South Carolina Code of Regulations, Subchapter 61-62.1, Section 61-62.1.II - PERMIT REQUIREMENTS | South Carolina Code of Regulations

(A) Construction Permits

(1) Applicability

(a) Except as allowed under Section II(A)(1)(b) and (A)(1)(c) below, any person who plans to construct, alter, or add to a source of air contaminants, including installation of any device for the control of air contaminant discharges, shall first obtain a construction permit from the Department prior to commencement of construction.

(b) The Department may grant permission to proceed with minor alterations or additions without issuance of a construction permit when the Department determines that the alteration or addition will not increase the quantity and will not alter the character of the source's emissions.

(c) The owners or operators of sources not requesting to use federally enforceable construction permit conditions to limit potential to emit, sources not subject to regulations with more stringent start of construction limitations, or sources not otherwise exempt from permit requirements, may undertake the following on-site activities prior to obtaining a construction permit:

(i) Planning;

(ii) Engineering and design;

(iii) Geotechnical investigation;

(iv) Site land clearing and grading;

(v) Setting up temporary trailers to house construction staff and contractor personnel;

(vi) Ordering of equipment and materials;

(vii) Receipt and storing of equipment;

(viii) Pouring of the foundation up to and including the mounting pads and slab on grade;

(ix) Relocation of utilities;

(x) For existing sources, relocation/installation of piping, electrical service, and instrumentation;

(xi) Temporary power for the site (such as power lines);

(xii) Site drainage including ditches and culverts;

(xiii) Temporary dewatering activities associated with the excavations;

(xiv) Temporary gravel (Right Out of Crusher (ROC)) road beds for the site;

(xv) Soil only excavations;

(xvi) Temporary telecommunications for the site (such as telephone and internet); and

(xvii) Security fencing related to the storage of equipment and materials.

(d) In the event that the source does not qualify for issuance of a construction permit, the owners or operators accept the financial risk of commencing the activities listed in Section II(A)(1)(c)(i) through (A)(1)(c)(xvii) above.

(2) No permit to construct or modify a source will be issued if emissions interfere with attainment or maintenance of any state or federal standard.

(3) The owner or operator shall submit written notification to the Department of the date construction is commenced, postmarked within thirty (30) days after such date, and written notification of the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source, postmarked within fifteen (15) days after such date.

(4) Approval to construct shall become invalid if construction:

(a) Is not commenced within eighteen (18) months after receipt of such approval;

(b) Is discontinued for a period of eighteen (18) months or more; or

(c) Is not completed within a reasonable time as deemed by the Department.

(5) The Department may extend the construction permit for an additional 18-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 (18) months of the projected and approved commencement date.

(B) Exemptions from the Requirement to Obtain a Construction Permit

(1) No construction permits shall be required for the sources listed in Section II(B)(1)(a) through (B)(1)(c) below, which burn virgin fuel and which were constructed prior to February 11, 1971, and which are not located at a facility that meets the definition of a major source as defined in Regulation 61-62.70.2(r); however, modifications at these facilities may trigger the requirement to obtain a construction permit.

(a) Natural gas boilers.

(b) Oil-fired boilers of 50 million British thermal unit per hour (Btu/hr) rated input capacity or smaller.

(c) Coal-fired boilers of 20 million Btu/hr rated input capacity or smaller.

(2) No construction permits shall be required for the sources listed in Section II(B)(2)(a) through (B)(2)(h) below, unless otherwise specified by Regulation 61-62.70 or any other state or federal requirement. A source's exemption status may change upon the promulgation of new regulatory requirements applicable to any of the sources listed in Section II(B)(2)(a) through (B)(2)(g), or to any other sources that have been determined to have total uncontrolled emissions less than the thresholds in Section II(B)(2)(h), or to any similar sources that have been granted an exemption by the Department.

(a) Boilers and space heaters of less than 1.5 million Btu/hr rated input capacity which burn only virgin liquid fuels or virgin solid fuels.

(b) Boilers and space heaters of less than 10 million Btu/hr rated input capacity which burn only virgin gas fuels.

(c) Comfort air-conditioning or ventilation systems.

(d) Motor vehicles.

(e) Laboratory hoods.

(f) Emergency power generators as described below:

(i) Generators of less than or equal to 150 kilowatt (kW) rated capacity.

(ii) Generators of greater than 150 kW rated capacity designated for emergency use only and are operated a total of 500 hours per year or less for testing and maintenance and have a method to record the actual hours of use such as an hour meter.

(g) Sources emitting only steam, air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, or any physical combination of these.

(h) Sources with a total uncontrolled potential to emit (PTE) of less than five (5) tons per year each of particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide; and a total uncontrolled PTE of less than 1000 pounds per month (lbs/month) of VOCs will not require construction permits. Unless otherwise exempt, sources may be exempted under this section at higher emission levels if there is a demonstration that there are no applicable limits or requirements. These applicable requirements include federally applicable limits or requirements. However, these sources may be required to be included in any subsequent construction or operating permit review to ensure that there is no cause or contribution to an exceedance of any ambient air quality standard or limit. For toxic air pollutant exemptions, refer to Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 8. Emissions calculations and any other information necessary to document qualification for this exemption must be maintained onsite and provided to the Department upon request.

