Nebraska Air Permits

Air permits & authorizations

• State Construction Permit

  Minor NSR

  Required before constructing, reconstructing, or modifying a source where potential emissions increase above the listed thresholds. All incinerators need a construction permit regardless of emissions. DWEE cites typical review of four to six months plus a 30-day public comment period, and a fee tiered by potential emissions.

  15 tons per year (tpy) of PM10 (Particulate Matter 10 microns in diameter or smaller), 10 tons tpy of PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller), 40 tpy of SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) or SO3 (Sulfur trioxide) or any combination thereof, 40 tpy of oxides of nitrogen (calculated as NO2), 40 tpy VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), 100 tpy CO (Carbon Monoxide), 0.6 tpy Lead, or 2.5 tpy of any single HAP (Hazardous Air Pollutant) or 10 tpy of all HAPs combined. In addition, all incinerators, regardless of emissions, must have a construction permit.

  Title 129, Chapter 3Official page

• Air General Permits (construction and operating)

  General Permit

  Online general permits for: aggregate processing plants; drum mix and batch mix hot mix asphalt plants; truck mix concrete plants (controlled and uncontrolled loadout); diesel emergency engines (two versions); controlled incinerators (construction) and incinerator operating permit; and surface coating. Not available for new locations in Lancaster County, the City of Omaha, or tribal lands.

  Title 129, Chapter 7Official page

• Class II (minor source) Operating Permit

  State Operating

  State operating permit for synthetic minor sources (potential emissions above Class I levels, limited by federally enforceable conditions) and natural minor sources (potential below Class I levels but actual emissions above half of Class I levels). Incinerators need an operating permit regardless of emissions.

  50 tpy of criteria pollutant except lead; 5 tpy of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or 12.5 tons per year of a combination of HAPs; or 2.5 tpy of lead.

  Title 129, Chapter 6Official page

• Low Emitter

  Exemption

  A source with potential emissions above Class I levels but actual emissions below Class II levels may not need an operating permit. Submit the Low Emitter Worksheet for DWEE approval (at least one full year of operating data required) and keep records showing actual emissions stay below Class II levels.

  Title 129, Chapter 6Official page

Major NSR (PSD & nonattainment)

• Federal Construction Permit (PSD)

  PSD

  Applies when a source's potential emissions reach the PSD major source level for its category and the project's net emissions increase meets significance levels.

  Thresholds (summarized from source, not a quotation)

  Major source: at least 100 tpy for one of 26 listed source categories or 250 tpy for other sources. Significant net increases listed by DWEE include PM 25 tpy, PM10 15 tpy, SO2/SO3 40 tpy, NOx 40 tpy, VOC 40 tpy, CO 100 tpy, lead 0.6 tpy (restated).

  Title 129, Chapter 4Official page

• Nonattainment NSR

  Nonattainment NSR

  Applies to major sources in nonattainment areas. DWEE's page states Nebraska is currently in attainment for all ambient air quality standards.

  Title 129, Chapter 4Official page

Title V operating permits

• Class I (Title V) Operating Permit

  Title V

  Major source operating permit. Application forms are due within 12 months after emissions units begin operation or become subject to the requirement, whichever is earlier.

  100 tons per year (tpy) of any criteria air pollutant* excluding lead; 10 tpy of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or 25 tpy of a combination of HAPs; or 5 tpy of lead.

  Title 129, Chapter 6Official page

Oil & Gas

DWEE's air permitting and general permit pages list no oil and gas specific air permit or registration. Oil and gas facilities follow the general construction and operating permit thresholds above, plus applicable federal NSPS (OOOO/OOOOa/OOOOb) and NESHAP (HH) requirements.

State air regulations

• Title 129Nebraska Air Quality Regulations (effective 09-28-2022)
• Title 129, Chapter 3State construction permits
• Title 129, Chapter 4Federal construction permits (PSD/NSR)
• Title 129, Chapter 6Operating permits and low emitter provisions
• Title 129, Chapter 7General construction and operating permits

Forms

• Construction Permit Application Forms and Publications
• Operating Permit Application Forms
• Potential Emission Calculation Spreadsheets
• Low Emitter Worksheet

Guidance

• Overview of Air, AFO, and Wastewater Permitting Programs (16-022)
• Construction Permit Fact Sheet
• Air Quality Permit Application Tips
• Pre-Application Meetings Fact Sheet
• General Permits guidance (16-011)
• Operating Permits fact sheet (00-008)
• Low Emitter Rule Fact Sheet
• Hazardous Air Pollutant List

Compliance

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

Sources

• DWEE Air Construction Permit Program
• DWEE Air Operating Permit Program
• DWEE Air General Permit
• DWEE Permitting Overview (16-022)
• EPA Clean Air Act Permitting in Nebraska

Editorial note: The agency's web domain moved from dee.nebraska.gov to dwee.nebraska.gov; EPA's page still lists the former name (NDEE). Construction fee tiers per 16-022: $250 if under 50 tpy, $1,500 for 50 to under 100 tpy, $3,000 for 100 tpy or more (single pollutant); general construction permit $250 for new sources. Air Quality Program: (402) 471-2186; permit hotline (877) 834-0474.