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Business Assistance
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Please enjoy the Business Assistance winter newsletter, including highlights and business resources.
We look forward to working with you!
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When is an Air Quality Permit Required?
Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) issues permits for a wide range of activities, including those which generate dust and other regulated pollutants. Businesses and individuals that engage in these activities are required to obtain a permit when the scale of their activity exceeds certain thresholds. For instance, a stationary activity which generates one ton of nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually will trigger the permit requirement. The table below references the permitting thresholds for NOx and other regulated pollutants. However, not all permits are issued with respect to pollutant thresholds. Construction projects are required to obtain a permit when the disturbed area, that is, the area of exposed dirt which has been moved using mechanized equipment, exceeds 0.10 acre (4,356 square feet). MCAQD also issues permits for proposed burns that comply with Rule 314.
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Which Permit is Right for You? |
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Air Quality permits are not one-size-fits-all. To accommodate the various needs of Maricopa County residents and businesses, MCAQD offers several types of permits:
- Title V
- Non-Title V
- General (Authority to Operate)
- Dust Control
- Burn
Most stationary sources do not qualify for a Title V permit (i.e. emissions are below major source thresholds) but may operate under a Non-Title V permit, or if applicable, a general permit. Non-Title V permits are tailored to fit each stationary source. This means that a permit will be written with conditions that are unique to the source, based upon information provided during the application process. General permits, however, are comprised of preselected conditions that apply to a broad range of activities within a specific industry. Currently, MCAQD offers general permits for 12 categories, ranging from woodworking operations to gasoline storage and dispensing. For more information on non-Title V permits visit Maricopa.gov/2433, and for general permits visit Maricopa.gov/2430.
Dust control permits are issued to companies, municipalities, and individuals who engage in dust generating operations. Examples include construction projects and land development, roadwork, and new home builds and landscaping. Generally, these are temporary projects, the exception being routine maintenance conducted by municipalities; permanent dust generating operations (e.g. a business that sells landscape rock) are considered stationary sources and are better served by obtaining a general permit. As mentioned earlier, a dust control permit is required when the area disturbed exceeds 0.10 acre, or 4,356 square feet. For more information on how to apply for a dust control permit visit Maricopa.gov/5560.
Burn permits are required for specific burns such as firefighting training and agricultural land clearing. Not all burns qualify for a permit. In fact, Rule 314 prohibits most burning throughout the year. To find out whether your burn qualifies for a permit visit Maricopa.gov/1925.
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Permitting Staff Changes
We are pleased to introduce three new supervisors and
one manager who have recently joined the Permitting Division!
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(pictured from left to right: Audrey Lang, Ryan Dalrymple, Chuck Erickson, Emily Lem) |
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Audrey Lang is our new Title V Unit permit engineering supervisor. She joined MCAQD as an inspector in 2016 and has since worked in permitting and performance testing. Her unique cross-divisional work history gives her a comprehensive understanding of MCAQD’s permitting processes, enabling her to excel in her new role.
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Ryan Dalrymple is our new Non-Title V Unit permit engineering supervisor. He brings a strong background in non-Title V permitting, having been with the department for more than six years. His expertise in federal and local regulations and skill in air dispersion modeling are a great assets in supervising this team.
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Emily Lem is our new Performance Testing Unit engineering supervisor. She has extensive experience in performance testing and consistently demonstrates exceptional judgment, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. Her dedication, hard work, and optimistic attitude are already making a positive impact on our team.
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Chuck Erickson is our new Permitting Division manager. He has a background in environmental consulting and regulatory compliance and is committed to optimizing our processes and enhancing our service quality to better meet your needs.
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Please join us in welcoming these talented individuals to our team. We are excited about the fresh perspectives and expertise they bring and look forward to continuing to serve you with excellence. |
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Important Updates
Mark your calendar with these important reminders:
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General Permits
The following general permits will expire in 2025:
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Please prepare for your permit renewal.
It’s not time to renew just yet, but there are steps you can take early to ensure the renewal process goes as smoothly as possible. Permit renewals are only completed through the AQD Online Portal, so if you don’t already have an AQD Online Portal account, you will need to create one.
