Title V of the Clean Air Act requires “Major Sources” of air pollution to obtain operating permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state or local agency that EPA has authorized to issue these permits. Major Sources in Allegheny County are permitted by the Allegheny County Health Department; in surrounding counties they are permitted by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
A Major Source has the potential to emit at least 100 tons per year of any air pollutant, 10 tons per year of any single hazardous air pollutant, or 25 tons per year of any combination of hazardous air pollutants. A Title V Operating Permit is like a snapshot that includes all emissions limits and standards to which a source is subject, as well as all operating, monitoring, and reporting requirements that apply at the time of a permit’s issuance. By including all requirements in one document, these permits help source operators comply with those regulations. They also help regulators and members of the public enforce them–all with the ultimate goal of reducing air pollution.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to use the clearinghouse: