Air Quality Bureau
| Permitting Section |
|---|
Improving Environmental Permitting - Air Quality Bureau
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is seeking public comment on a draft report for improving the air quality permit process in New Mexico. The report “Improving Air Quality Permitting” summarizes findings and recommendations developed by NMED after several months of evaluating the air permitting program. This draft report is available for public comment until December 15, 2012. Go to http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/documents/AQB_Draft_Report_11_14_12.pdf to review the draft report. Comments may be sent by email to sandra.ely@state.nm.us or morgan.nelson@state.nm.us, or by regular mail to Morgan Nelson, Office of the Secretary, New Mexico Environment Department, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469
The AQB Permitting Section processes permit applications for industries that emit pollutants to the air. The Permitting Section consists of three units, the Minor Source Unit, the Major Source Unit and the Technical Services Unit.
The Minor Source Unit NSR Minor Source Permits & Modifications, Streamline Permits, Notice of Intent (NOI), & No Permit Required (NPR) Determinations Minor Source Unit Manager: Lisa Spahr, 505-476-4303 |
|---|
| Industries that wish to build or modify facilities that emit air pollutants (emissions) into the air must obtain an air quality permit prior to constructing. Thus, these permits are called construction permits. These facilities are subject to and the associated construction permits are issued persuant to the New Mexico Adminstrative Code (NMAC) regulation 20.2.72 NMAC and 20.2.74 NMAC. |
| NSR Minor Source Construction Permits |
Construction Permits are required for all sources with the potential emission rate greater than 10 pounds per hour, or 25 tons per year, of criteria pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide). Air quality construction permits must be obtained for new or modified sources prior beginning construction. Construction Permits for for new Title V (TV) major and new Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) major sources including modifications to existing TV and PSD sources should cordinate with and submit your permit application to the Major Source Unit manager, Ned Jerabek. |
| Modifications to Minor Source NSR Construction Permits |
| The Minor Source Unit is responsible for issuing construction permits (sometimes referred to as NSR permits) and modifications to construction permits for minor sources only. It also issues minor revisions to construction permits called technical revisions. |
| Streamline Permits |
| The Minor Source Unit also issues several industry specific permits such as Streamline Permits (oil & gas compressor stations). |
| Notice of Intent (NOI) |
| Facilities that emit less pollutants than cited above still need to report their emissions to the Department if the facility emits more than 10 tons per year of any criteria pollutant. These facilities must be issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to construction. |
| No Permit Required (NPR) |
| Facilities that emit less than 10 tons per year of any criteria pollutant do not need an air quality permit nor do they need a Notice of Intent. No permitting action is required of these facilities. If for their own purposes, these facilities would like a letter from the Department confirming their determination, they may request a No Permit Required (NPR) determination from the Department. |
The Major Source Unit Title V (TV) Permits & Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits Major Source Unit Manager: Ned Jerabek , 505-476-4335 |
|---|
Title V Operating Permits |
| Title V Operating Permits (under the Title V program) are required for major sources that have a potential to emit more than 100 tons per year for criteria pollutants, or for landfills greater than 2.5 million cubic meters (2.5 million-mg). In addition, TV major sources also include facilities that have the potential to emit greater than ten tons per year of a single Hazardous Air Pollutant, or 25 tons per year of any combination of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP). These facilities are subject to and the associated operating permits are issued persuant to the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) regulation 20.2.70 NMAC. |
| Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits |
| Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits (subject to 20.2.74 NMAC) are required prior to construction or modification of sources subject to 20.2.74 NMAC. |
The Technical Services Unit General Construction Permits (GCP), Relocation Approvals, Equipment Substitutions, Administrative Revisions, Permit Fees, Permit Assignments (Acting) Technical Services Unit Manager: Liz Bisbey-Kuehn , 505-476-4338 |
|---|
General Construction Permits |
| Instead of a regular construction permit or a streamline permit, compressor stations may optionally apply for a GCP-1 or a GCP-4 permit. In lieu of obtaining a regular NSR permit (above), the construction materials industry may elect to obtain a GCP-2 permit (screens & rock crushers), a GCP-3 permit (asphalt plants), or a GCP-5 (concrete batch plants). |
Refer to "Do I Need a Permit?" for a more complete discussion on permitting requirements, types of permits, and general permitting guidance.
The following links link to typical permitting information requests:
Air Quality Regulations for New Mexico
Air Quality Permitting procedures, both draft and final
Downloadable Application forms and Instructions for permits
Frequently Asked Permitting Questions (FAQs)
Public Notices for recent air quality permits applications
Applications and Draft Permits for interested parties
Power Generation Projects in New Mexico
Title V Operating Permit Monitoring Protocols
Permitting Issuance Statistics
Permitting Issuance Statistics