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DEP Citizens Advisory Council Recommends DEP Move Forward With Final Air Quality Permit Fee Increases

On January 21, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council recommended DEP move forward with the final Air Quality Permit Fee Increase regulation.

The Environmental Quality Board adopted a proposed Air Quality fee increase package in December of 2018 that would increase fees to generate $12.6 million annually to support the program-- for the federal Title V-- $5.9 million-- and state non-Title V-- $6.7 million-- permit fees.

The proposal included a new annual maintenance fee for both kinds of permits, a new fee for asbestos notifications and an increase in the existing operating permit fees.

There was no proposed increase of the Title V per ton emission fee, beyond the annual increase based on the Consumer Price Index.

These are the first general Air Quality fee increases since 2013. DEP budget cuts have resulted in eliminating more than 30 percent of its staff or about 100 positions.

DEP is projecting a zero returning balance in the Title V, Non-Title V and Clean Air Fund accounts by FY 2023-24 with the current fee structure.

Among the fee changes highlight from the proposed version by DEP in its presentation to the Committee are--

-- Increases for the annual operating permit maintenance fee for Synthetic Minor Facilities from $2,000 to $3,100 from 2021 to 2031 and thereafter to $4,000 to $6,200 from 2021 to 2031 and thereafter.

-- Decreases in annual operating permit maintenance fee for Title V facilities from $10,000 to $15,600 from 2021 to 2031 and thereafter to $$8,000 to $12,500 from 2021 to 2031 and thereafter.

-- Removal of the proposed fee for claims of confidentiality as unneeded.

On December 12, DEP’s Air Quality Advisory Committee voted to recommend DEP move the final regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration. The Committee also raised the question of whether the fees should apply to emissions of carbon dioxide and DEP was going to report back to the Committee.

The next meeting of the Citizens Advisory Council is February 18.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage. Questions should be directed to Keith Salador, Executive Director, 717-787-8171 or ksalador@pa.gov.

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