(3) The Department will place the exempt sources listed in Section II(B)(2)(a) through (B)(2)(g) above, and other sources that have been determined will not interfere with the attainment or maintenance of any state or federal standard, on a list of sources to be exempted without further review. The Department may develop emission thresholds for exemption that have been determined will not interfere with the attainment or maintenance of any state or federal standard, to be maintained with the list of sources to be exempted without further review. This list of sources and source emission thresholds that are exempt without further review from the requirement to obtain a construction permit will be maintained by the Department and periodically published in the South Carolina State Register for use by the public and the regulated community. Requests to the Department may be made to add sources to the list.

(4) Sources with only fugitive emissions must submit source information, and the need for permit(s) will be made by the Department on a case-by-case basis. This determination will take into consideration, but will not be limited to, the nature and amount of the pollutants, location, proximity to residences and commercial establishments, etc.

(5) Sources of VOCs greater than 1000 lbs/month may not require a permit. This determination will take into consideration, but will not be limited to, applicability to state and federal requirements. No waiver will be permissible if federal requirements apply unless otherwise exempt. Emissions calculations and any other information necessary to document qualification for this exemption and the need for permit(s) will be made by the Department on a case-by-case basis. Exempt sources of VOCs may be required to be included in any subsequent construction or operating permit review to ensure that there is no cause or contribution to an exceedance of any ambient air quality standard or limit.

(6) Requests for exemption from the requirement to obtain a construction permit, for new sources similar to sources already on the Department maintained list established in Section II(B)(3) above, or for modifications to existing equipment, including the reconstruction, relocation, and replacement of existing equipment, which may qualify for exemption as per Section II(B)(2)(h) and Section II(B)(4) above, shall include the following information:

(a) A complete description of the existing equipment and proposed modification;

(b) The pollutant(s) being emitted and any deviation from the parameters provided in earlier permit applications, permit exemptions, and issued permits;

(c) Any ambient air quality demonstrations needed for Regulation 61-62.5, Standards No. 2, No. 7, and No. 8; and

(d) A regulatory review to demonstrate the project is not a CAA Title I modification nor subject to Regulation 61-62.5, Standards No. 7 and No. 7.1.

(7) The construction permitting exemptions in Section II(B) do not relieve the owner or operator of any source from any obligation to comply with any other applicable requirements. The Department reserves the right to require a construction permit, and the need for permit(s) will be made by the Department on a case-by-case basis. This determination will take into consideration, but will not be limited to, the nature and amount of the pollutants, location, proximity to residences and commercial establishments, etc.

(C) Construction Permit Applications

(1) Construction permit applications shall be reviewed, signed, and sealed by a professional engineer registered to practice in the State of South Carolina (except professional engineers employed by the federal government preparing applications for the federal government or other professional engineers exempted from the state registration requirements).

(2) The following are exempt from the requirement that the construction permit applications be reviewed, signed, and sealed by a registered professional engineer provided the proposed unit is identical to a prototype model which has been previously designed or otherwise certified by a professional engineer:

(a) Package-type incinerators of 750 lb/hr rated capacity or smaller which burn Types 0 and 1 wastes as defined by the Incinerator Institute of America;

(b) Package-type incinerators of 500 lb/hr rated capacity or smaller which burn animal remains excluding those remains that are considered infectious waste;

(c) Package-type boilers of 100 million Btu/hr input capacity or smaller which burn natural gas or virgin oil as fuel; and

(d) Package-type concrete batch plants that are designed to be hauled to a site, set up, and broken down quickly, with little to no additional equipment needed to manufacture product.

(3) Construction permit applications shall provide the information described in Section II(C)(3)(a) through (C)(3)(r). This information should be submitted on Department forms, but project specific information may need to be provided in addition to that requested in applicable forms.

(a) The facility name (the name used to identify the facility at the location requesting the permit);

(b) The location of the facility including its street address;

(c) The name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the owner or operator for the facility;

(d) The name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the facility's air permit contact person;

(e) The facility's Federal Employer Identification Number or Federal Tax ID Number;

(f) A description and the U. S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code of the products or product lines to be produced by the proposed sources covered by this application;

(g) The facility's planned operating schedules;

(h) A description of the facility's proposed new or altered processes, including the physical and chemical properties and feed rate of the materials used and produced (in pounds per hour), from which the facility determined potential emissions;

(i) A process flow diagram/production process layout of all new or altered sources showing the flow of materials and intermediate and final products. The process flow diagram/production process layout must identify all equipment, machines, and process steps or product lines within the production process; all product streams; all exhaust streams (emission points) including fugitive within the production process; all waste streams; and all control devices including inherent process control devices used within the production process;

(j) A detailed description of each proposed or existing source that is being altered, including the size and type along with the make and model of the source and any associated air pollution control equipment;

(k) A description, including physical and chemical properties and the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number (if applicable), of all emissions from each proposed source or existing source that is being altered. Mass emission data and emission calculations, including the potential uncontrolled and controlled mass emission rate of each criteria pollutant and other air contaminants such as VOCs, toxic air pollutants (TAPs), and HAPs, that will be emitted from each source covered by the application. Emission calculations must be based on proper documentation that supports the basis of the emission rates such as stack test data, AP-42 emission factors, material balance, and/or engineering estimates. All assumptions used in the emission calculations must be provided. Fugitive emissions (for example, emissions from filling operations, pumps, valves, flanges, etc.) must be included in the emission calculations;

