The Air Pollution Control Branch is tasked with protecting the air resources of Shelby County. This is accomplished by administering a construction/operating permit program, performing facility inspections and air pollution testing, the collection and dissemination of air pollution information, and enforcing violations of the air regulations.

Types of Air Pollution Sources

Air pollution sources are identified as one of three categories:

• Title V (Major) Sources are facilities that have operations involving a major air contaminant source. These facilities include the following:
  • Facilities subject to acid rain requirements under Title IV of the Clean Air Act
  • Facilities with lower tons per year (tpy) limits in non-attainment areas
  • Facilities with the potential to emit 10 tpy of any hazardous air pollutant (HAP), 25 tpy of any combination of HAPs, or 100 tpy of any regulated air pollutant
• Minor sources are facilities with the potential to emit less than:
  • 10 tons per year of any hazardous air pollutant
  • 25 tons per year of any combination of hazardous air pollutants
  • 100 tons per year of any regulated air pollutant (TSP/PM, SO2, VOC, CO, NOx, and Pb)
• Synthetic minor sources are facilities with the potential to emit pollutants in major quantities, but who have voluntarily chosen to accept permit limits that reduce their emission below the threshold for recognition as a major source.

All applicants must submit a permit application prior to beginning construction of a regulated air contaminant source.