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Air Quality & Economic Development

Learn about the role of the NDEQ Air Quality Division in ensuring and maintaining ambient air quality standards while fostering economic development opportunities. Explore the construction permit process and regulations for asbestos demolition and renovation projects.

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Air Quality & Economic Development

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  1. Air Quality & Economic Development Melissa Woolf NDEQ Air Quality Division melissa.woolf@ndeq.state.ne.us (402) 471-6624

  2. Overview • What Do We Do & Why? • Construction Permits • Asbestos – Demolition & Renovation Projects • Who Ya Gonna Call? • NDEQ/DED Partnership

  3. What Do We Do & Why? • Clean Air Act • Ambient Air Quality Standards • Driving force behind historical regulations & current requirements • Ambient air = air outside buildings • Health based standards • Welfare based standards

  4. What Do We Do & Why • Ensure ambient air quality standards are maintained • Prevent the degradation of air quality – while allowing for economic development opportunities

  5. What Do We Do & Why • Issue Air Quality Construction Permits • Allow construction of an “emissions unit” • Prevent impacts to ambient air • Establish enforceable requirements • Conduct air quality modeling analysis to determine impact on ambient air & compliance with standards

  6. Air Quality Construction Permits • Must obtain a construction permit BEFORE construction • If net increase in emissions above thresholds • Must calculate potential-to-emit • Based on maximum capacity of unit operating 8,760 hours (24 hours/day, 365 days/yr)

  7. Air Quality Construction Permits • Permit process • Pre-Application meeting • Submit complete application with fee • Air quality modeling analysis • NDEQ reviews & draft permit prepared • Source reviews & comments on permit • Public Notice – 30 days • Respond to comments & finalize permit

  8. Air Quality Construction Permits • Permit process takes up to 180 days from complete application to public notice – complex (new ethanol) & large sources • For others - 120-90 days depending on type/size of source

  9. Air Quality Construction Permits • Plan ahead! • Source should meet with us 3-4 months prior to application submittal • Construction Permit Fact Sheet on NDEQ website – www.deq.state.ne.us • Construction Permit Hotline – (877) 834-0474

  10. Air Quality Construction Permits • Can’t construct things “permanent in nature” related to an emission unit • Some things can be done before permit issued • Dirt work - Fact sheet • City can build a spec building, but source can’t

  11. Air Quality Construction Permits • Economic development impacted when air quality above ambient air standards (non-attainment) • Harder for the community to compete economically with attainment areas

  12. Air Quality Construction Permits • New businesses must be able to afford the controls required • Existing businesses can’t easily expand & may have to move all together if can’t afford to comply • Other entities can lose funding • Dept. of Roads gets money from EPA for road improvement on highways and interstate

  13. Air Quality Construction Permits • NE is in attainment for all pollutants • Still the “Good Life” • Cass County/Weeping Water area is close for particulate matter

  14. Air Quality Construction Permits • How can we help prevent nonattainment areas in NE? • Using air quality modeling analysis when new sources are built • Assure future development possible • Identify potential problem areas and work them out before it goes nonattainment

  15. What else do we do? • Ambient air monitoring • Monitors throughout NE • Demonstrate compliance with air quality standards • Air Quality Report • Issue Operating Permits • Combines all of source’s requirements

  16. What else do we do? • Regulatory development • EPA passes rule – we adopt into Title 129 NE Air Quality Regulations • Coordination & oversight of local air quality programs • Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department • Omaha Air Quality Control • Outreach & education • Workshops, email reminders, AirWaves Bulletin

  17. What else do we do? • Ensure compliance with regulations & permits • Compliance assistance • Conduct inspections • Respond to complaints • Observe stack tests & review reports • Issue open burning permits • Asbestos program

  18. Asbestos • Who is subject to rules? • Buildings demolished • Buildings renovated with >260 linear feet, 160 square feet or 35 cubic feet of asbestos • Fire training exercises

  19. Asbestos • Subject facilities • Institutional (e.g. school & fire training) • Commercial (e.g. grocery store) • Public (e.g. city hall) • Industrial • Residential buildings that have more than four units (e.g. apartments or several houses in close proximity)

  20. Asbestos • Inspect for asbestos-containing material • Submit Notification to NDEQ 10 working days prior • Remove all asbestos-containing materials • Properly dispose of ash and residue

  21. Asbestos • All suspected asbestos-containing material must be sampled and laboratory analyzed OR • Assumed to contain asbestos • Suspected asbestos-containing materials • Floor tile, linoleum, pipe and boiler insulation, heat duct wrap and joint tape, cementitious siding and roofing, asphalt-based roofing, ceiling tiles, joint compound, sprayed-on-texturing, etc.

  22. Asbestos • NDEQ’s program – asbestos in ambient air - outdoor • Health & Human Services (HHSS) • Their own asbestos regulations • Indoor air & workplaces • Accreditation program • Inspections • Work practices

  23. Lead • Lead-based paint removal • Health & Human Services • Certification to remove • Accreditation program • NDEQ does not have programs for indoor lead issues

  24. Who Ya Gonna Call? • Air Quality • Main - (402) 471-2189 • Assistance - (402) 471-6624 • Construction Permits – (877) 834-0474 • Asbestos/Demolition/Renovation Projects – (402) 471-4262

  25. Who Ya Gonna Call? • Asbestos & Lead • Certifications, work practices, accreditation, regulations • HHSS Regulation & Licensure • (402) 471-0386 • Toll Free 888-242-1100 ext 1 in Nebraska onlyIndoor Air • HHS - Clean Indoor Air Program • (402) 471-0782

  26. DED/NDEQ Partnership • Identify Future/Current Growth Sectors Through Planning Process • Identify challenges for other industrial categories • Help identify strategies for overcoming challenges • Work with DED to pre-screen areas for development • Identify issues early in business planning process • Resolve the issues • Permits are then easier to obtain

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