(l) A description of all air pollution control devices or systems on the new or altered sources, whether inherent or add-on. The description shall include, but not be limited to, the manufacturer specifications and ratings, the engineering design and operating characteristics, the projected capture and destruction, the control or removal efficiencies at expected contaminant loading levels, and the monitoring data collection and recordkeeping necessary to ensure proper operation of the air pollution control devices;

(m) Source information and calculations to demonstrate compliance with "Good Engineering Practice Stack Height" rules;

(n) A description of each stack or vent related to the proposed and/or existing source(s), including the minimum anticipated height above ground, maximum anticipated internal dimensions, discharge orientation, exhaust volume flow rate, exhaust gas temperature, and rain protection device, if any;

(o) Scale drawings showing a plan view of the property lines, the location of the source, all stacks, and other emission points related to the source, as well as buildings that might affect dispersion of any emissions;

(p) An air dispersion modeling analysis or other information demonstrating that emissions from the facility, including those in the application, will not interfere with the attainment or maintenance of any ambient air quality standard;

(q) A summary of facility-wide potential uncontrolled and controlled emissions with a regulatory applicability determination; and

(r) Other information as may be necessary for proper evaluation of the source as determined by the Department.

(D) General Construction Permits

(1) The Department may develop and issue general construction permits applicable to similar sources for new construction projects or minor modifications to existing sources.

(2) Any general construction permit shall incorporate all requirements applicable to the construction of similar sources and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for coverage under a general construction permit.

(3) Coverage under a General Construction Permit

(a) Sources may submit a construction permit application to the Department with a request for coverage under the conditions and terms of a general construction permit for similar sources. The Department shall grant a general construction permit to sources certifying qualification for and agreeing to the conditions and terms of a general construction permit for similar sources.

(b) A source that has submitted an individual construction permit application to the Department and has not requested coverage under the conditions and terms of a general construction permit for similar sources, but which is determined to qualify for coverage under a general construction permit, may be granted coverage under the general construction permit at the sole discretion of the Department.

(4) A source shall be subject to enforcement action for operation without a valid permit if the source is later determined not to qualify for coverage under a general construction permit.

(5) The Department may grant a source authorization to operate under a general construction permit, but such a grant shall be a final permit action for purposes of judicial review.

(6) The permit application for general construction permits may deviate from the requirements of Section II(C) above, provided that such application includes all information necessary to determine qualification for, and to assure compliance with, the general permit.

(7) A source that qualifies for coverage under a Department issued general construction permit may submit a construction permit application to the Department and request an individual construction permit in lieu of coverage under a general construction permit.

(E) Synthetic Minor Construction Permits

(1) General Provisions

(a) Any stationary source may request to use federally enforceable permit conditions to limit the source's potential to emit and become a synthetic minor source.

(b) Stationary sources requesting a synthetic minor construction permit shall submit a complete permit application package to the Department as prescribed by Section II(E)(5) below.

(c) Stationary sources requesting a synthetic minor construction permit shall undergo the public participation procedures of Section II(N) below.

(d) The Department shall act, within a reasonable time, on an application for a synthetic minor construction permit and shall notify the applicant in writing of its approval, conditional approval, or denial.

(e) In the event of a denial of a synthetic minor construction permit application, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial. The Department shall not accept a subsequent synthetic minor construction permit application until the applicant has addressed the concerns specified by the Department which caused the denial. The source shall correct all deficiencies noted by the Department within sixty (60) calendar days of receiving notice of the denial, or submit a complete major source construction permit application, as prescribed by Section II(C) above, if the source desires to proceed with the project.

(2) New Sources and Modifications

(a) A stationary source desiring to restrict its potential to emit shall submit a written request to the Department for a federally enforceable construction permit conditioned to constrain the operation of the source, along with a completed construction permit application package as prescribed by Section II(E)(5) below. The construction of the new or modified source shall not commence until the source has received an effective permit to construct.

(b) The owner or operator shall submit written notification to the Department of the date construction is commenced, postmarked within thirty (30) days after such date, and written notification of the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source, postmarked within fifteen (15) days after such date. A written request to obtain an operating permit shall be submitted to the Department within fifteen (15) days after the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source in accordance with Section II(F) below. A satisfactory compliance inspection by a Department representative may precede the issuance of an operating permit for any newly constructed or modified source.

(3) Synthetic Minor Construction Permit Conditions

(a) Synthetic minor construction permits shall contain the standard permit conditions listed in Section II(J)(1) below and any special permit conditions required to verify a source's compliance with the emissions limitations and operational requirements.

(b) The limitations and requirements listed as permit conditions shall be permanent, quantifiable, or otherwise enforceable as a practical matter.

(c) All synthetic minor construction permit conditions that constrain the operation of a source in an effort to limit potential to emit below major source threshold levels shall be federally enforceable. Unless otherwise agreed by the Department and EPA, the Department shall provide to EPA on a timely basis a copy of each proposed (or draft) and final permit intended to be federally enforceable.

(4) General Synthetic Minor Construction Permits

(a) The Department may, after notice and opportunity for public participation provided under Section II(N) below, issue a general synthetic minor construction permit applicable to similar sources.

(b) Any general synthetic minor construction permit shall incorporate all requirements applicable to the construction of similar synthetic minor sources and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for coverage under a general synthetic minor construction permit.

