Emission inventory fees

The federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to collect air emission fees to fund their activities.

The Minnesota Legislature has authorized the MPCA to collect annual fees required by the CAA to cover the costs of the CAA and state air programs.

Facilities will receive an invoice for their annual air emissions fee typically between late February and April. The annual air emissions fee is calculated using the most recent finalized inventory. For example, the 2020 air emissions fee for a facility will be calculated based on that facility’s 2018 emissions data.

Calculating emission-based fees

The air emission-based fee calculation uses a “fee target,” which is the total dollar amount appropriated by the Legislature from the environmental fund to cover the costs of the Air Program.

The fee target is divided by the total number of tons of all (un-capped) billable pollutants listed in the most recently available annual emission inventory. This calculation results in the dollar per ton fee that facilities pay.

Facilities requiring air quality permits are billed annually based on the total number of tons of nitrogen oxides (NO_X), lead (Pb), particulate matter less than 10 micrometers (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that they emit into the atmosphere.

To learn more about how this year's air fee was determined: Annual Air Emissions Fee Insert (aq-ei3-19)

Cost per ton

*Estimated value that is subject to change. The final $/ton rate will be determined shortly before the invoices are mailed out in the spring 2020.

Who to call for help

For questions regarding the emission inventory or the fee rule, call Michael Smith at 651-757-2733.