Air operating permit for large sources of air pollution
Commercial and industrial businesses that emit large amounts of air pollution must get an air operating permit. An air operating permit is a master document that lists all of the air pollution requirements that apply to a business or industry. We and other clean air agencies in Washington issue these permits.
Apply for an air operating permit
Use this application to apply for an air operating permit:
- Air operating permit application
- Air operating permit renewal application
- Application to establish a voluntary emissions limit
A business must complete an air operating permit application 12 months before the business has the potential to emit:
- More than 100 tons per year of any air pollutant.
- More than 10 tons per year of any hazardous air pollutant.
- More than 25 tons per year of a combination of hazardous air pollutants.
Even if a business emits less than these amounts, EPA may decide that it still needs an air operating permit. The federal rules that might apply include:
- Title V Permits
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
An air operating permit is valid for 5 years. A business must apply for renewal 6–18 months before the current permit expires.
Agencies that issue air operating permits
Agencies that issue air operating permits include:
- Ecology Air Quality Program in Central Regional Office (Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan counties)
- Ecology Air Quality Program in Eastern Regional Office (Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman counties)
- Ecology Industrial Section (chemical plants, energy facilities, metal smelters, oil refineries, pulp and paper mills)
- Ecology Nuclear Waste Program (Hanford)
- Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) (major energy facilities)
- EPA (tribal lands)
- Local clean air agencies
Comment on a draft air operating permit
Check for a public comment period and review a draft air operating permit:
- Go to Public input and events.
- Type "air operating permit" in the search box.
Permit Register
Twice a month, we publish a Permit Register that lists milestones for air operating permits. All agencies who issue air operating permits make sure the information in the Permit Register is up to date.
Budget and fees
Workload analysis and budget report
Every two years, we prepare a workload model and a budget projection that evaluates the cost of reviewing, tracking, and overseeing air operating permits. After the public comment period, we finalize the workload analysis and budget.
2026 fee schedule (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)
| Business Name | Complexity Fee | Emission Fee | Flat Fee | Rebate1 | Total Bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County Landfill | $3,425 | $0 | $37,012 | $0 | $40,437 |
| Avista Utilities, Kettle Falls | $217 | $55,084 | $37,012 | $0 | $92,313 |
| Boise Cascade Lumber | $435 | $17,214 | $37,012 | $0 | $54,661 |
| Boise Cascade Plywood | $707 | $13,427 | $37,012 | $0 | $51,146 |
| Boise Cascade Wood Products, Arden | $435 | $1,148 | $37,012 | $0 | $38,595 |
| Cosmo Specialty Fibers | $5,926 | $0 | $37,012 | $0 | $42,938 |
| D & L Foundry | $13,645 | $3,787 | $37,012 | $0 | $54,444 |
| Echo Bay (Kinross) | $0 | $0 | $37,012 | $0 | $37,012 |
| Ephrata Landfill | $24,627 | $2,295 | $37,012 | $0 | $63,934 |
| Goldendale Generating Station | $18,005 | $7,459 | $37,012 | $0 | $62,476 |
| Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill | $1,533 | $4,361 | $37,012 | $0 | $42,906 |
| Guy Bennett Lumber | $435 | $8,607 | $37,012 | $0 | $46,054 |
| LAB Washington | $9,677 | $115 | $37,012 | $0 | $46,804 |
| Nippon Dynawave | $81,621 | $301,012 | $37,012 | $0 | $419,645 |
| Pacific Gas Transmission Co. Station 7, Starbuck | $652 | $17,902 | $37,012 | $0 | $55,566 |
| Pacific Gas Transmission Co. Station 8, Walla Walla | $10,492 | $12,738 | $37,012 | $0 | $60,242 |
| Packaging Corp. of America, Wallula (formerly Boise White Paper and Boise Cascade Paper) | $48,449 | $140,235 | $37,012 | $0 | $225,696 |
| Ponderay Industries (formerly Ponderay Newsprint Company) | $326 | $0 | $37,012 | $0 | $37,338 |
| Port Townsend Paper | $36,010 | $88,594 | $37,012 | $0 | $161,616 |
| Roosevelt Regional Landfill | $24,377 | $18,132 | $37,012 | $0 | $79,521 |
| SDS Lumber, Bingen | $11,851 | $22,722 | $37,012 | $0 | $71,585 |
| SGL Composites | $42,284 | $5,394 | $37,012 | $0 | $84,690 |
| U.S. Department of Energy, Hanford | $525,651 | $3,213 | $37,012 | $0 | $565,876 |
| Vaagen Brothers Lumber | $435 | $19,738 | $37,012 | $0 | $57,185 |
| WestRock Longview (formerly KapStone) | $64,084 | $182,122 | $37,012 | $0 | $283,218 |
| Total | $925,299 | $925,299 | $925,300 | $0 | $2,775,898 |
1 If our costs were less than expected in the previous fiscal year, we give businesses a rebate toward their next year's fee.
Annual report
At the end of each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), we prepare an annual report summarizing air operating permit program work and fees.
Audits
We and outside agencies regularly audit the air operating permit program.
- Fiscal audit — Every two years, the Washington State Auditor’s Office conducts a fiscal audit of our and each local clean air agency’s air operating permit program.
- Performance audit — Every three years, we and local clean air agencies conduct a routine overview performance audit.
- EPA audit — Periodically, EPA also reviews the air operating permit program (which EPA calls Title V) and enforcement program.
Related links
Contact information
Shauna Abbenhaus
Air Operating Permit Coordinator
shauna.abbenhaus@ecy.wa.gov
564-233-8692