(c) Coverage under a General Synthetic Minor Construction Permit

(i) Sources may submit a synthetic minor construction permit application to the Department with a request for coverage under the conditions and terms of a general synthetic minor construction permit for similar sources. The Department shall grant a general synthetic minor construction permit to sources certifying qualification for and agreeing to the conditions and terms of a general synthetic minor construction permit for similar sources.

(ii) A source that has submitted an individual synthetic minor construction permit application and has not requested coverage under the conditions and terms of a general synthetic minor construction permit for similar sources, but which is determined to qualify for coverage under a general synthetic minor construction permit, may be granted coverage under the general synthetic minor construction permit at the sole discretion of the Department.

(d) The source shall be subject to enforcement action for operation without a valid permit if the source is later determined not to qualify for coverage under a general synthetic minor construction permit.

(e) The Department may grant a source authorization to operate under a general synthetic minor construction permit without further public notice, but such a grant shall be a final permit action for purposes of judicial review.

(f) The Department shall provide timely notice to the public of any authorization given to a facility to operate under the terms of a general synthetic minor construction permit. Such notice may be made on a periodic, summarized basis covering all facilities receiving authorization since the last notice.

(g) A source that qualifies for coverage under a Department issued general synthetic minor construction permit may submit a construction permit application to the Department and request an individual synthetic minor construction permit in lieu of coverage under a general synthetic minor construction permit.

(5) Requirements for Synthetic Minor Construction Permit Applications

(a) In addition to the minimum information required by Section II(C)(3) above, any facility applying for a synthetic minor construction permit must also provide the following:

(i) Potential emission calculations and proposed federally enforceable emission limitations for each emission unit at the facility verifying that the total emissions at the facility will be below the major source (or facility) thresholds;

(ii) All proposed production and/or operational limitations that will constrain the operation of each emission unit that are to be identified as federally enforceable; and

(iii) All proposed monitoring parameters, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements the applicant will use to determine and verify compliance with the requested federally enforceable limitations on a continuous basis. The applicant shall also provide the compliance status of these proposed parameters and requirements at the time of the application submittal.

(b) The permit application for general synthetic minor construction permits may deviate from the requirements of Section II(E)(5)(a) provided that such application includes all information necessary to determine qualification for, and to assure compliance with, the general permit.

(F) Operating Permits

(1) The owner or operator shall submit written notification to the Department of the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source, postmarked within fifteen (15) days after such date. Any source that is required to obtain an air quality construction permit issued by the Department must obtain an operating permit when the new or altered source is placed into operation and shall comply with the requirements of this section.

(2) When a Department issued construction permit includes only emission limits, monitoring, reporting, and/or other requirements that do not establish engineering or construction specifications for the project, the owner or operator may operate the source in compliance with the terms and conditions of the construction permit until the operating permit is issued by the Department.

(3) When a Department issued construction permit includes engineering and/or construction specifications, the owner/operator or professional engineer in charge of the project shall certify that, to the best of his/her knowledge and belief and as a result of periodic observation during construction, the construction under application has been completed in accordance with the specifications agreed upon in the construction permit issued by the Department. If construction is certified as provided above, the owner or operator may operate the source in compliance with the terms and conditions of the construction permit until the operating permit is issued by the Department. If construction is not built as specified in the permit application and associated construction permit(s), the owner/operator must submit to the Department a complete description of modifications that are at variance with the documentation of the construction permitting determination prior to commencing operation. Construction variances that would trigger additional requirements that have not been addressed prior to start of operation shall be considered construction without a permit.

(4) Request for a New or Revised Operating Permit

(a) For sources covered by an effective Title V operating permit, the modification request required by Regulation 61-62.70 shall serve as the request to operate for the purposes of this regulation.

(b) For sources not subject to Regulation 61-62.70, or not yet covered by an effective Title V operating permit, the owner or operator shall submit a written request for a new or revised operating permit to cover any new, or altered source, postmarked within fifteen (15) days after the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source.

(c) The written request for a new or revised operating permit must include, at a minimum, the following information:

(i) A list of sources that were placed into operation; and

(ii) The actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source.

(5) General Operating Permits

(a) The Department may develop and issue a general operating permit applicable to similar sources.

(b) Any general operating permit shall incorporate all requirements applicable to the operation of similar sources and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for coverage under a general operating permit.

(c) Coverage under a General Operating Permit

(i) Sources may submit a permit application to the Department with a request for coverage under the conditions and terms of a general operating permit for similar sources. The Department shall grant a general operating permit to a source certifying qualification for and agreeing to the conditions and terms of a general operating permit for similar sources.

(ii) A source that has submitted an individual permit application to the Department and has not requested coverage under the conditions and terms of a general operating permit for similar sources, but which is determined to qualify for coverage under a general operating permit, may be granted coverage under the general operating permit at the sole discretion of the Department.

(d) The source shall be subject to enforcement action for operation without a valid permit if the source is later determined not to qualify for coverage under a general operating permit.

(e) The Department may grant a source authorization to operate under a general operating permit, but such a grant shall be a final permit action for purposes of judicial review.

(f) A source that qualifies for coverage under a Department issued general operating permit may submit an operating permit application to the Department and request an individual operating permit in lieu of coverage under a general operating permit.

(G) Conditional Major Operating Permits

(1) The requirements of Section II(G) shall apply to those sources that request a federally enforceable permit to limit their potential to emit to less than major source thresholds.

