Division of Air Pollution Control

The goals of the Air Monitoring Section are to determine compliance with the ambient air quality standards, to provide real time monitoring of air pollution episodes, to provide data for trend analyses, regulation evaluation and planning, and to provide information to the public on a daily basis concerning the quality of the air in high population areas, near major emission sources and in rural areas.

View Ohio EPA's Air Monitoring.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials and products for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, disturbed in some manner or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into the building's air. A number of building materials and products still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials. Click here to see how Ohio EPA regulates emissions and handling of asbestos.

• Emission Monitoring Unit (Testing Group)
• Final Enforcement Actions
• Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Standards

• Risk Management Plan Program (Accidental Release - 112(r))
• State Emergency Response Commission - SERC
• Toxic Release Inventory - TRI

In January 1996, the State of Ohio began a new vehicle emissions testing program, E-Check, designed to identify motor vehicles that emit excessive levels of pollutants into the air. Among the other emissions control options considered by the legislature, E-Check was the most cost-efficient measure to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that form ground-level ozone, or smog. The program currently tests cars in seven Ohio counties.

To visit the E-Check website please click here.

Described below are three types of annual emissions reports a facility may be required to submit. All of these are due April 15 to report the previous calendar year’s actual emissions. The report requirements are met using one form to avoid duplicate data entry. The form used and manner in which it is completed and submitted to Ohio EPA is determined by the permitting classification of the facility: Title V; Synthetic Minor; or Non-Title V. More information can be found by clicking on the report type.

Fee Emissions Report (FER)

All facilities that are required to apply for and obtain an air pollution control operating permit are required to submit an annual emissions report for estimated actual facility wide emissions of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), organic compounds (OC) and lead (Pb). An invoice is generated based on the appropriate fee schedule designated in Ohio law. These reporting requirements are in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3745.11 and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-78-02.

Emissions Inventory Summary (EIS)

All facilities classified as Title V or Synthetic Minor for permitting are required to file a complete EIS. This report includes detailed emissions information as well as data about the egress points where the air pollution is released to the air. Pollutants currently required to be reported in the EIS are: NO_x, volatile organic compounds (VOC), sulfur dioxide (SO₂₎, lead (Pb), organic compounds (OC), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH₃₎, PM-Condensable, PM-Filterable, PM less than or equal to 10 microns (PM₁₀) - Filterable, and PM less than or equal to 2.5 microns (PM_2.5) - Filterable. Ohio EPA has the authority under OAC rule 3745-15-03 to request and receive the information from regulated entities. EIS information is provided to U.S. EPA to develop an annual criteria and toxic pollutant inventory pursuant to 40 CFR 51.321.

Emissions Statement (ES)

The ES is required of any facility located in a county that is out of attainment for the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone and emits greater than or equal to 25 tons of VOC or NO_x during the reporting year. In general, facilities subject to this requirement must submit actual emissions data for NOx and VOC. The ES is required by Clean Air Act section 182(a)(3)(B) and OAC 3745-24.

• Search for Permits
• Permitting Overview
• Permit Terms and Conditions Library
• Title V Resources (large sources)
• PTI/PTIO Resources (smaller sources)
• Model General Permits 
• Permit-By-Rule (PBR)
• Acid Rain Resources
• Air Quality Modeling
• Engineering Guides
• Voluntary Emission Reduction Credit Banking Program
• Could not find what you were looking for via the links above? Many topics are cross-referenced and searchable via the Agency "Customer Support Center."

Ohio EPA air pollution regulations are located in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) in chapters 3745-14 to 3745-26, 3745-31, 3745-71 to 3745-80, 3745-100 to 3745-105, 3745-108, 3745-109, and 3745-112 to 3745-114. Additional chapters are added as needed to address new laws and requirements related to air pollution control. 

View Ohio EPA's Air Pollution Control Regulations.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to prepare a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the attainment and maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Ohio's SIP is a set of regulations, policies, and infrastructure designed to assist Ohio is attaining and maintaining the NAAQS for the six criteria pollutants listed in the CAA (ozone, PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, lead and carbon monoxide).

View Ohio's SIP submittals.

• Risk Management Plan Program (Accidental Release - 112(r))
• Emission Reduction Credit Banking Program
• Open Burning
• Small Business Assistance
• Stage I/II
• Senate Bill 265
• Tax Exemptions

With the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act, air quality standards were established for six National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulates (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen oxide (NO) and ozone (O3). These standards were the first step in the move toward cleaning up our air. DAPC was established as part of the formation of Ohio EPA and has developed and performed the following basic functions since the 1970s:

