Vermont Air Permits

Air permits & authorizations

• Sources not listed in §5-401 / emergency engines

  Exemption

  Sources that are not air contaminant sources under §5-401 do not need a Permit to Construct. DEC's engine guidance explains when emergency-only engines need a permit and which must meet minimum emission standards. All stationary RICE need advance notification to AQCD.

  Thresholds (summarized from source, not a quotation)

  Emergency engines typically need no permit if facility-wide aggregate emergency capacity is below 2,000 bhp; emergency engines of 450 bhp or more installed after July 1, 2007 must meet minimum emission standards (restated from DEC RICE guidance).

  VAPCR §5-401Official page

• Permit to Construct (minor source / minor modification)

  Minor NSR

  Required before a facility commences construction of a new air contaminant source or modification. Lasts for the life of the project. Processing about 150 days for a complete minor application; base fee plus supplemental fees for engineering review, modeling, and emission testing (per DEC Permit Handbook Sheet #14, April 2020).

  Thresholds (summarized from source, not a quotation)

  Example trigger: non-emergency engines over 300 bhp (restated from DEC RICE guidance).

  VAPCR §§5-401, 5-501, 5-502, 5-504; 10 V.S.A. §556Official page

• Permit to Operate

  State Operating

  Required above the potential-emissions level in the quote; renewed every five years. Usually combined with the Permit to Construct.

  is required for any new or existing facility that has the potential to emit 10 or more tons per year of air pollution in total

  VAPCR Subchapter XOfficial page

Major NSR (PSD & nonattainment)

• Major Source / Major Modification Permit to Construct (NSR/PSD)

  PSD

  Vermont implements the federal NSR and PSD permit-to-construct programs for larger sources through its state Permit to Construct. Processing about 175 days for a complete application.

  VAPCR Subchapter VOfficial page

Title V operating permits

• Title V Permit to Operate

  Title V

  Vermont implements federal Title V (40 CFR Part 70) through Subchapter X for larger sources; the state Permit to Operate serves as the Title V permit.

  VAPCR Subchapter XOfficial page

Oil & Gas

Vermont has no oil and gas production. Bulk gasoline and dispensing facilities have a DEC source category page.

State air regulations

• Vermont Air Pollution Control RegulationsEnvironmental Protection Rules, Chapter 5 (adopted December 13, 2018)
• VAPCR §5-401Classification of air contaminant sources (sources requiring permits)
• VAPCR Subchapter V (§§5-501 to 5-504)Review of new air contaminant sources
• VAPCR Subchapter XOperating Permits
• 10 V.S.A. §556Permit authority

Forms

• Construction Permit Application Guidance
• Operating Permit Application Guidance
• Certification of Notification to Adjoining Landowners

Guidance

• Permit Handbook Sheet #14: Permits to Construct (April 2020)
• Source Categories
• Stationary RICE guidance
• Air Quality Impact Evaluation
• Air Permits FAQ
• Air Permits Search

Compliance

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

Sources

• Vermont DEC Construction Permits
• Vermont DEC Operating Permits
• Vermont Permit Handbook Sheet #14
• Vermont DEC Stationary RICE

Editorial note: DEC pages do not restate the §5-401 source list or numeric Title V thresholds; see the regulation PDF. Fees per Sheet #14 (April 2020): new major $15,000; new minor $2,000 base plus $2,000 supplements; check the current Permit Fees page. AQCD: (802) 828-1288.