(2) General Provisions

(a) Any stationary source that satisfies the definition of a major source may request a federally enforceable conditional major operating permit to limit the source's potential to emit and become a conditional major source. Any stationary source that has received a synthetic minor construction permit to limit the source's potential to emit below major source threshold levels, that is not required to obtain a Title V operating permit, shall be issued a conditional major operating permit to consolidate the source's limitations on potential to emit and shall be considered a conditional major source.

(b) Stationary sources requesting a conditional major operating permit shall submit a complete request for a new or revised operating permit to the Department as required by Section II(G)(6) below.

(c) Stationary sources requesting an original conditional major operating permit shall undergo the public participation procedures of Section II(N) below.

(d) The Department shall act on a request for a conditional major operating permit and shall notify the source in writing of its approval, conditional approval, or denial.

(e) In the event of a denial of a conditional major operating permit request, the Department shall notify the source in writing of the reasons for the denial. The Department shall not accept a subsequent conditional major operating permit request until the source has addressed the concerns specified by the Department which caused the original denial. The source shall correct all deficiencies noted by the Department or submit a complete permit application in accordance with Regulation 61-62.70 in order to receive a Title V operating permit.

(3) Existing Sources

(a) Any owner or operator desiring to be permitted as a conditional major source shall submit an operating permit request containing the information identified in Section II(G)(6) below. A federally enforceable conditional major operating permit shall constrain the operations of the source such that potential emissions fall below applicable regulatory levels and therefore exclude the source from the requirements to have a Title V operating permit.

(b) A request for a conditional major operating permit shall not relieve a source from the requirement to meet the deadline for submittal of a Title V operating permit application.

(4) New or Modified Sources

(a) Any owner or operator who plans to construct, alter, or add to a source of air contaminants, including the installation of any device for the control of air contaminant discharges, and desires a conditional major operating permit shall provide a written request to the Department for a federally enforceable synthetic minor construction permit conditioned to constrain the operation of the source, along with a complete construction permit application package containing the information identified in Section II(G)(6) below. The construction of the new or modified source shall not commence until the source has received an effective permit to construct from the Department.

(b) A written request to obtain a conditional major operating permit shall be submitted to the Department, postmarked within fifteen (15) days after the actual date of initial startup of each new or altered source. This request shall include any additional information required in Section II(G)(6) below. These facilities will be issued conditional major operating permits without further public notice if no substantive changes to limitations are required. A satisfactory compliance inspection by a Department representative may precede the issuance of an operating permit for any newly constructed or modified source.

(5) Conditional Major Operating Permit Conditions

(a) Conditional major operating permits shall contain the standard permit conditions listed in Section II(J)(1) below, and any special permit conditions required to verify a source's compliance with the emissions limitations and operational requirements.

(b) The limitations and requirements listed as permit conditions shall be permanent, quantifiable, or otherwise enforceable as a practical matter.

(c) All conditional major operating permit conditions that constrain the operation of a source in an effort to limit potential to emit below major source threshold levels as defined in Regulation 61-62.70 shall be federally enforceable. Unless otherwise agreed by the Department and EPA, the Department shall provide to EPA on a timely basis a copy of each proposed (or draft) and final permit intended to be federally enforceable.

(6) Additional Requirements for Conditional Major Operating Permit Requests

(a) In addition to the minimum information required by Section II(C)(3) above, any facility requesting a conditional major operating permit must also provide the following:

(i) Potential emission calculations and proposed federally enforceable emission limitations for each emission unit at the facility verifying that the total emissions at the facility will be below the major source (or facility) thresholds;

(ii) All proposed production and/or operational limitations that will constrain the operation of each emission unit that are to be identified as federally enforceable; and

(iii) All proposed monitoring parameters, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements the source will use to determine and verify compliance with the requested federally enforceable limitations on a continuous basis. The source shall also provide the compliance status of these proposed parameters and requirements at the time of the request submittal.

(b) The request for general conditional major operating permits may deviate from the requirements of Section II(G)(6) provided that such request includes all information necessary to determine qualification for, and to assure compliance with, the general permit.

(7) General Conditional Major Operating Permits

(a) The Department may, after notice and opportunity for public participation provided under Section II(N) below, issue a general conditional major operating permit applicable to similar sources.

(b) Any general conditional major operating permit shall incorporate all requirements applicable to the operation of similar conditional major sources and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for a general permit.

(c) Coverage under a General Conditional Major Operating Permit

(i) Sources may submit a permit application to the Department with a request for coverage under the conditions and terms of a general conditional major operating permit for similar sources. The Department shall grant a general conditional major operating permit to sources certifying qualification for and agreeing to the conditions and terms of a general conditional major operating permit for similar sources.

(ii) A source that has submitted an individual permit application to the Department and has not requested coverage under the conditions and terms of a general conditional major operating permit for similar sources, but which is determined to qualify for coverage under a general conditional major operating permit, may be granted coverage under the general conditional major operating permit at the sole discretion of the Department.

(d) The source shall be subject to enforcement action for operation without a valid permit if the source is later determined not to qualify for coverage under a general conditional major operating permit.

(e) The Department may grant a source authorization to operate under a general conditional major operating permit without further public notice, but such a grant shall be a final permit action for purposes of judicial review.

(f) The Department shall provide timely notice to the public of any authorization given to a facility to operate under the terms of a general conditional major operating permit. Such notice may be made on a periodic, summarized basis covering all facilities receiving authorization since the last notice.

(g) A source that qualifies for coverage under a Department issued general conditional major operating permit may submit a permit application to the Department and request an individual conditional major operating permit in lieu of coverage under a general conditional major operating permit.

(H) Operating Permit Renewal Requests

(1) Submission of a request for renewal meeting the requirements in Section II(H)(2)-(5) below, shall allow the owner or operator to continue operating pursuant to the most recent operating permit until such time as the Department has taken final action on the request for renewal.

(2) Any source that wishes to have its operating permit renewed must submit a written request to the Department.

(3) The provisions of Section II(H) shall apply only to those sources not subject to Regulation 61-62.70. For sources covered by an effective Title V operating permit, the operating permit renewal request required by Regulation 61-62.70 shall serve as the request to operate for the purposes of this regulation.

(4) For sources not subject to Regulation 61-62.70, the owner or operator shall submit an operating permit renewal request to the Department within ninety (90) days prior to the operating permit expiration date. The source may be inspected by the Department in order to decide whether to renew the permit. Past records of compliance and future probability of compliance will be considered in making the decision regarding renewal.

(5) Operating permit renewal requests shall include a description of any changes at the facility that have occurred since issuance of the last operating permit that may affect the operating permit or operating permit review. In general, the description shall include any addition, alteration, or removal of sources, including sources exempt from construction permit requirements; addition, alteration, or removal of emission limitations; any changes to monitoring, recordkeeping, or reporting requirements; and any changes or additions to special permit conditions. The following items should be addressed as part of the operating permit renewal request:

(a) The facility name (the name used to identify the facility at the location requesting the permit);

(b) The location of the facility including its street address;

(c) The name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the owner or operator for the facility;

(d) The name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the facility's air permit contact person;

(e) The facility's Federal Employer Identification Number or Federal Tax ID Number;

(f) Any change to the SIC Code or NAICS Codes of the products or product lines;

(g) Any construction permits to be incorporated into the operating permit, either whole or in part, any listed information descriptions that have been removed or decommissioned, and any changes to exempted sources listed in the current operating permit;

(h) Any change to the facility's planned operating schedules or description of the facility's current and/or proposed processes, including the physical and chemical properties and feed rate of the materials used and produced (in lb/hr) from which the facility determined actual and potential emissions;

(i) Any changes to current process flow diagram or production process layout shall be addressed, showing the flow of materials and intermediate and final products. Updated process flow diagram or production process layout must identify major equipment, machines, and process steps or product lines within the production process; all product streams; all exhaust streams (emission points) including fugitive within the production process; all waste streams; and all control devices including inherent process control devices used within the production process;

(j) A description, including the CAS number (if applicable), of all emissions from each source. Mass emission data and emission calculations, including the potential uncontrolled and controlled mass emission rate of each criteria pollutant and other air contaminants such as VOCs, TAPs, and HAPs emitted from each source. Emission calculations must be based on proper documentation that supports the basis of the emission rates such as stack test data, AP-42 emission factors, material balance, and/or engineering estimates. All assumptions used in the emission calculations must be provided. Fugitive emissions (for example, emissions from filling operations, pumps, valves, flanges, etc.) must be included in the emission calculations. A summary of facility-wide potential uncontrolled and controlled emissions with a regulatory applicability determination must be provided. If existing data supplied to the Department remains correct, identify documents referenced to comply with this requirement;

(k) A description of stack, vent, or fugitive emission parameters associated with each non-exempt emission source. For each emission point/source, this information should include, as appropriate, Universal Transverse Mercator or latitude and longitude coordinates of the emission location, the minimum height above ground, maximum internal dimensions of the emission point/vent, discharge orientation, emission exit velocity, emission exit temperature, dimensions describing the volume or area of fugitive emissions, existence of any rain protection device or other impediment to vertical dispersion, etc. If existing data supplied to the Department remains correct, identify the document(s) submitted to comply with this requirement; and

(l) Other information as may be necessary for proper evaluation of the operating permit request.

(I) Registration Permits

(1) Development of Registration Permits

(a) The Department may develop and issue a registration permit applicable to similar sources.

(b) Any registration permit developed shall incorporate all requirements applicable to the construction and operation of similar sources and shall identify criteria by which sources may qualify for coverage under a registration permit.

(c) Registration permits will be developed only for specific stationary source groups with uncontrolled potential to emit less than the threshold for major source groups, in accordance with Regulation 61-62.70, Title V Operating Permit Program; Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 7, Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Regulation 61-62.5, Standard No. 7.1, Nonattainment New Source Review; and where equipment similarities and simplicity remove the need for in depth site-specific review.

(2) Application for Coverage Under a Registration Permit

(a) Coverage under a Registration Permit

(i) Sources may submit a permit application to the Department with a request for coverage under the conditions and terms of a registration permit for similar sources in lieu of a construction and operating permit as provided in Section II(A) and (F) above. The Department shall grant a registration permit to sources certifying qualification for and agreeing to the conditions and terms of the registration permit applicable to similar sources.

(ii) A source that has submitted an individual permit application to the Department and has not requested coverage under the conditions and terms of a registration permit for similar sources, but which is determined to qualify for a registration permit, may be granted coverage under the registration permit at the sole discretion of the Department.

(b) The source shall be subject to enforcement action for operation without a valid permit if the source is later determined not to qualify for coverage under a registration permit.

