Beginning in April 2013, companies will no longer be required to go through a federal permit application program but instead can get the qualifying paperwork and permits needed from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Arkansas’ authority to issue air permits for new or modified GHG pollution sources becomes effective just four months after the EPA’s proposed approval of the program in November 2012.
“This is an important step forward for our agency and the state. This gets us back to a one-stop permitting shop, allowing businesses requesting air permits to take their entire application to one agency and for us to review the complete package,” said the Director of ADEQ, Teresa Marks. “We have worked toward this goal for several years and appreciate the cooperation of EPA in the process.”
Arkansas and 11 other states were told by the EPA in 2010 to make changes to their air pollution regulations.
ADEQ spent about 18 months drafting the new program and holding public hearings on it, according to spokesperson, Katherine Benenati. “We haven’t put anything in there that is any more stringent than federal regulations,” she said.
Texas is the only other state in the region that is close to developing its own permit program. Its state Legislature is required to pass the necessary legislation before the state can move forward.
ADEQ has published a Greenhouse Gas Implementation Plan Fact Sheet on its Web site.
What this means to you
Greenhouse Gases that affect engines are primarily limited to CO2 and methane emissions. CO2 can be limited by improving fuel economy, while methane (CH4) emissions can be controlled by improving combustion mixing, ignition, and in some cases with catalysts. Beginning April 2013 Arkansas companies can get qualifying paperwork and permits for GHG permits directly from ADEQ. Pending approval from its legislature, Texas is also close to developing its own GHG permit program.
MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to discuss your best options for compliance in EPA region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas).
