Operation permits for major sources of air pollution; annual operation license fee.
F.S. 403.0872
in effectProvided that program approval pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 7661a has been received from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, beginning January 2, 1995, each major source of air pollution, including electrical power plants certified under s. 403.511, must obtain from the department an operation permit for a major source of air pollution under this section. This operation permit is the only department operation permit for a major source of air pollution required for such source; provided, at the applicant’s request, the department shall issue a separate acid rain permit for a major source of air pollution that is an affected source within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. s. 7651a(1). Operation permits for major sources of air pollution, except general permits issued pursuant to s. 403.814, must be issued in accordance with the procedures contained in this section and in accordance with chapter 120; however, to the extent that chapter 120 is inconsistent with this section, the procedures contained in this section prevail.
(1)
For purposes of this section, a major source of air pollution means a stationary source of air pollution, or any group of stationary sources within a contiguous area and under common control, which emits any regulated air pollutant and which is:
(a)
A major source within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. s. 7412(a)(1);
(b)
A major stationary source or major emitting facility within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. s. 7602(j) or 42 U.S.C. subchapter I, part C or part D;
(c)
An affected source within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. s. 7651a(1);
(d)
An air pollution source subject to standards or regulations under 42 U.S.C. s. 7411 or s. 7412; provided that a source is not a major source solely because of its regulation under 42 U.S.C. s. 7412(r); or
(e)
A stationary air pollution source belonging to a category designated as a 40 C.F.R. part 70 source by regulations adopted by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency under 42 U.S.C. ss. 7661 et seq. The department shall exempt those facilities that are subject to this section solely because they are subject to requirements under 42 U.S.C. s. 7411 or s. 7412 or solely because they are subject to reporting requirements under 42 U.S.C. s. 7412 for as long as the exemption is available under federal law.
(2)
An application for an operation permit for a major source of air pollution must be submitted in accordance with rules of the department governing permit applications. The department shall adopt rules defining the timing, content, and distribution of an application for a permit under this section. A permit application processing fee is not required. The department may issue an operation permit for a major source of air pollution only when it has reasonable assurance that the source applies pollution control technology, including fuel or raw material selection, necessary to enable it to comply with the standards or rules adopted by the department or an approved compliance plan for that source. If two or more major air pollution sources that belong to the same Major Group as described in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, are operated at a single site, the owner may elect to receive a single operation permit covering all such sources at the site.
(a)
An application for a permit under this section is timely and complete if it is submitted in accordance with department rules governing the timing of applications and substantially addresses the information specified in completeness criteria determined by department rule in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency governing the contents of applications for permits under 42 U.S.C. s. 7661b(d). Unless the department requests additional information or otherwise notifies the applicant of incompleteness within 60 days after receipt of an application, the application is complete.
(b)
Any permitted air pollution source that submits a timely and complete application for a permit under this section is entitled to operate in compliance with its existing air permit pending the conclusion of proceedings associated with its application. Notwithstanding the timing requirements of paragraph (c) and subsection (3), the department may process applications received during the first year of permit processing under this section, in a manner consistent with 42 U.S.C. s. 7661b(c).
(c)
The department may request additional information necessary to process a permit application subsequent to a determination of completeness in accordance with s. 403.0876(1).
(3)
Within 90 days after the date on which the department receives all information necessary to process an application for a permit under this section, the department shall issue a draft permit or a determination that the requested permit should be denied. A draft permit must contain all conditions that the department finds necessary to ensure that operation of the source will be in compliance with applicable law, rules, or compliance plans. If the department proposes to deny the permit application, the department’s determination must provide an explanation for the denial. The department shall furnish a copy of each draft permit to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and to any contiguous state whose air quality could be affected or which is within 50 miles of the source pursuant to procedures established by department rule.
(4)
The department shall require the applicant to publish notice of any draft permit in accordance with department rule. The department must accept public comment with respect to a draft permit for 30 days following the date of notice publication. The notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation as defined in s. 403.5115(2). If comments received during this period result in a change in the draft permit, the department must issue a revised draft permit, which shall be supplied to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and to any contiguous state whose air quality could be affected or which is within 50 miles of the source.
(5)
Any person whose substantial interests are affected by a draft permit or the denial determination may request an administrative hearing under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, in accordance with the rules of the department. A draft permit must notify the permit applicant of any review process applicable to the permit decision of the department. The department shall prescribe, by rule, a suitable standard format for such notification.