(c) The Department reserves the right to require a construction and/or operating permit; the requirement for a permit(s) will be made by the Department on a case-by-case basis. This determination will take into consideration, but may not be limited to, the nature and amount of the pollutants, location, and proximity to residences and commercial establishments.

(d) The Department may grant a source authorization to operate under a registration permit, but such a grant shall be a final permit action for purposes of judicial review.

(e) A source that qualifies for coverage under a Department issued registration permit may submit a permit application to the Department and request an individual permit in lieu of coverage under a general registration permit.

(3) Registration Permit Conditions

(a) Registration permits shall contain any applicable permit conditions listed in Section II(J) below as the Department finds appropriate.

(b) Registration permits shall contain any applicable special permit conditions required to verify a source's compliance with any emissions limitations and operational requirements.

(4) Any registration permit may be reopened by the Department for cause or to include any new standard or regulation which becomes applicable to a source during the life of the permit.

(J) Permit Conditions

(1) Standard Permit Conditions

All construction and operating permits shall contain the following standard permit conditions.

(a) No applicable law, regulation, or standard will be contravened.

(b) All official correspondence, plans, permit applications, and written statements are an integral part of the permit. Any false information or misrepresentation in the application for a construction or operating permit may be grounds for permit revocation.

(c) For sources not required to have continuous emission monitors, any malfunction of air pollution control equipment or system, process upset, or other equipment failure which results in discharges of air contaminants lasting for one (1) hour or more and which are greater than those discharges described for normal operation in the permit application, shall be reported to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours after the beginning of the occurrence and a written report shall be submitted to the Department within thirty (30) days. The written report shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(i) The identity of the stack and/or emission point where the excess emissions occurred;

(ii) The magnitude of the excess emissions expressed in the units of the applicable emission limitation and the operating data and calculations used in determining the excess emissions;

(iii) The time and duration of the excess emissions;

(iv) The identity of the equipment causing the excess emissions;

(v) The nature and cause of such excess emissions;

(vi) The steps taken to remedy the malfunction and the steps taken or planned to prevent the recurrence of such malfunction;

(vii) The steps taken to limit the excess emissions; and

(viii) Documentation that the air pollution control equipment, process equipment, or processes were at all times maintained and operated, to the maximum extent practicable, in a manner consistent with good practice for minimizing emissions.

(d) Sources required to have continuous emission monitors shall submit reports as specified in applicable parts of the permit, law, regulations, or standards.

(e) Any owner or operator who constructs or operates a source or modification not in accordance with the application submitted pursuant to this regulation or with the terms of any approval to construct, or who commences construction after the effective date of these regulations without applying for and receiving approval hereunder, shall be subject to enforcement action.

(f) Approval to construct shall become invalid if construction is not commenced within eighteen (18) months after receipt of such approval, if construction is discontinued for a period of eighteen (18) months or more, or if construction is not completed within a reasonable time. The Department may extend the eighteen (18)-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 (18) months of the projected and approved commencement date.

(g) A copy of the Department issued construction and/or operating permit must be kept readily available at the facility at all times. The owner or operator shall maintain such operational records; make reports; install, use, and maintain monitoring equipment or methods; sample and analyze emissions or discharges in accordance with prescribed methods at locations, intervals, and procedures as the Department shall prescribe; and provide such other information as the Department reasonably may require. All records required to demonstrate compliance with the limits established under a permit shall be maintained on site for a period of at least five (5) years from the date the record was generated.

(2) Special Permit Conditions

As the Department finds appropriate, permits shall include special permit conditions such as, but not limited to, production limits, operational limits, source performance testing, operation and maintenance requirements, notification requirements, recordkeeping requirements, reporting requirements, and other monitoring as required.

(a) When special permit conditions contain production or operational limits, the permit shall have monitoring and/or recordkeeping requirements to verify a source's compliance with the limitations.

(b) When special permit conditions require an add-on air pollution control device to be operated at a specified destruction and removal efficiency level, the permit shall have monitoring and recordkeeping requirements to determine the add-on air pollution control device's performance on a short-term basis.

(c) The time period over which a permit limitation on production or operation extends will be as short as possible. For the purpose of determining compliance, permit limitations will, in general, not exceed one (1) month and shall not exceed an annual limit with a rolling monthly average or sum.

(d) An owner or operator of stationary sources that desires or is required to conduct performance tests to verify emissions limitations shall ensure that source tests are conducted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 61-62.1, Section IV, Source Tests.

(e) An hourly emission limit shall be sufficient only if the permit condition(s) require the installation, calibration, maintenance, and operation of a CEMS or any other monitoring approved by the Department. All monitoring data shall be defined and recorded for showing compliance with the emission limit(s).

(f) The limitations and requirements listed in the permit conditions shall be permanent, quantifiable, or otherwise enforceable as a practical matter.

(K) Exceptions

(1) Upon request, the Department may alter operating permits, compliance schedules, or other restrictions on operation of a source provided that resulting ambient air concentration levels will not exceed any national or state ambient air quality standard. Factors to be considered by the Department may include, but are not limited to, technology, economics, national energy policy, and existing air quality. The request by the source must also show the following:

(a) Good faith efforts have been made to comply with the state requirements;

(b) The source is unable to comply with the state requirements because the necessary technology or other alternative methods of control are not reasonably available or have not been available for a sufficient period of time;

(c) Any available operating procedures or control measures reducing the impact of the source on ambient air concentrations have been implemented; and

(d) The request is submitted in a timely manner.

