Air emissions
State
Airborne dust is a nuisance and a health concern. Woodworking businesses — from sawmills to wood-product manufacturers — can create dust from manufacturing processes, outdoor stockpiles, and hauling and transferring material. The MPCA requires facilities to prevent dust from becoming airborne.
Air permit. Whether you need an air permit will depend on your various processes and their potential to create air emissions. The very smallest facilities may qualify as insignificant facilities, which do not need a permit.
A woodworking facility can use this calculator to see if they may qualify to operate without an air permit by following certain technical standards: 
Air emissions calculator: Conditionally exempt source woodworking facilities (p-sbap5-40w)
Use these process-focused calculators to determine your facility's potential and actual emissions.
- If you fuel a boiler: Boiler emissions calculator (p-sbap5-21)
- Engines or backup generator: Internal combustion engine calculator (p-sbap5-25)
- If you finish wood with paint, stains and solvents: Coating operations calculator (p-sbap5-22)
Complying with state permits
How to comply with your Option B permit (aq3-03)- How to comply with your Option C Permit (aq3-05)
- How to comply with your Option D permit (aq3-04)
- How to calculate 12-month rolling sums (p-sbap5-34)
Air permit due dates
| Requirement | Due date |
|---|---|
| Emission inventory fee for previous year | Mailed to permit holders in March, due within 60 days |
| Emission inventory | April 1 |
| Corrections to emission inventory | Mailed to permit holders in November, due within 45 days |
Federal
Whether or not your business has an air permit, you may need to meet the requirements of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP):
- Wood Furniture Manufacturing Operations (2J) NESHAP focuses on hazardous air pollutants in coating, gluing, cleaning, and wash off materials. If this federal air standard applies to your business, you must create Work practice standards (aq5-08).
- The Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations (6H) NESHAP affects facilities that spray paint onto metal, wood, or plastic or use methylene chloride to remove paint. Paints and solvents contain VOCs and hazardous air pollutants.
|
If this standard applies, submit |
Due date |
|---|---|
|
180 days after startup |
- Review the list of other federal air standards for businesses using solvents, paints, and stains.
Hazardous waste
You need a hazardous waste license if your business produces any amount of hazardous waste. Facilities in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington County are licensed and inspected by their county. Facilities in Greater Minnesota are licensed and inspected by the MPCA. If you produce only small amounts of hazardous waste, you probably qualify to bring the wastes to Very small quantity generators collection programs (w-hw2-51). See the Hazardous waste documents and forms page for information on managing specific types of hazardous waste, such as paint, thinners, paint-booth filters, and rags.
Annual hazardous waste training is required for businesses that generate 220 pounds or more of hazardous waste a month. Learn more on the General environmental requirements page.
Hazardous waste due dates
| Requirement | Due date |
|---|---|
| Hazardous waste generators fee | Mailed to license holders in first quarter, due date on invoice |
| License application | Due August 1 for Greater Minnesota businesses; Twin Cities metro businesses, contact your county |
Stormwater
Apply for an industrial stormwater permit if you have material, equipment, or activities that are exposed to rain, snow, or runoff. You may qualify for the no-cost no-exposure certification and avoid the permit and fees if you don’t have any materials, equipment, or activities exposed to the elements. If you have only a few materials outside, consider moving them inside to qualify for no-exposure certification
Stormwater permit due dates
| Requirement | Due date |
|---|---|
| March 31 | |
| Industrial stormwater quarterly sampling | January 21, April 21, July 21, and October 21 |
Local regulation
Be sure to check with your county, city, and township to see if they have any additional requirements.
Beyond compliance
Benefits of going beyond compliance for wood finishing:
- Water-based finishes have fewer worker health and safety issues than solvent-based coatings.
- Respond to a growing market for “green” wood products.
Consider these green ideas:
- Lease reusable wipes from an industrial laundry service.
- Optimize use of cleaning solvent by implementing a two-stage cleaning process.
- Adjust the fluid delivery pressure and nozzle size on spray equipment to gain optimum efficiency.
- Train operators on the best spray techniques to reduce the amount of product used.
- Consider purchasing equipment with a higher transfer efficiency.
See the Beyond compliance page for more information on reducing waste and saving money in your business.