Permit to construct

1. Permit to construct required. a. No construction, installation, or establishment of a new stationary source within a source category designated in section 33.1-15-14-01 may be commenced unless the owner or operator thereof shall file an application for, and receive, a permit to construct in accordance with this chapter. b. The initiation of activities that are exempt from the definition of construction, installation, or establishment in section 33.1-15-14-01.1, prior to obtaining a permit to construct, are at the owner's or operator's own risk. These activities have no impact on the department's decision to issue a permit to construct. The initiation or completion of such activities conveys no rights to a permit to construct under this section. c. General permits. The department may issue a general permit to construct covering numerous similar sources which are not subject to permitting requirements under chapter 33.1-15-13 or 33.1-15-15 or subpart B of section 33.1-15-22-03. Any general permit shall comply with all requirements applicable to other permits to construct and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for the general permit. A proposed general permit, any changes to a general permit, and any renewal of a general permit is subject to public comment. The public comment procedures under subdivision b of subsection 6 shall be used. To sources that qualify, the department shall grant the conditions and terms of the general permit. Sources that would qualify for a general permit must apply to the department for coverage under the terms of the general permit or apply for an individual permit to construct. Without repeating the public participation procedures under subdivision b of subsection 6, the department may grant a source's request for authorization to construct under the general permit. 2. Application for permit to construct. a. Application for a permit to construct a new installation or source must be made by the owner or operator thereof on forms furnished by the department. b. A separate application is required for each new installation or source subject to this chapter. c. Each application must be signed by the applicant, which signature shall constitute an agreement that the applicant will assume responsibility for the construction or operation of the new installation or source in accordance with this article and will notify the department, in writing, of the startup of operation of such source. 3. Alterations to source. a. The addition to or enlargement of or replacement of or alteration in any stationary source, already existing, which is undertaken pursuant to an approved compliance schedule for the reduction of emissions therefrom, shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. b. Any physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source already existing which increases or may increase the emission rate or increase the ambient concentration by an amount greater than that specified in subdivision a of subsection 5 of any pollutant for which an ambient air quality standard has been promulgated under this article or which results in the emission of any such pollutant not previously emitted must be considered to be construction, installation, or establishment of a new source, except that: (1) Routine maintenance, repair, and replacement may not be considered a physical change. (2) The following may not be considered a change in the method of operation: (a) An increase in the production rate, if such increase does not exceed the operating design capacity of the source and it is not limited by a permit condition. (b) An increase in the hours of operation if it is not limited by a permit condition. (c) Changes from one operating scenario to another provided the alternative operating scenarios are identified and approved in a permit to operate. (d) Trading of emissions within a facility provided: [1] These trades have been identified and approved in a permit to operate; and [2] The total facility emissions do not exceed the facility emissions cap established in the permit to operate. (e) Trading and utilizing acid rain allowances provided compliance is maintained with all other applicable requirements. c. Any owner or operator of a source who requests an increase in the allowable sulfur dioxide emission rate for the source pursuant to section 33.1-15-02-07 shall demonstrate through a dispersion modeling analysis that the revised allowable emissions will not cause or contribute to a violation of the national ambient air quality standards for sulfur oxides (sulfur dioxide) or the prevention of significant deterioration increments for sulfur dioxide. The owner or operator shall also demonstrate that the revised allowable emission rate will not violate any other requirement of this article or the Federal Clean Air Act. Requests for emission limit changes shall be subject to review by the public and the environmental protection agency in accordance with subsection 6. 4. Submission of plans - Deficiencies in application. As part of an application for a permit to construct, the department may require the submission of plans, specifications, siting information, emission information, descriptions and drawings showing the design of the installation or source, the manner in which it will be operated and controlled, the emissions expected from it, and the effects on ambient air quality. Any additional information, plans, specifications, evidence, or documentation that the department may require must be furnished upon request. Within twenty days of the receipt of the application, the department shall advise the owner or operator of the proposed source of any deficiencies in the application. In the event of a deficiency, the date of receipt of the application is the date upon which all requested information is received. a. Determination of the effects on ambient air quality as may be required under this section must be based on the applicable requirements specified in the "Guideline on Air Quality Models (Revised)" (United States environmental protection agency, office of air quality planning and standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711) as it exists on July 1, 2019. b. When an air quality impact model specified in the documents incorporated by reference in subdivision a is inappropriate, the model may be modified or another model substituted provided: (1) Any modified or nonguideline model must be subject to notice and opportunity for public comment under subsection 6. (2) The applicant must provide to the department adequate information to evaluate the applicability of the modified or nonguideline model. Such information must include, but is not limited to, methods like those outlined in the "Interim Procedures for Evaluating Air Quality Models (Revised)" (United States environmental protection agency, office of air quality planning and standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709). (3) Written approval from the department must be obtained for any modification or substitution. (4) Written approval from the United States environmental protection agency must be obtained for any modification or substitution prior to the granting of a permit under this chapter. 5. Review of application - Standard for granting permits to construct. The department shall review any plans, specifications, and other information submitted in an application for a permit to construct and from such review shall, within ninety days of the receipt of the completed application, make the following preliminary determinations: a. Whether the proposed project will be in accord with this article, including whether the operation of any new stationary source at the proposed location will cause or contribute to a violation of any applicable ambient air quality standard. A new stationary source will be considered to cause or contribute to a violation of an ambient air quality standard when such source would, at a minimum, exceed the following significance levels at any locality that does not or would not meet the applicable ambient standard: Contaminant Averaging Time (hours) Annual (μg/m3) 24 (μg/m3) 8 (μg/m3) 3 (μg/m3) 1 (μg/m3) SO2 1.0 5 25 7.8 PM10 5 NO2 1.0 7.5 CO 500 2000 PM2.5 0.2 1.2 Ozone 2.0 b. Whether the proposed project will provide all necessary and reasonable methods of emission control. Whenever a standard of performance is applicable to the source, compliance with this criterion will require provision for emission control which will, at least, satisfy such standards. 6. Public participation - Final action on application. a. The following source categories are subject to the public participation procedures under this subsection: (1) Those affected facilities designated under chapter 33.1-15-13. (2) New sources that will be required to obtain a permit to operate under section 33.1-15-14-06. (3) Modifications to an existing facility which will increase the potential to emit from the facility by the following amounts: (a) One hundred tons [90.72 metric tons] per year or more of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or volatile organic compounds; (b) Ten tons [9.07 metric tons] per year or more of any contaminant listed under section 112(b) of the federal Clean Air Act; or (c) Twenty-five tons [22.68 metric tons] per year or more of any combination of contaminants listed under section 112(b) of the federal Clean Air Act. (4) Sources which the department has determined to have a major impact on air quality. (5) Those for which a request for a public comment period has been received from the public. (6) Sources for which a significant degree of public interest exists regarding air quality issues. (7) Those sources which request a federally enforceable permit which limits their potential to emit. b. With respect to the permit to construct application, the department shall: (1) Within ninety days of receipt of a complete application, make a preliminary determination concerning issuance of a permit to construct. (2) Within ninety days of the receipt of the complete application, make available in at least one location in the county or counties in which the proposed project is to be located or on the department's website, a copy of its preliminary determinations and copies of or a summary of the information considered in making such preliminary determinations. (3) Publish notice to the public by prominent advertisement, within ninety days of the receipt of the complete application, in the region affected, of the opportunity for written comment on the preliminary determinations. The public notice must include the proposed location of the source. (4) Within ninety days of the receipt of the complete application, deliver a copy of the notice to the applicant and to officials and agencies having cognizance over the locations where the source will be situated as follows: the chief executive of the city and county; any comprehensive regional land use planning agency; and any state, federal land manager, or Indian governing body whose lands will be significantly affected by the source's emissions. (5) Within ninety days of receipt of a complete application, provide a copy of the proposed permit and all information considered in the development of the permit and the public notice to the regional administrator of the United States environmental protection agency. (6) Allow thirty days for public comment. (7) Consider all public comments properly received, in making the final decision on the application. (8) Allow the applicant to submit written responses to public comments received by the department. The applicant's responses must be submitted to the department within twenty days of the close of the public comment period. (9) Take final action on the application within thirty days of the applicant's response to the public comments. (10) Provide a copy of the final permit, if issued, to the applicant, the regional administrator of the United States environmental protection agency, and anyone who requests a copy. c. For those sources subject to the requirements of chapter 33.1-15-15, the public participation procedures under section 33.1-15-15-01.2 shall be followed. 7. Denial of permit to construct. If, after review of all information received, including public comment with respect to any proposed project, the department makes the determination of any one of subdivision a or b of subsection 5 in the negative, it shall deny the permit and notify the applicant, in writing, of the denial to issue a permit to construct. If a permit to construct is denied, the construction, installation, or establishment of the new stationary source shall be unlawful. No permit to construct or modify may be granted if such construction, or modification, or installation, will result in a violation of this article. 8. Issuance of permit to construct. If, after review of all information received, including public comment with respect to any proposed project, the department makes the determination of subdivision a and b of subsection 5 in the affirmative, the department shall issue a permit to construct. The permit may provide for conditions of operation as provided in subsection 9. 9. Permit to construct - Conditions. The department may impose any reasonable conditions upon a permit to construct, including conditions concerning: a. Sampling, testing, and monitoring of the facilities or the ambient air or both. b. Trial operation and performance testing. c. Prevention and abatement of nuisance conditions caused by operation of the facility. d. Recordkeeping and reporting. e. Compliance with applicable rules and regulations in accordance with a compliance schedule. f. Limitation on hours of operation, production rate, processing rate, or fuel usage when necessary to assure compliance with this article. The violation of any conditions so imposed may result in revocation or suspension of the permit or other appropriate enforcement action. 10. Scope. a. The issuance of a permit to construct for any source does not affect the responsibility of an owner or operator to comply with applicable portions of a control strategy affecting the source. b. A permit to construct shall become invalid if construction is not commenced within eighteen months after receipt of such permit, if construction is discontinued for a period of eighteen months or more; or if construction is not completed within a reasonable time. The department may extend the eighteen-month period upon a satisfactory showing that an extension is justified. This provision does not apply to the time period between construction of the approved phases of a phased construction project; each phase must commence construction within eighteen months of the projected and approved commencement date. In cases of major construction projects involving long lead times and substantial financial commitments, the department may provide by a condition to the permit a time period greater than eighteen months when such time extension is supported by sufficient documentation by the applicant. 11. Transfer of permit to construct. To ensure the responsible owners or operators, or both, are identified, the holder of a permit to construct may not transfer such permit without prior approval of the department. 12. [Reserved]. 13. Exemptions. A permit to construct is not required for the following stationary sources provided there is no federal requirement for a permit or approval for construction or operation. a. Maintenance, structural changes, or minor repair of process equipment, fuel burning equipment, control equipment, or incinerators which do not change capacity of such process equipment, fuel burning equipment, control equipment, or incinerators and which do not involve any change in the quality, nature, or quantity of emissions therefrom. b. Fossil fuel burning equipment, other than smokehouse generators, which meet all of the following criteria: (1) The heat input per unit does not exceed ten million British thermal units per hour. (2) The total aggregate heat input from all equipment does not exceed ten million British thermal units per hour. (3) The actual emissions, as defined in chapter 33.1-15-15, from all equipment do not exceed twenty-five tons [22.67 metric tons] per year of any air contaminant and the potential to emit any air contaminant for which an ambient air quality standard has been promulgated in chapter 33.1-15-02 is less than one hundred tons [90.68 metric tons] per year. c. (1) Any single internal combustion engine with less than five hundred brake horsepower, or multiple engines with a combined brake horsepower rating less than five hundred brake horsepower. (2) Any single internal combustion engine with a maximum rating of less than one thousand brake horsepower, or multiple engines with a combined brake horsepower rating of less than one thousand brake horsepower, and which operates a total of five hundred hours or less in a rolling twelve-month period. (3) Any internal combustion engine, or multiple engines at the same facility, with a total combined actual emission rate of five tons [4.54 metric tons] per year or less of any air contaminant for which an ambient air quality standard has been promulgated in section 33.1-15-02-04. (4) The exemptions listed in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 do not apply to engines that are a utility unit as defined in section 33.1-15-21-08.1. d. Bench scale laboratory equipment used exclusively for chemical or physical analysis or experimentation. e. Portable brazing, soldering, or welding equipment. f. The following equipment: (1) Comfort air-conditioners or comfort ventilating systems which are not designed and not intended to be used to remove emissions generated by or released from specific units or equipment. (2) Water cooling towers and water cooling ponds unless used for evaporative cooling of process water, or for evaporative cooling of water from barometric jets or barometric condensers or used in conjunction with an installation requiring a permit. (3) Equipment used exclusively for steam cleaning. (4) Porcelain enameling furnaces or porcelain enameling drying ovens. (5) Unheated solvent dispensing containers or unheated solvent rinsing containers of sixty gallons [227.12 liters] capacity or less. (6) Equipment used for hydraulic or hydrostatic testing. g. The following equipment or any exhaust system or collector serving exclusively such equipment: (1) Blast cleaning equipment using a suspension of abrasive in water. (2) Bakery ovens if the products are edible and intended for human consumption. (3) Kilns for firing ceramic ware, heated exclusively by gaseous fuels, singly or in combinations, and electricity. (4) Confection cookers if the products are edible and intended for human consumption. (5) Drop hammers or hydraulic presses for forging or metalworking. (6) Diecasting machines. (7) Photographic process equipment through which an image is reproduced upon material through the use of sensitized radiant energy. (8) Equipment for drilling, carving, cutting, routing, turning, sawing, planing, spindle sanding, or disc sanding of wood or wood products, which is located within a facility that does not vent to the outside air. (9) Equipment for surface preparation of metals by use of aqueous solutions, except for acid solutions. (10) Equipment