(2) The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to mass emission limits which are imposed upon any source by the following requirements:

(a) Federal New Source Performance Standards (NSPS);

(b) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP);

(c) Federal or State Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Regulations; or

(d) Nonattainment requirements.

(3) Where a permanent increase in the visible emission limitation for a source is requested, the source must demonstrate that it will remain in compliance with the applicable particulate emission standard.

(4) Any alternative compliance schedule shall provide for compliance with the applicable regulations as expeditiously as practicable based on a plan submitted with the request for the alternative compliance schedule.

(5) Any request under this section will be subjected to public notice and opportunity for a public hearing. Upon approval by the Board, the recommendations of this Department shall be sent to the Administrator, or his designated representative, for approval or disapproval.

(6) Where alternative compliance schedule provisions are contained elsewhere in the air pollution control regulations, those provisions shall supersede the requirements in this section.

(L) Emergency Provisions

(1) An "emergency" means any situation arising from sudden and reasonably unforeseeable events beyond the control of the source, including acts of God, in which a situation requires immediate corrective action to restore normal operation, and that causes the source to exceed a technology-based emission limitation under the permit due to unavoidable increases in emissions attributable to the emergency. An emergency shall not include noncompliance to the extent caused by improperly designed equipment, lack of preventative maintenance, careless or improper operation, or operator error.

(2) An emergency may be documented through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs and other relevant evidence that verify:

(a) An emergency occurred and the owner or operator can identify the cause(s) of the emergency;

(b) The permitted source was, at the time the emergency occurred, being properly operated;

(c) During the period of the emergency, the owner or operator took all reasonable steps to minimize levels of emissions that exceeded the emission standards or other requirements in the permit; and

(d) The owner or operator gave a verbal notification of the emergency to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours of the time when emission limitations were exceeded, followed by a written report within thirty (30) days. The written report shall include, at a minimum, the information required by Section II(J)(1)(c)(i) through (J)(1)(c)(viii) above. The written report shall contain a description of the emergency, any steps taken to mitigate emissions, and corrective actions taken.

(3) This provision is in addition to any emergency or upset provision contained in any applicable requirement.

(M) Transfer of Ownership/Operation Within thirty (30) days of the transfer of ownership/operation of a facility, the current permit holder and prospective new owner/operator shall submit to the Department a written request for transfer of the source operating or construction permit(s). The written request for transfer of the source operating or construction permit(s) shall include any changes pertaining to the facility name; the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the owner or operator for the facility; and any proposed changes to the permitted activities of the source. Transfer of the operating or construction permit(s) will be effective upon written approval by the Department.

(N) Public Participation Procedures

(1) When determined to be appropriate by the Department (or specified by regulation), notice of permitting activity shall be provided to the public and other entities for their review and comment. Public notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the source is located, or by posting to a public website identified by the Department, or by publication in the South Carolina State Register, and to persons on a mailing list developed by the Department, including those who request in writing to be on the list. The Department may use additional means of public notice, including, but not limited to public meetings.

(2) The notice shall include the following:

(a) The name and physical address of the facility;

(b) The name and address of the Department;

(c) Applicable activities involved in the permit action;

(d) Applicable emission change involved in any permit modification;

(e) The name, address, and telephone number of a person from whom interested persons may obtain additional information, including copies of the permit draft, the application, and all other materials available to the Department that are relevant to the permit decision, except for information entitled to confidential treatment (the contents of any proposed or draft permit shall not be treated as confidential information);

(f) A brief description of the comment procedures; and

(g) The time and place of any public hearing that may be held, including a statement of procedures to request a hearing (unless a hearing has already been scheduled).

(3) The Department shall provide at least thirty (30) days for public and EPA comment and shall give notice of any public hearing at least thirty (30) days in advance of the hearing.

(a) The Department shall keep a record of the commenters and the comments made during the public comment period.

(b) The Department shall consider all written comments submitted within a time specified in the notice of public comment and all comments received at any public hearing(s) in making a final decision on the approvability of the application.

(4) A newly constructed or modified source issued a federally enforceable final construction permit will not require an additional public comment period and/or hearing to obtain an operating permit, unless the source proposes a change in the original construction and/or operational plan, prior to commencing construction, which the Department determines would require an additional public comment period and/or hearing.

(5) Any proposed new or modified stationary source required to undergo a public comment period shall not commence any construction until all public participation procedures of this section are completed, and the source has received an effective construction permit from the Department.

(6) Maintenance activities, repairs, and replacements which the Department determines to be routine for that source category shall not, by themselves, be required to undergo the public participation procedures of Section II(N).

(O) Inspection and Entry

Upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, the owner or operator shall allow the Department or an authorized representative to perform the following:

(1) Enter the facility where emissions-related activity is conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of the permit;

(2) Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of the permit;

(3) Inspect any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and air pollution control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and

(4) As authorized by the Clean Air Act and/or the South Carolina Pollution Control Act, sample or monitor, at reasonable times, substances or parameters for the purpose of assuring compliance with the permit or applicable requirements.

South Carolina Code of RegulationsChapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLSubchapter 61-62 - Air Pollution Control Regulations and StandardsSubchapter 61-62.1 - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTSSection 61-62.1.II - PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-62 - Air Pollution Control Regulations and Standards
Subchapter 61-62.1 - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Section 61-62.1.II - PERMIT REQUIREMENTS