(6)
If a hearing is not requested under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, the draft permit will become the department’s proposed permit but does not become final until the time for federal review of the proposed permit has elapsed. The department shall furnish the United States Environmental Protection Agency a copy of each proposed permit and its written response to any comments regarding the permit submitted by contiguous states. If no objection to the proposed permit is made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency within the time established by 42 U.S.C. s. 7661d, the proposed permit must become final no later than 55 days after the date on which the proposed permit was mailed to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The department shall issue a conformed copy of the final permit as soon as is practicable thereafter.
(7)
If a draft permit is the subject of an administrative hearing under ss. 120.569 and 120.57, a proposed permit containing changes, if any, resulting from the hearing process, after the conclusion of the hearing, must be issued and a copy must be provided to the applicant, to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and to any contiguous state whose air quality could be affected or which is within 50 miles of the source, as soon as practicable. The proposed permit shall not become final until the time for review, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, of the proposed permit has elapsed. If comments from a contiguous state regarding the permit are received, the department must provide a written response to the applicant, to the state, and to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If no objection to the proposed permit is made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency within the time established by 42 U.S.C. s. 7661d, the proposed permit must become final no later than 55 days after the date on which the proposed permit was mailed to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The department shall issue a conformed copy of the final permit as soon as is practicable thereafter.
(8)
If the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency timely objects to a proposed permit under this section, the department must not issue a final permit until the objection is resolved or withdrawn. A copy of the written objection of the administrator must be provided to the permit applicant as soon as practicable after the department receives it. Within 45 days after the date on which the department serves the applicant with a copy of an objection by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to a proposed permit, the applicant may file a written reply to the objection. The written reply must include any supporting materials that the applicant desires to include in the record relevant to the issues raised by the objection. The written reply must be considered by the department in issuing a final permit to resolve the objection of the administrator. A final permit issued by the department to resolve an objection of the administrator is not subject to ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
(9)
A final permit issued under this section is subject to judicial review under s. 120.68. If judicial review of a final permit results in material changes to the conditions of the permit, the department shall notify the United States Environmental Protection Agency and any state that is contiguous to this state whose air quality could be affected or that is within 50 miles of the source, pursuant to rules of the department.
(10)
If the department is notified by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency that cause exists to terminate, modify, or revoke and reissue a permit under this section, the department shall, within 90 days after receipt of such notification, furnish to the administrator and the permittee a proposed determination of termination, modification, or revocation and reissuance as appropriate. Within 45 days after the date on which the department notifies the permittee that the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposes action regarding its permit, the permittee may file a written response concerning the proposed action. The written response must include any supporting materials that the permittee desires to include in the record relevant to the issues raised by the proposed action. The permittee’s written response must be considered by the department in formulating its proposed determination under this subsection.
(11)
Each major source of air pollution permitted to operate in this state must pay between January 15 and April 1 of each year, upon written notice from the department, an annual operation license fee in an amount determined by department rule. The annual operation license fee shall be terminated immediately in the event the United States Environmental Protection Agency imposes annual fees solely to implement and administer the major source air-operation permit program in Florida under 40 C.F.R. s. 70.10(d).
(a)
The annual fee must be assessed based upon the source’s previous year’s emissions and must be calculated by multiplying the applicable annual operation license fee factor times the tons of each regulated air pollutant actually emitted, as calculated in accordance with the department’s emissions computation and reporting rules. The annual fee shall only apply to those regulated pollutants, except carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases, for which an allowable numeric emission limiting standard is specified in the source’s most recent construction or operation permit; provided, however, that:
1.
The license fee factor is $25 or another amount determined by department rule which ensures that the revenue provided by each year’s operation license fees is sufficient to cover all reasonable direct and indirect costs of the major stationary source air-operation permit program established by this section. The license fee factor may be increased beyond $25 only if the secretary of the department affirmatively finds that a shortage of revenue for support of the major stationary source air-operation permit program will occur in the absence of a fee factor adjustment. The annual license fee factor may never exceed $35.
2.
The amount of each regulated air pollutant in excess of 4,000 tons per year emitted by any source, or group of sources belonging to the same Major Group as described in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987, may not be included in the calculation of the fee. Any source, or group of sources, which does not emit any regulated air pollutant in excess of 4,000 tons per year, is allowed a one-time credit not to exceed 25 percent of the first annual licensing fee for the prorated portion of existing air-operation permit application fees remaining upon commencement of the annual licensing fees.
3.