for washing or drying products fabricated from metal or glass; provided, that no volatile organic materials are used in the process and that no oil or solid fuel is burned. (11) Laundry dryers, extractors, or tumblers for fabrics cleaned with only water solutions of bleach or detergents. h. Natural draft hoods or natural draft ventilators. i. Containers, reservoirs, or tanks used exclusively for: (1) Dipping operations for coating objects with oils, waxes, or greases, if no organic solvents are used. (2) Dipping operations for applying coatings of natural or synthetic resins which contain no organic solvents. (3) Storage of butane, propane, or liquefied petroleum or natural gas. (4) Storage of lubricating oils. (5) Storage of petroleum liquids except those containers, reservoirs, or tanks subject to the requirements of chapter 33.1-15-12. j. Gaseous fuel-fired or electrically heated furnaces for heat treating glass or metals, the use of which does not involve molten materials. k. Crucible furnaces, pot furnaces, or induction furnaces, with a capacity of one thousand pounds [453.59 kilograms] or less each, unless otherwise noted, in which no sweating or distilling is conducted, nor any fluxing conducted utilizing chloride, fluoride, or ammonium compounds, and from which only the following metals are poured or in which only the following metals are held in a molten state: (1) Aluminum or any alloy containing over fifty percent aluminum; provided, that no gaseous chlorine compounds, chlorine, aluminum chloride, or aluminum fluoride are used. (2) Magnesium or any alloy containing over fifty percent magnesium. (3) Lead or any alloy containing over fifty percent lead, in a furnace with a capacity of five hundred fifty pounds [249.48 kilograms] or less. (4) Tin or any alloy containing over fifty percent tin. (5) Zinc or any alloy containing over fifty percent zinc. (6) Copper. (7) Precious metals. l. Open burning activities within the scope of section 33.1-15-04-02. m. Flares used to indicate some danger to the public. n. Sources or alterations to a source which are of minor significance as determined by the department. o. Oil and gas production facilities as defined in chapter 33.1-15-20 which are not a major source as defined in section 33.1-15-14-06. 14. Performance and emission testing. a. Emission tests or performance tests or both shall be conducted by the owner or operator of a facility and data reduced in accordance with the applicable procedure, limitations, standards, and test methods established by this article. Such tests must be conducted under the owner's or operator's permit to construct, and such permit is subject to the faithful completion of the test in accordance with this article. b. All dates and periods of trial operation for the purpose of performance or emission testing pursuant to a permit to construct must be approved in advance by the department. Trial operation shall cease if the department determines, on the basis of the test results, that continued operation will result in the violation of this article. Upon completion of any test conducted under a permit to construct, the department may order the cessation of the operation of the tested equipment or facility until such time as a permit to operate has been issued by the department. c. Upon review of the performance data resulting from any test, the department may require the installation of such additional control equipment as will bring the facility into compliance with this article. d. Nothing in this article may be construed to prevent the department from conducting any test upon its own initiative, or from requiring the owner or operator to conduct any test at such time as the department may determine. 15. Responsibility to comply. a. Possession of a permit to construct does not relieve any person of the responsibility to comply with this article. b. The exemption of any stationary source from the requirements of a permit to construct by reason of inclusion in subsection 13 does not relieve the owner or operator of such source of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable portions of this article. 16. Portable sources. Sources which are designated to be portable and which are not subject to the requirements of chapter 33.1-15-15 are exempt from requirements to obtain a permit to construct. The owner or operator shall submit an application for a permit to operate prior to initiating operations. 17. Registration of exempted stationary sources. The department may require that the owner or operator of any stationary source exempted under subsection 13 shall register the source with the department within such time limits and on such forms as the department may prescribe. 18. Extensions of time. The department may extend any of the time periods specified in subsections 4, 5, and 6 upon notification of the applicant by the department. 19. Amendment of permits. The department may, when the public interest requires or when necessary to ensure the accuracy of the permit, modify any condition or information contained in the permit to construct. Modification shall be made only upon the department's own motion and the procedure shall, at a minimum, conform to any requirements of federal and state law. In the event that the modification would be a major modification as defined in chapter 33.1-15-15, the department shall follow the procedures established in chapter 33.1-15-15. For those of concern to the public, the department will provide: a. Reasonable notice to the public, in the area to be affected, of the opportunity for comment on the proposed modification, and the opportunity for a public hearing, upon request, as well as written public comment. b. A minimum of a thirty-day period for written public comment, with the opportunity for a public hearing during that thirty-day period, upon request. c. Consideration by the department of all comments received in its order for modification. The department may require the submission of such maps, plans, specifications, emission information, and compliance schedules as it deems necessary prior to the issuance of an amendment. It is the intention of the department that this subsection shall apply only in those instances allowed by federal rules and regulations and only in those instances in which the granting of a variance pursuant to section 33.1-15-01-06 and enforcement of existing permit conditions are manifestly inappropriate.