What is an Area Source of Hazardous Air Pollutants? Why is it regulated?
Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are known or suspected to cause adverse environmental effects and/or serious health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 187 air pollutants, for example, benzene, which is found in gasoline. EPA places standards, or requirements on categories of stationary sources that emit (or have the potential to emit) one or more hazardous air pollutants called national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) standards. EPA lists these standards and which agency enforces the standards in tables published in the Federal Register.
Major source of hazardous air pollutants: The term "major source" refers to any stationary source or group of stationary sources that emits or has the potential to emit 10 tons per year of any of the 187 named pollutants, or 25 tons per year of a mixture of pollutants.
Area source of hazardous air pollutants: The term "area source" refers to facilities that release smaller quantities of toxic air pollutants. Although emission from one area source may be relatively small, multiple area sources concern environmental specialists, especially when they are in densely populated areas.
To reduce the hazardous area pollutants released by area sources, EPA places standards, or requirements, on area sources to minimize emissions. These requirements call for specific management practices and generally available control technologies (GACT). These technologies consist of methods, practices, and techniques applicable to area sources. When EPA developed these technologies, staff members considered the economic impact as well as the technical abilities of employees to operate and maintain systems for emission control.
What are Missouri's Area Source Requirements?
The following table gives area source requirements for which the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is conducting compliance-enforcement activities. Direct questions regarding standards, compliance, and reports about area sources to the agency listed as “Regulating Agency” in the table, below. The department's Air Pollution Control Program recommends that facilities submit notifications and other required reports about area sources to the air program and EPA Region 7 contacts. If you have questions regarding any of the area source regulations or need help navigating the requirements, contact the Air Pollution Control Program.
Online Compliance Resources for Missouri Area Source Requirements
| Regulating Agency Sort descending | Description | 40 CFR 63 Subpart | Title V Permit | Keywords | Rule and Implementation Information | Regulation | Helpful Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA | Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production & Fabrication Industry | (6O) - OOOOOO | Exempt | Polyurethane foam | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Secondary Nonferrous Metals Processing | (6T) - TTTTTT | Exempt | Nonferrous metals | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Gasoline Dispensing Facilities | (6C) - CCCCCC | Exempt | Gasoline | Link | Link | Link |
| EPA | Wood Preserving Industry | (6Q) - QQQQQQ | Exempt | Wood Preserving | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Gasoline Distribution | (6B) - BBBBBB | Exempt | Gasoline | Link | Link | Link |
| EPA | Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing at Area Sources | (2N) - NN | Major Permit | Fiberglass, Wool | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Glass Manufacturing Industry | (6S) - SSSSSS | Major Permit | Glass | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Gold Mine Ore Processing and Production | (7E) - EEEEEEE | Major Permit | Gold Mine | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Hospital Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers | (5W) - WWWWW | Exempt | hospital | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Boilers | (6J) - JJJJJJ | Exempt | Boilers | Link | Link | Link |
| EPA | Iron and Steel Foundries | (5Z) - ZZZZZ | Exempt | Foundry | Link | Link | |
| EPA | Lead Acid Batteries Industry | (6P) - PPPPPP | Exempt | lead | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities (Major and area sources) | (2H) - HH | Exempt | Oil and Natural Gas | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Portland Cement Regulations (Major and area sources) | (3L) - LLL | Major Permit | Cement | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Primary Lead Smelting | (3T) - TTT | Major Permit | lead | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Printing and Publishing Industry (Some Major sources that can prove actuals below HAP limits) | (2K) - KK | Major Permit | Printing | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Publicly Owned Treatment Works Regulations (Major and area sources) | (3V) - VVV | Exempt | sewer company | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Coke Oven Batteries (Reg refers to Sources, not area or major) | (1L) - L | Major Permit | Coke Ovens | Link | Link | |
| MoDNR | Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (Major sources) | (4Z) - ZZZZ | Exempt | Internal Combustion Engines | Link | Link | Link |
| MoDNR | Dry Cleaning Facilities (Major and area sources) | (1M) - M | Exempt | dry cleaning | Link | Link | Link |