MPCA Proposed General Permit For Fiberglass Operations

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is proposing to issue a federal general permit governing fiberglass sources with or without pollution control equipment. The issuance of this general permit is authorized by Minnesota Rules 7007.1100, subp. 1, which allows the MPCA to issue a general permit if “numerous and similar stationary sources are subject to substantially similar regulatory requirements”. The general permit applies to new and existing sources.


The general permit covers stationary sources required to obtain permits under Minnesota Rules 7007.0250. The proposed permit contains federally enforceable conditions to limit the potential-to-emit (PTE) to less than 90 tons per year (tpy) for:

• Particulate matter (PM),
• Particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10),
• Particulate matter less that 2.5 microns (PM2.5),
• Carbon monoxide (CO),
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx), and
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are limited to less than 100 tpy, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to less than 240 tpy.


Facilities eligible for the proposed general permit may include the following types of equipment and activities for which a permit is required: spray guns, spray and coating booths, molding, casting, lamination, mixing cleaning of surfaces, sanding, abrasive blasting, resin and gel coat, acid cleaning surfaces, fuel storage, boilers, catalytic and thermal oxidizers, baghouses, fabric filters, wall filters, flares, generators (internal combustion engines), burn-off ovens, furnaces, space heaters, dip tanks, ovens, soldering, welding, brazing, screen printing, stenciling, storage tanks, and other insignificant activities listed in Minnesota Rules.

Some stationary source will not eligible for the proposed general permit, including:

• Sources subject has an emission unit subject to a Standard of Performance for New Stationary Sources in 40 CFR pt. 60 already adopted (other than 40 CFR pt. 60, subp. Dc , subp. Kb, subp. IIII, and subp. JJJJ;
• Sources subject to a 40 CFR pt. 63 National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) already adopted (other than 40 CFR pt. 63, subp. MMMM, subp. PPPP, subp. WWWW, and subp. ZZZZ;

The preliminary determination to issue the air emission general permit is tentative. There are four formal procedures for public participation in the MPCA’s consideration of the general permit. Interested persons may (1) submit written comments on the proposed general permit; (2) request that the MPCA hold a public information meeting; (3) request the MPCA hold a contested case hearing; and/ or (4) submit a petition to the Commissioner requesting that the MPCA Board consider the permit matter. The decision whether to issue the permit and, if so, under what terms, will be presented to the MPCA Board for decision if: (1) the Commissioner grants the petition requesting the matter be presented to the MPCA Board; (2) an MPCA Board member requests to hear the matter prior to the time the Commissioner makes a final decision on the permit; or (3) a request for a contested case hearing is pending.
Otherwise, the Commissioner will make the decision.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Minnesota to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information, contact Caltha LLP at:
Email: info@calthacompany.com
Phone: (763) 208-6430
Website: http://www.calthacompany.com/
Two Minnesota offices - Minneapolis and Pine River