It is time to complete your Air Emissions Inventory (EI) reporting for Calendar Year 2022. Every year, federal regulations require that all state agencies responsible for regulating air pollution collect emissions data from certain facilities. EI reporting opened on February 6, 2023 and is due by June 30, 2023 for Georgia facilities. All Title V facilities whose potential to emit (PTE) emissions is equal to or exceeds the following thresholds in Calendar Year 2022 are required to submit emissions data: Continue reading “Georgia Emissions Inventories for Calendar Year 2022”

If your facility is operating under a state-issued Air Permit, then there are a number of permit requirements you must meet in order to stay in compliance. Permit requirements can consist of emission/operating limits, testing, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping as well as a long list of general provisions. Whether you have a Minor Source Permit, Synthetic Minor/Conditional Major Source Permit, or a Title V Major Source Permit, your permit will contain a combination of, if not all, these requirements.

If your facility has an Air Permit, there is always a possibility for your state agency to conduct an onsite inspection, sometimes unannounced, at any time. It is best to be prepared for an inspection to avoid any violations and potential fines.

Continue reading “Are You in Compliance with Your Air Permit?”

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) calendar year 2022 Annual Reports are due to be submitted by January 31, 2023.  The Annual Reports will need to be submitted through the EPD’s online portal GEOS  located at https://geos.epd.georgia.gov/GA/GEOS/Public/GovEnt/Shared/Pages/Main/Login.aspx.

The new Annual Report format for the 2022 Industrial General Storm Water Permit (IGP) has not yet been populated in the GEOS portal; however, it should be available early January. In preparation to submit the annual report the Responsible Official (RO) will need to collect compliance data for calendar year 2022 such as: Continue reading “Georgia EPD Annual Reports Requirements”

Staying in compliance and ensuring the proper management of wastewater discharges from industrial facilities can be challenging. The possible impediments that a facility can face are dependent on several factors such as the location of the facility, existing infrastructure, and the facility’s financial forecast. One of the most important first steps to maintaining wastewater compliance involves properly identifying the different wastewater streams at a facility. Wastewater discharges generally fall into one of two categories, Domestic and Industrial. Domestic wastewater discharges come from bathrooms, kitchens, and hand-washing stations and can be characterized as wastewater from personal usage. Industrial wastewater discharges come from industrial and commercial sources and may contain pollutants at levels that could impact water quality and/or interfere with Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). Industrial discharges are usually generated from different types of industrial processes and are typically segregated from domestic discharges as described above. Continue reading “Management of Wastewater Discharges from Industrial Facilities”

Every year, federal regulations require that all state agencies responsible for regulating air pollution collect emissions data from certain facilities in order to compile an Emission Inventory (EI). In Georgia, emissions data for Calendar Year 2021 are due by June 30, 2022. All Title V facilities whose potential to emit (PTE) emissions is equal to or exceeds the following thresholds in Calendar Year 2021 are required to submit emissions data: Continue reading “Georgia Emission Inventories for Calendar Year 2021”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) in 1986. This act was created by Congress through Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to help communities plan for and manage chemical emergencies. This act implemented several reporting requirements on most industrial facilities throughout the U.S. These reporting requirements are most commonly known as SARA Reporting. In this article, we will discuss the most common of the SARA Reports and Notifications and what your facility may need to do about each of them. These Reports include: Sections 302, 303, 304, 311, 312, and 313.

Continue reading “How to Stay in Compliance with SARA Title III Regulations”

What is the General Stormwater Permit?

Most facilities that conduct industrial activity exposed to stormwater are familiar with the NPDES Industrial Storm Water General Permit and are aware that it is issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The current General Stormwater Permit was issued in March 2017 and will continue through May 2022. This is the earliest effective date for reissuance of the permit. Facilities with a permit are authorized to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity to the waters of the state of Georgia in accordance with the limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions set forth in the permit.

What is the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan? Continue reading “Staying in Compliance with Your General Stormwater Permit”

With the release of the EPA’s 2021 Stormwater Multisector General Permit (MSGP), the GA EPD, like many other states, is planning to adopt significant changes from the 2021 EPA MSGP to their Industrial General Permit (IGP) in May of 2022. These changes will apply to most if not all industry sectors covered under the current 2017 IGP. The EPD has confirmed the following as the “most significant changes” that have been added to the draft permit: Continue reading “Georgia Set To Release New General Stormwater Permit in 2022”