Who Has to Obtain a Title V Permit?

Any major source:

• A major source has actual or potential emissions at or above the major source threshold for any “air pollutant.”
• The major source threshold for any air pollutant is 100 tons/year (this is the “default value”).
• Lower thresholds apply in non-attainment areas (but only for the pollutant that are in non-attainment). (See Table below).
• Major source thresholds for “hazardous air pollutants” (HAP) are 10 tons/year for a single HAP or 25 tons/year for any combination of HAP.
• The EPA generally has not required non-major sources to get permits (except as shown below).

Any Source with a Major Source Permit under the New Source Review Permitting Program

“Affected Sources” under Acid Rain Rules

Regardless of Size

Solid Waste Incineration Units under Section 129 

• Municipal waste combustors (large and small)
• Hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerators
• Commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators
• Other solid waste incinerators
• Sewage sludge incinerators

Non-major Sources subject to National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) (MACT or GACT Standards)

• Hazardous waste combustors
• Portland cement manufacturers
• Mercury cell chlor-alkali plants
• Secondary lead smelters
• Carbon black production 
• Chemical manufacturing: chromium compounds
• Primary copper smelting
• Secondary copper smelting
• Nonferrous metals area sources: zinc, cadmium, & beryllium
• Glass Manufacturing
• Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Facilities
• Gold Mine Ore Processing and Production

[Note that if any newly promulgated NSPS or MACT standard regulates area sources, it must clarify whether the area sources are required to obtain title V permits.] 

Certain Synthetic Minor Sources subject to NESHAP Requirements

• Chemical Manufacturing

Non-major Sources subject to NESHAP and New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) Requirements

• Municipal solid waste landfills (design capacity ≥ 2.5 million mega-grams and 2.5 million m3)

Any Source in a Source Category Designated by the EPA – None so far.

Table 1 – Lower Major Source Thresholds for Non-attainment Areas