If the department has not received the fee by March 1 of the calendar year, the permittee must be sent a written warning of the consequences for failing to pay the fee by April 1. If the fee is not postmarked by April 1 of the calendar year, the department shall impose, in addition to the fee, a penalty of 50 percent of the amount of the fee, plus interest on such amount computed in accordance with s. 220.807. The department may not impose such penalty or interest on any amount underpaid, provided that the permittee has timely remitted payment of at least 90 percent of the amount determined to be due and remits full payment within 60 days after receipt of notice of the amount underpaid. The department may waive the collection of underpayment and may not be required to refund overpayment of the fee, if the amount due is less than 1 percent of the fee, up to $50. The department may revoke any major air pollution source operation permit if it finds that the permitholder has failed to timely pay any required annual operation license fee, penalty, or interest.
4.
Notwithstanding the computational provisions of this subsection, the annual operation license fee for any source subject to this section may not be less than $250, except that the annual operation license fee for sources permitted solely through general permits issued under s. 403.814 may not exceed $50 per year.
5.
Notwithstanding s. 403.087(7)(a)5.a., which authorizes air pollution construction permit fees, the department may not require such fees for changes or additions to a major source of air pollution permitted pursuant to this section, unless the activity triggers permitting requirements under Title I, Part C or Part D, of the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7470-7514a. Costs to issue and administer such permits shall be considered direct and indirect costs of the major stationary source air-operation permit program under s. 403.0873. The department shall, however, require fees pursuant to s. 403.087(7)(a)5.a. for the construction of a new major source of air pollution that will be subject to the permitting requirements of this section once constructed and for activities triggering permitting requirements under Title I, Part C or Part D, of the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7470-7514a.
(b)
Annual operation license fees collected by the department must be sufficient to cover all reasonable direct and indirect costs required to develop and administer the major stationary source air-operation permit program, which shall consist of the following elements to the extent that they are reasonably related to the regulation of major stationary air pollution sources, in accordance with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations and guidelines:
1.
Reviewing and acting upon any application for such a permit.
2.
Implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of any such permit, excluding court costs or other costs associated with any enforcement action.
3.
Emissions and ambient monitoring.
4.
Preparing generally applicable regulations or guidance.
5.
Modeling, analyses, and demonstrations.
6.
Preparing inventories and tracking emissions.
7.
Implementing the Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program.
8.
Any audits conducted under paragraph (c).
(c)
An audit of the major stationary source air-operation permit program must be conducted 2 years after the United States Environmental Protection Agency has given full approval of the program to ascertain whether the annual operation license fees collected by the department are used solely to support any reasonable direct and indirect costs as listed in paragraph (b). A program audit must be performed biennially after the first audit.
(12)
Permits issued under this section must allow changes within a permitted facility without requiring a permit revision, if the changes are not physical changes in, or changes in the method of operation of, the facility which increase the amount of any air pollutant emitted by the facility or which result in the emission of any air pollutant not previously emitted by the facility, and the changes do not exceed the emissions allowable under the permit (whether expressed therein as a rate of emissions or in terms of total emissions), provided that the facility provides the administrator and the department with 30 days’ written, advance notice of the proposed changes. The department shall adopt rules implementing this flexibility requirement.
(13)(a)
In order to ensure statewide consistency in the implementation of the national Acid Deposition Control Allowance Transfer System, a department district office or local pollution control program may not issue or administer permits under this section for any electrical power plant or any source that participates in the allowance transfer system.
(b)
For emission units that are subject to continuous monitoring requirements under 42 U.S.C. ss. 7661-7661f or 40 C.F.R. part 75, compliance with nitrogen oxides emission limits shall be demonstrated based on a 30-day rolling average, except as specifically provided by 40 C.F.R. part 60 or part 76.
(14)
In order to ensure statewide consistency in the permitting of major sources, a local pollution control program may not issue permits under this section for sources that belong to Major Group 26, Paper and Allied Products; for sources that belong to Major Group 28, Chemicals and Allied Products; or for sources that belong to Industry Number 2061, Cane Sugar, Except Refining, as defined in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987.
(15)
Any permittee that operates in compliance with an air-operation permit issued under this section is deemed to be in compliance with applicable permit requirements of the Clean Air Act and all implementing state, local, and federal air pollution control rules and regulations and all provisions of this chapter, relating to air pollution, and rules adopted thereunder.
(16)
The department shall adopt a rule to provide for a procedure for notice to the appropriate approved local pollution control programs, pursuant to s. 403.182, of any draft permits, amended draft permits, or final permits issued by the department.
(17)
The administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency may intervene as a matter of right in any administrative or judicial proceeding relating to an operation permit for a major source of air pollution required under this section.
(18)
The department shall require certification of all applications, submittals, and reports by a responsible official of a major source of air pollution and shall require the inclusion of those specific federal requirements listed at 42 U.S.C. s. 7661a(f)(1), (2), and (3) in all permits to which such terms apply.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter403/AllFetched: 7/8/2026