The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the January 16 PA Bulletin of final regulations increasing Air Quality Program permit fees.  The new fees become effective January 16.

DEP started development of this fee package in December of 2017 and the EQB originally proposed the Air Quality fee increase package in December of 2018.  The state Air Pollution Control Act requires DEP to adopt fees to cover the cost of the program.

The final regulation would increase fees to generate $13 million annually to support the program-- for the federal Title V and state non-Title V 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.

Click Here for a summary of the final regulation.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Article:

-- DEP Works Thru Pandemic: 663 More Permits, 1,903 More Inspections Since Last Week

[Posted: January 15, 2021]

1/18/2021