2024 Emissions Inventory
The MCAQD Emissions Inventory Unit is preparing to launch the 2024 annual emissions inventory in January 2025. Facilities that are required to submit a 2024 emissions inventory will be notified by email and the emissions inventory will be due on April 30, 2025.
MCAQD provides resources that can be used to prepare and submit the required emissions inventory. Facilities that need assistance navigating the emissions inventory task in the AQD Online Portal are encouraged to schedule a meeting with staff from the Emissions Inventory Unit.
Helpful Hint – To ensure you receive email notifications, facilities with a Title V or non-Title V permit should log into the AQD Online Portal before the end of the year and update facility contacts as necessary.
Air Quality Rule Changes
The MCAQD Rules Unit has completed revisions to existing rules and created new rules. The following rule/rule revisions were recently adopted:
- Rule 326 (Steelmaking Operations: Electric Arc Furnace) - September 25, 2024
- Rule 330 (Volatile Organic Compounds) - September 25, 2024
- Rule 331 (Solvent Cleaning) - September 25, 2024
- Rule 338 (Semiconductor Manufacturing) - September 25, 2024
- Rule 510 (Air Quality Standards) - revisions adopted on November 6, 2024
- Rule 203 (Emission Reduction Credit (ERC) General Requirements) – December 11, 2024
- Rule 313 (Incinerators, Burn-Off Ovens, and Crematories) – December 11, 2024
- Rule 327 (Organic Material Processing) – December 11, 2024
- Rule 335 (Architectural Coatings) – December 11, 2024
In addition, the Rules Unit is working with the EPA on revisions to Rule 204 (Emission Reduction Credit (ERC) Generation, Certification, and Use) and revisions to Rule 205 (Emission Offsets Generated by Voluntary Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credits) to obtain approval for the addition of the rules to the Arizona State Implementation Plan.
If you are interested in following any of the rulemakings please sign up to receive notifications on the Maricopa County Enhanced Regulatory Outreach Program website.
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Health Impacts of Wood Burning
When air pollution levels are on the rise and weather conditions create dry, stagnant conditions, MCAQD may issue a No Burn Day. The purpose of the No Burn Day is to avoid adding pollution to our air when the forecast suggests air quality will approach or exceed the federal health standard.
Every year around the holidays, valley hospitals see a noticeable increase of patients with respiratory issues due to smoke from fireplaces, fire pits, and open outdoor fires. Most patients are children and the elderly, but even the healthiest adults can be affected.
Help protect the health of our residents, don’t burn wood when it is a No Burn Day. To learn the latest air quality forecast and No Burn Day status, you can download the Clean Air Mobile App, sign up for email or text alerts, visit Maricopa.gov/AQ each day, or call 602-506-6400.
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Ribbon Cutting
On November 14, 2024, Ruan Transportation Management Systems held a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch their fully electric yard tractor from Orange EV. The tractor is the first drayage vehicle funded from the Arizona State DERA Grant Program. The new electric yard tractor is operating at a Clarios terminal in Yuma which transports vehicle batteries. The ribbon cutting event was attended by Ruan, Orange EV, Nikola team members, and MCAQD’s grants program administrator.
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Upcoming Holiday Closures
February 17, 2025
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Business Assistance Resources |
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Dry Cleaning Calendars
Dry cleaning calendars for 2025 are
now available! We offer calendars for
both perchloroethylene and petroleum solvent dry cleaning operations.
Download your calendar or find
additional resources including record templates and informational flyers at Maricopa.gov/1814.
Contact Us
To contact the Business Assistance
Unit, call 602-506-5102 or email AQBusinessAssistance@maricopa.gov
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Courtesy Site Visits
A courtesy site visit is an opportunity to identify potential areas of non-compliance at a permitted facility without conducting a formal compliance inspection. No violations result from courtesy site visits; rather, businesses are encouraged to make corrections or adjustments to their practices to maintain compliance with MCAQD regulations. Any current air quality permit holder may request a courtesy site visit by contacting the Business Assistance Unit.
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Maricopa County Air Quality
301 W. Jefferson St., Suite 410 | Phoenix. AZ, 85003 | 602-506-6010
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