Amendment to allow MPCA to continue to apply air quality standards to existing permit holders by deleting provision in SF 4499
The Senate Environment Policy Omnibus Bill included a provision that would limit the ability of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to apply new or existing air quality standards to existing air permit holders. The bill prohibits the MPCA from applying an air quality standard when reissuing a permit to an existing facility with unmodified emissions. Reissuance is the time when emissions and permit conditions are reviewed to ensure that a facility is in compliance with air standards including any new information such as data documenting air emission exceedances.
The effect of this provision would be to allow sources that are causing exceedances of health-based standards to continue to do so for so long as they operate the facility without changes.
An amendment was offered to delete this provision from the bill.
