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Colorado Department of Pu6flc Health and Environment Air Pollution Control Division Air Quality Requirements for Surface Mining Operations If you own or operate a surface mining operation, including a sand and gravel pit, borcow pi[, or quarry, you may need to report air emissions to, or obtain an air permit from, the Air Pollution Control Division {APCD) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), This document provides an overview of the air pollution reporting and permitting requirements that apply to Colorado surface mining operations. What Must Be Reported? The APCD regulates air pollutants released from surtace mining operations and from the equipment used at mining sites. Surface mining activities and mining equipment (such as crushers and screens) release fugitive dust that can be carried from the site by the wind. In addition, many surface mining operations use generators fueled with natural gas, oil, propane, or diesel that release byproducts of combustion such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO= - if sulfur is present in the fuel). Emissions of fugitive dust and fuel combustion that exceed certain thresholds must be reported to the APCD through the submission of an Air Pollutant Emission Not(ce (APEN). Almost all surface mining operations and associated equipment require the filing of an APEN. The APEN forms are available through the APCD and downloadable at: www.cdohe.state.co. us/ao(downioadforms.asn ~ Reporttnsi Emissions for Surface M/ning $%te3 The APEN form titled Mining Operations -APEN and Application for Construction Permit and Fugitive Particulate Emissions Control Plan is used to report emissions from the mining site. This form requests information on the location and ownership of the site and detailed information on the nature of site emissions, production, and aissociated equipment. The APEN also requests information on the s(te-specific Fugitive Dust Control Ptan. ~~ > Reporting Emfsstons for Process Equipment The General APEN form is used to report air emissions from process equipment such as generators, crushers, screen decks, and conveyor systems. This form requires information about the equipment such as the type of equipment, make, model, and serial number, hours of operation, and quantity of material processed through the equipment. This form also requires information regarding whether the process equipment is portable or stationary: • Portable equipment can be moved from site to site; however, a "Notice of Relocation" must be submitted to the DNision at least 70 days prior to relocation of permitted equipment. At your home base, maintain an up-to-date list of your equipment locations. • To be considered "stationary' or "fixed "equipment must remain at the location indicated on the APEN for at least two years. If you decide to move permitted stationary equipment, you must submit an APEN to modify the permit for that equipment to a portable source prior to the move. Each individual piece of process equipment is typically reported on a separate General APEN form. However, multiple pieces of equipment may be grouped and reported on a single General APEN form if the equipment wilt always remain together (i.e., pieces of equipment can not be added or removed from the group). For example, if a portable group of equipment is moved to a new site, each piece of equipment in that group must move to the new site; no piece of equipment can be left behind. Grouping equipment onto a single General APEN can help you avoid extra APEN filing fees. What Must Be Permitted? Based on the information provided on the APEN, the APCD will determine whether an air permit is required for your surface mining operation and/or equipment. As a rule of thumb: surtace mining operations that mine aver 70,000 tons of product material per year (i.e., raw material removal or processing for sale, which could include top soil, overburden, and raw material) almost always require an air permit. Surface mining activities that mine less than 70,000 tons of product material per year are specifically exempt from permitting requirements (although they still require an APEN). Air Quality Requirements for Surface Mining Operations May 2006