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive ambient air monitoring network to measure progress in meeting the NAAQS.
• Conduct special air monitoring and air toxics analysis.
• Develop state-level air pollution control regulations in support of a federally approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) that also conforms to Ohio law.
• Issue permits to regulated sources in order to institute enforceable limits on emissions of air contaminants that otherwise would be released to the atmosphere.
• Conduct inspections and other compliance oversight activities, including pursuing enforcement against permitted or allowable emissions of air contaminants.
• Administer programs to address emissions from mobile sources including  a vehicle emissions testing program (E-Check) and an anti-tampering program to reduce and prevent excessive levels of pollutants from vehicles into the air that form ground-level ozone, or smog.
• Administer the Toxic Release Inventory or “TRI”; a database that contains information concerning specific toxic chemical releases, transfers, waste management and pollution prevention activities from manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. This inventory was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), which Congress passed to promote planning for chemical emergencies, and to provide information to the public about presence and release of toxic and hazardous chemicals in their communities. TRI does not regulate chemical discharges. In Ohio, state authority was granted to the Ohio EPA under the Ohio Right-to-Know Act of 1988.
• Administer delegated 112(r) Risk Management Plan (RMP) compliance oversight. The intent of section 112(r) is to prevent accidental releases to the air and mitigate the consequences of releases that do occur by focusing on prevention measures on chemicals that pose the greatest risk to the public and the environment. Under these requirements, industry has an obligation to prevent accidents and operate safely. DAPC staff assure compliance with these obligations.
• Regulate asbestos removal activities to ensure safe asbestos removal.
• Respond to open burning complaints and provide ongoing compliance activites associated with open burning.
• Perform technical evaluation and review of any property sought for tax exemption status for the Ohio Department of Taxation. The air and noise pollution control tax exemption program was originally established by legislation in 1963. The program allows companies to receive tax exemptions for the installation of air or noise pollution control property, and is administered by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
• Provide  administrative and program support to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). SERC is made up of nine state agencies: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Emergency Management Agency (EMA); Attorney General's Office (AGO); Health; Department of Transportation (DOT); Department of Natural Resources (DNR); State Fire Marshal; State Highway Patrol (SHP); and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Additionally, SERC has 10 appointed members: two for Environmental Advocacy; two for Industry Trade Association; three for Fire Fighting; and three for Local/Municipality. Also, two members of the legislature serves as non-voting members.

DAPC Central Office has evolved over the years as a lean organization and currently has the following sections:

Administration

• Positions include: chief; assistant chief; fiscal officer; and Local Air Agency contract liaison
• Administers all budgeting and contractual obligations of the division
• Provides leadership to ensure resources are applied to meet division responsibilities
• Acts as the liaison with the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
• Negotiates grant commitments with U.S. EPA
• Administers technical review of air pollution control device installation costs for the Ohio Department of Taxation  

Ambient Monitoring

• Develops and maintains one of the most extensive the ambient air monitoring networks in the nation
• Quality-assures the collected data
• Reports the collected data to various consumers and conducts special ambient air quality assessments as needed

Permitting

• Conducts permit recommendation technical reviews submitted by Ohio EPA District Offices and Local Air Agencies
• Develops permitting guidance and answers technical permitting questions
• Administers air toxics review and investigation activities
• Administers asbestos removal compliance oversight

Permit Issuance and Data Management

• Ensures all permit processing complies with legal requirements
• Provides information concerning public notice comment periods
• Provides support to the regulated community concerning permit application and permit availability resources
• Administers compliance with the approved Title V permitting program
• Provides management support for all information technology-related needs of the division

State Implementation Plan

• Administers the air pollution control specific state rule-making and five-year rule review process
• Develops State Implementation Plan (SIP) requests and support information
• Conducts SIP and source-specific air dispersion modeling/modeling review
• Provides program support concerning open burning regulation implementation

Mobile Sources

• Administers the E-Check program
• Administers the mobile source anti-tampering program

Enforcement

• Administers the air pollution control enforcement program
• Develops referral of enforcement cases to the Ohio Attorney General

Specific staff in the DAPC and their associated primary responsibilities are detailed on the contacts tab.

DAPC staff are also located in each Ohio EPA District Office. Among other activities, staff in these offices perform the following critical functions:

• Receive and review permit applications
• Develop permit recommendations for issuance by Ohio EPA Central Office
• Conduct facility inspections
• Respond to air pollution complaints
• Review open burning and asbestos removal/demolition requests
• Conduct permit compliance oversight activities (e.g., witnessing stack tests, reviewing/responding to reported air pollution control malfunction episodes, etc.)

Local Air Agencies are contracted organizations located throughout the state that perform primarily the same functions as the Ohio EPA District offices. These agencies pre-date Ohio EPA and typically are part of a city, county, or health district organization. Although the number of local air agencies has declined since the 1970’s, the current contracted agencies continue to serve a critical role in air monitoring, permitting and compliance oversight in certain areas of the state in addition to performing certain activities directly for U.S. EPA and/or their parent organizations (e.g., indoor air quality). Below are links to the main web pages for each local air agency.

• City of Toledo, Division of Environmental Services
• Portsmouth City Health Department, Air Pollution Unit
• Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA), Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County
• Cleveland Department of Health, Division of Air Quality
• Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, a division of the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services
• Canton City Health Department, Air Pollution Control Division
• Akron Regional Air Quality Management District
• Lake County General Heath District, Air Pollution Control

Please go to the Asbestos Program web page, or you can email us at asbestos@epa.ohio.gov. You may also contact us at one of the following numbers: