Smaller sources of air pollution are known as “Area Sources.” Unlike large, very obvious, single sources of pollution, like industrial smokestacks, Area Sources are smaller activities by businesses or facilities that, when measured across a group of sites, can accumulate to large amounts of pollution impacting Delaware’s air quality.

The amount of pollution regulated as an “Area Source” begins at two-tenths of a pound per day and is limited to less than 10 to 25 tons per year before being considered a major source of pollution.

The Area Source Program has differing requirements and forms for different industries and businesses.

Note: A Delaware Environmental Application Background Statement must be completed and submitted with permit applications.

Auto Body Shops

What is Regulated?

VOCs: Regulated reactive VOCs are defined in 7 DE Admin. Code, 1101. Auto body shop VOC emissions are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1124, Section 11.

HAPs: The regulated HAPs are Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Manganese (Mn). Coatings containing these pollutants are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1138, Section 15.

Methylene Chloride (MCD): Any auto body shop using methylene chloride for paint stripping operations is regulated under 7 DE Admin Code, 1138, Section 13.

What is Required?

No Actions Required: Those facilities which emit less than 0.2 pounds per day of any air pollutant are exempt from regulatory control. This status must be supported by record-keeping.

Registration: Those facilities which emit 0.2 pounds per day or more, but less than 10 pounds per day are required to register their pollution-causing equipment. Accurate detailed record-keeping is required to establish and maintain registration status.

Permits: Those facilities emitting 10 pounds per day or more of any air pollutant are required to apply for and obtain an Auto Body Source Category Permit (sample). For permit conditions and additional information please see the permit example.

Solvent Cleaning and Drying

What is Regulated?

Solvent cleaning is the process of using solvents to remove contaminants from various plastic, metal or other substrates (surfaces). The following businesses may use solvent cleaning and drying in their operations: vehicle sales and servicing locations; machine shops; and manufacturers and servicers of electronic, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and other mobile equipment.

DNREC has amended Section 33.0 (Solvent Cleaning and Drying) of the Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Regulations (7 DE Admin. Code 1124 and Appendices) to adopt certain provisions from the Ozone Transport Commission 2012 model rule for solvent degreasing.

DNREC has prepared an example placard (Batch Cold Cleaning Machine Workplace Practices) that facilities can post.

Dry Cleaners

What is Regulated?

Perchloroethylene: Emissions from Dry Cleaners using Perchloroethylene (Perc) are regulated because it has been identified by the EPA as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP). Regulation of facilities using Perc as a dry cleaning solvent is provided under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1138, Section 5.

Petroleum Solvents: Emissions from dry cleaners using petroleum solvents are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1124, Section 38.

Other Solvents: Emissions from Dry Cleaners using other solvents are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1102.

What is Required?

No Action Required: Those facilities which use petroleum solvents (or other non-Perc solvents) and emit less than 0.2 pounds per day of any air pollutant are exempt from regulatory control.  This status must be supported by record-keeping.

Registration:  Those facilities which use petroleum solvents (or other non-Perc solvents) and emit 0.2 pounds per day or more, but less than 10 pounds per day are required to register their pollution-causing equipment. Accurate detailed record-keeping is required to establish and maintain this status.  Completion of the Registration Worksheet is required.

Permits: Those facilities using Perc as a dry cleaning solvent are required to apply for and receive a Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaner Source Category Permit.  For permit conditions and additional information please see the permit example.

Gasoline Delivery

What is Regulated?

Gasoline vapor emissions are regulated because of their Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) content.

VOCs: Regulated reactive VOCs are defined in 7 DE Admin. Code, 1101. Gasoline Delivery Vessel VOC vapor emissions are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1124, Section 27 and controlled through mandatory vapor collection and return to the delivery vessel.

HAPs: The EPA has identified many HAPs in the complex mixture called gasoline. Primary constituents of concern are: Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl benzene, and Orhtho-, Meta-, and Para-xylenes. These carcinogenic pollutants are regulated under 7 DE Admin. Code, 1124, section 27 and controlled through mandatory vapor collection and return to the delivery vessel.

What is Required?

Vapor-Tightness Test: Gasoline Delivery Vessels must verify vapor-tightness annually as demonstrated by Method 27 of 40 CFR Part 60 Appendix A.

Sandblasting Water Tanks

What is Regulated?

An air quality permit is required for sandblasting of outdoor water tanks in Delaware. Projects removing lead-containing coatings from water tanks by use of dry abrasive blasting must obtain a permit from DNREC’s Division of Air Quality.

Lead: Water tanks used for irrigation systems, firefighting, manufacturing processes, farm stock watering, and municipal water supply have, in the past, been coated with paints that contain lead or lead compounds. Lead is a public health concern. Exposure to high levels of lead can cause damage to the brain and kidneys.  Lead can, even at lower levels of exposure, permanently affect a child’s mental and physical growth.

Dry-Abrasive Blasting: Dry abrasive blasting is the process of propelling an abrasive material under dry, pressurized conditions against a surface, to remove coatings or to prepare the surface for subsequent coating. Dry abrasive blasting, also referred to as sandblasting, is often used to remove paint from water tanks before they are repainted.

What is Required?

Prior to 2019, “outdoor painting and sandblasting equipment” were exempt from the air permit requirement. The Delaware regulations applicable to air permits (7 DE Admin. Code 1101 and 1102) have been amended so that there is no longer an exemption for “…the removal of lead-containing coatings from outdoor water tanks by dry abrasive blasting.”

Permits and Notification: DNREC has developed a permit containing requirements that will ensure that blasting operations have sufficient containment measures to prevent the release of abrasive material into the environment. Applicants can refer to a flow chart to help determine if they need to apply for a permit or just to submit a notification form.

Additional Requirements: In addition to the new permitting program, Delaware’s regulation regarding Particulate Emissions From Construction and Materials Handling (7 DE Admin. Code 1106) prohibits emissions from sandblasting operations and states “No person shall cause or allow sandblasting or related abrasion operations unless sufficient contaminant measures are taken to prevent the sand or abrasive material from traveling beyond the property line where the operation is being conducted.”

Permits and Exemptions

Related Topics:  air quality, air quality permits, area sources, clean air, permitting and regulation, registrations