The Department of Environmental Protection announced the successful completion of over 200 determinations of whether air quality permits or plan approvals are needed from the agency through its new RFD*Online system.

And on December 18, DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality is offering a free workshop to industrial representatives, consultants and interested participants to learn about DEP’s new RFD*Online system.

The RFD*Online workshop will include presentations on entering data into the system, automatic data validation and error checking, document attachment and notes capabilities, online help, user manual and the submission process. The workshop will also explain how to self-register at the DEP GreenPort to use the system.

The workshop will be presented from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., December 18 in the 2nd Floor Auditorium, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg.

RFD*Online was released in May, with the aim of getting business owners and operators the answers they need more quickly while still protecting the air Pennsylvanians breathe.

This system allows the owners and operators of companies who are uncertain of whether they need to apply for an air quality operating permit or plan approval, or either, to fill out a web-based request for determination form. Air quality staff at DEP will electronically interact with company staff to determine the firm’s exemption status by reviewing the information provided on the web-based form.

In certain cases, which are defined in state regulations, the Web-based system can provide the applicant with an immediate determination that the company is exempt from needing air quality permits or a plan approval, without requiring air quality staff review, thus allowing the company to move forward with its plans more quickly.

DEP recently received this feedback from John Romero, Environmental Manager, of the Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company:

“The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company operates a large production facility in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our facility recently had a piece of equipment fail that could not be replaced with an identical component. We submitted an RFD*Online application for an updated piece of equipment. From the time it was determined that an RFD was required, through the application process, to the time an official approval was received took less than three hours! We had a complete official response faster than we could have filled out the paper applications, much less made the copies and driven the package down to the DEP’s regional office to begin the review. The electronic routing saved substantial effort and allowed the rapid restoration of production while still following all permit review procedures. The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Paper Plant touches over 1 million Consumers every day, and we appreciate the fast response we get via the new RFD*Online system to minor changes in our process that lets us better meet the changing needs of our consumers.”

208 RFD applications have been submitted and were approved through the RFD*Online program.

The systems follows implementation of the successful AES*Online system to submit annual emission inventory reports online.

For more information, go to DEP’s Air Permit webpage and look for the RFD*Online link.

11/30/2007