those issues.

• Your Permit Application, Your Responsibilities — What elements in a permit application is the applicant responsible for providing to DNR? Many of these are often forgotten when submitting an application. You will get your permit sooner if you have all the key elements included.
• Key Elements in a Permit Application — What elements in a permit application are most often missed or done incorrectly? Having a complete application in to DNR as soon as possible can dictate how quickly your permit is issued. Don't forget to do these things...
• Your Air Pollution Permit and DNR's Public Comment Period — A fact sheet describing what your responsibilities are when your draft permit goes to public comment. Also describes what can happen during the public comment process.
• Modeling Emissions for Air Pollution Permits — Part of the requirements for each permit application review is that DNR show the emissions can meet Air Quality Standards. What will this mean for the sources submitting applications?
• PTE Guide for Small Businesses (EPA-456/B-98-003) — EPA's guide on how to determine PTE for small businesses that need to apply for an air pollution permit.
• MTE and PTE Calculation Examples — Calculating the MTE or PTE correctly for your permit applications is very important, but is also very complex as DNR has two ways to calculate MTE--one specific to the VOC regulations. These examples try to make it more straightforward.
• How to Use an MSDS for Air Pollution Permits — Calculations needed for determining whether you need a permit will usually involve use of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This fact sheet explains what information you really need to find on the MSDS and how to use it.

Applying for a Permit

When a permit is required, the business will need to obtain some of the following documents to complete the appropriate application.  First, you need to understand which permit to apply for.  Review the next two fact sheets before downloading the permit application form.

• Air Pollution Permits for Small Businesses — A fact sheet describing the two main types of Wisconsin's Air Permits, construction and operation, including contacts for more assistance.

• Air Permit Options - With all the new streamlined permit options available, this table gives you a quick look at which permits might apply to your situation.  Always check the rules or contact DNR staff or SBCAAP staff for more details.  

DNR has an Air Permit Download page that includes all these documents in multiple formats.

• Expanding Industry in Wisconsin (AM-055) — Instructions on applying for Air Pollution Construction Permit. 
• WI Air Pollution Permit Application Instruction Booklet for Minor Sources (AM-210-96) — Instructions on applying for a Minor Source (Non-Part 70) Air Pollution Operation Permit.
• Instruction Booklet for All Operation and Renewal Applications (AM-300-99) — Complete instructions for any Air Pollution Operation Permit, including renewal process.
• Air Pollution Permit Application Forms (4530-100 through -136) — Application forms for any Air Pollution Permit.

• General Operation Permit Application Forms — Forms for all the general operation permits that have been issued or may be made available in the future by the Air Program. (NOTE: While GOPs have been issued for small heating units and ethylene oxide sterilizers, most sources have not used them because they have other emissions units at their facility and prefer to keep all units in the same permit.)
• Solvent Metal Cleaning GOP (GOP not available yet)
• Small Heating Unit GOP
• Ethylene Oxide Sterilizer GOP
• Chrome Electroplating and Anodizing (GOP not available yet)
• Bulk Gasoline Plant GOP (GOP not available yet)
• Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaner GOP (GOP not available yet)
• Rock Crushing Plant GOP and Attachment for Diesel Engines (in renewal phase)

Non-attainment Status for Wisconsin Counties

Different types of permits are issued in areas that are designated in non-attainment with the national ambient air quality standards set by EPA.  Milwaukee is now in compliance with federal air quality rules for particulate matter. Click here for more information.

Construction Permits

If you have a business that installed equipment after 1979 or recently started up certain equipment or activities and did not receive an air pollution construction permit for the equipment or activities, you may want to review the following documents to see if you are in compliance with the requirement to obtain a permit prior to construction, reconstruction or modification.

• Air Pollution Construction Permits — A fact sheet describing the Air Pollution Construction Permit program including calculation examples, application deadlines, definitions and contacts for more assistance.
• Combustion Sources and Construction Permits — A fact sheet describing the Air Pollution Construction Permit program and how it affects combustion sources; including calculation examples, definitions and contacts for more assistance.
• VOC Sources and Construction Permits — A fact sheet describing the Air Pollution Construction Permit program and how it affects VOC sources like painting or coating operations or printers; including calculation examples, definitions and contacts for more assistance.
  

Operation Permits

If a business has been in operation for any length of time it may also require another type of permit:

• Air Pollution Operation Permits for Small Businesses — A fact sheet describing the Air Operating Permit program including calculation examples, application deadlines, definitions and contacts for more assistance.  This includes information on their newest type of air permit, called a Registration Permit.  The Registration Operation Permit has an online application process that is now ready for use.  Go to DNR's web page for the link to the online application system: click here.

Our Compliance web page provides information about what to do after you obtain an air pollution permit.

Send an email to COMCleanAir@Wisconsin.gov with questions or comments about the SBCAAP web pages.