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While some small businesses in Minnesota may need an individual air permit, many may qualify for a less complex Option D registration permit.

To help those facilities understand their requirements and avoid permit violations, the MPCA's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program has gathered the relevant state and federal regulations, necessary forms, guidance documents, resources, and associated webpages.

Determine if your facility needs an air permit

Small sources of air emissions, such as insignificant facilities, may not require an air permit. Auto body facilities, coating facilities, concrete manufacturers, gasoline service stations, and woodworking facilities can be exempt from needing an air permit. Businesses with low levels of actual emissions can also apply for simplified permits known as air registration permits.

  • Do I need an air permit? This virtual training is for small businesses to understand what activities release air pollutants and what type of air permit facilities may need. It covers the types of air pollutants, common activities that release pollutants, types of air permits for smaller businesses, emission calculations, and state and federal air regulations.

To determine if your business meets the regulatory requirements for a permit and what type, you will need to quantify your facility’s air emissions.

Step one: Calculate your potential to emit

Air permitting decisions depend on both what a facility has the potential to emit and its actual emissions. Your facility’s potential to emit is the maximum capacity of an emission unit or source to emit a pollutant under its physical and operational design while in production at the maximum number of hours, which is typically 8,760 hours per year. If your facility's potential to emit exceeds one or more permitting thresholds, a permit is required.

Methods for calculating a facility's potential to emit include:

  • Using emission factors as defined in Minn. Stat. § 7005.0100. This rule includes emission factors found in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Compilation of Air Emission Factors or its Factor Information Retrieval Data System, as well as other possible sources.
  • material balance methods
  • direct measurement of emissions through stack testing or other methods

Air emissions calculators are available to help determine if an air emissions permit is needed. Some spreadsheets will require customization to best represent the materials used at each facility.

Step two: Apply for needed permit

The forms needed to apply for a registration permit are found on the air permit application forms page. See Section 16 of the RP-01 form which lists all required application forms and content. The registration permit application review completeness checklist (aq-f0-acc05) can be used to check your application before submitting it to the MPCA. 

Does your facility already have an Option D air permit? 

Option D registration permits are for facilities that require an air permit and have emissions that are less than 50% of federal thresholds. The Option D permit requirements are found in Minn. Stat. § 7007.1130. These rules have been summarized in the Option D registration permit fact sheet. Refer to the factsheet for more detail. Additional resources and guidance related to the requirements are listed below.

Step one: Make any necessary administrative changes to your permit

If your facility has seen a change in name or ownership, submit an application for an administrative change. This involves two forms (a fee is required): 

If your facility has seen a change in general contact information (i.e. permit or billing name, email, or phone number), email your air quality program staff contact to notify the MPCA of these changes (no fee).

If your facility has closed or no longer performs the permitted activities, submit a notice of termination request using MPCA e-Service (no fee). 

If you need to add or remove equipment at your facility, you may do so as long as you stay below the Option D thresholds and comply with any additional rules that apply to you.

Step two: Calculate your actual emissions

Actual emissions are the total amount of pollutants your facility emits based on actual operating hours and production rates. Air emission calculators are available to help you track compliance with your current air emissions permit. Some spreadsheets will require customization to best represent the materials used at each facility.

Step three: Determine if you are using control equipment

Electing to follow the control equipment rule (Minn. Stat. § 7011.0060 – 7011.0080) and taking credit for emissions reductions can save time and money through lower annual air emission inventory fees and longevity of equipment.

Step four: Keep your records up to date

Each month, record actual emissions from the previous 12 months. Use the following to help with understanding and calculating rolling totals: 

Check if your facility qualifies for reduced record keeping. If your actual emissions are below the reduced record-keeping levels listed in the Option D registration permit fact sheet, you will only have to calculate your actual emissions on an annual basis.

Federal Rules may require notifying the U.S. EPA or MPCA.

Keep records associated with your Option D permit for five years.

Step five: Submit required reports on time

Once per year, by April 1, you will need to submit an emissions inventory report to the MPCA. The MPCA will use your facility's most recent finalized inventory to calculate your annual air emission fees then send out invoices for those fees between February and April of every year.

  • Air emissions inventory reporting. This virtual training introduces air emissions reporting requirements and provides step-by-step guidance to complete the annual emissions inventory report.

Every three years, voluntarily report emissions of hazardous air pollutants and air toxics during the annual emissions inventory reporting period. If your only hazardous air pollutant emissions are volatile organic compound emissions and your actual volatile organic compound emissions are more than five tons per year, you are required to maintain records and perform the calculations of hazardous air pollutant emissions. 

Air toxics include the hazardous air pollutants listed in the Clean Air Act, and other pollutants of concern in Minnesota and the Great Lakes. See Pollutant categories for air toxics for more information.

If your facility is using control equipment efficiencies to reduce actual emissions during annual air emissions reporting, you must use the Deviation Reporting Form (DRF-2) to report a deviation/noncompliance with an applicable requirement or permit condition.

You must notify the MPCA if your facility experiences a shutdown or breakdown that cause any increase in the emissions of any regulated air pollutant. 

Report spills of any substance under your control immediately. Call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 800-422-0798 or 651-649-5451 (available 24 hours)

Step six: Consider climate impacts at your facility

Our climate is changing rapidly, creating new challenges for Minnesota businesses. 

Step seven: Consider going above and beyond permit requirements

Going beyond compliance can bring many benefits to your business including reduced regulatory fees and staff time.

  • The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program offers grants and loans for a range of business activities.
  • Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), a University of Minnesota outreach program, helps Minnesota businesses prevent pollution, use resources efficiently, and reduce energy use and costs. 
  • Preventing waste and pollution before they are generated with sustainable business practices makes sense economically and environmentally.