Maryland Air Permits

Air permits & authorizations

• Permit to Construct exemptions

  Exemption

  Sources listed in COMAR 26.11.02.10 do not need a permit to construct; de minimis thresholds are in COMAR 26.11.02.10(x).

  COMAR 26.11.02.10Official page

• General Permits to Construct

  General Permit

  Categories: perc dry cleaning ($500), charbroilers/pit barbeques ($100), small fuel burning equipment ($400), medium fuel burning equipment ($500), vehicle refueling ($200), off-road gasoline refueling ($200), groundwater air strippers and SVE ($250), sheetfed non-heatset lithographic printers ($500), vehicle refinishing ($500), ready-mix concrete batch plants ($250), emergency generators ($400).

  COMAR 26.11.02Official page

• Air Quality Permit to Construct

  Minor NSR

  One-time permit required before construction or installation; terminates if construction doesn't begin within 18 months. Some applications require public review and local zoning compliance (Environment Article § 2-404). Fees $400 to $20,500. Turnaround 3 to 11 months depending on review type.

  COMAR 26.11.02.01-.21; fees at 26.11.02.17-.18Official page

• State Permit to Operate

  State Operating

  For sources with potential to significantly affect air quality (e.g., incinerators, crematories, asphalt plants, cement kilns, large VOC tanks, EtO sterilizers). Maximum five-year term; renew at least 60 days before expiration. Annual base fee $500 ($1,000 for synthetic minors) plus an emissions-based fee.

  COMAR 26.11.02.13Official page

Major NSR (PSD & nonattainment)

• New Source Review (NSR) Approval

  Nonattainment NSR

  Major source review in nonattainment areas; Maryland is in the Ozone Transport Region.

  Official page

• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Approval

  PSD

  Major source review in attainment areas.

  Official page

Title V operating permits

• Part 70 (Title V) Operating Permit

  Title V

  For acid rain sources, major sources, medical waste incinerators, large MSW landfills, and certain NSPS/NESHAP sources. Apply within 12 months of initial operation; five-year term; annual fee $5,000 plus emissions-based fee.

  Thresholds (summarized from source, not a quotation)

  Per MDE: potential to emit 100 tpy or more of any regulated pollutant; 10 tpy single HAP or 25 tpy combined HAPs; or more than any applicable nonattainment major source threshold in COMAR 26.11.02.01.C. MSW landfills of 2.75 million tons capacity or more.

  COMAR 26.11.03Official page

Oil & Gas

Maryland has no significant oil and gas production. MDE's permit guide lists no oil-and-gas-specific air permit; vehicle refueling and fuel burning general permits are the closest categories.

State air regulations

• COMAR 26.11.02Permits, Approvals, and Registration
• COMAR 26.11.03Permits, Approvals, and Registration: Title V Permits
• Environment Article, Title 2, Subtitle 4Maryland air quality statute

Forms

• Air Quality General Permit page
• Permits to Construct and Operate
• Part 70 Initial Permit Application

Guidance

• Title V Program Information
• Toxic Air Pollutant Regulations
• Issued Part 70 Permits

Compliance

State compliance obligations (reporting, emissions inventory, testing) are being indexed. Use the Compliance dashboard preview to see how they will be tracked.

Sources

• MDE Air Permits & Approvals
• MDE Permit Guide 1.02 Permit to Construct
• MDE Permit Guide 1.05 State Permit to Operate
• MDE Permit Guide 1.06 Part 70

Editorial note: Permit guide documents carry a 2008 path but list 2020 fee figures. NSR and PSD guide sheets (1.03, 1.04) were linked but not read in detail. COMAR chapter titles are summarized.