Air
Quality Permitting, Compliance
The Permitting and Compliance Program oversees
both permitted and unpermitted sources of air pollution within Pinellas
County. These include toxic and hazardous sources as well as oil fired
power plants, waste incineration facilities, gasoline stations, paint
and coating operations, dry cleaners, and other sources that emit air
pollutants. The Permitting staff reviews state permit applications for
air pollution sources to ensure compliance with control standards. The
Compliance staff inspects permitted and unpermitted sources, investigates
citizen’s complaints, compiles annual emission inventories for
air pollutants, inspects gasoline stations and tanker trucks for vapor
recovery, and enforces the County’s Comprehensive Air Quality Ordinance.
The Asbestos/Air Toxics staff inspects permitted and unpermitted sources,
investigates complaints, inspects demolition and renovation projects
for proper removal and disposal of asbestos material, and coordinates
with state and local agencies for asbestos notifications. Other activities
include computer modeling to evaluate potential air toxics emission
impacts, development of an air toxics control program, air inventories
and special projects.
Permitting:
The requirements to obtain construction and operating permits are contained
in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) regulations,
and Pinellas County Code, subsection 58-103 (pdf).
The state regulations include 62-4 (pdf),
62-210 (pdf),
62-212 (pdf),
and 62-213(pdf)
of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Any activity that emits
or can reasonably be expected to emit any air pollutant must obtain
appropriate permits from the FDEP. The permits must be issued by FDEP 
prior to beginning construction or modification unless exempted pursuant
to a Department rule or statute. These exemptions to permitting are
found in 62-210.300(3)(a) - Categorical Exemptions, 62-210.300(3)(b)
- Generic and Temporary Exemptions, and 62-4.040 - Exemptions. The Pinellas
County Department of Environmental Management does not issue air permits.
All air permits in Pinellas County are issued by the FDEP. Pinellas
County staff performs a co-review of all permit applications and draft
permits, and provides comments to DEP. These comments are incorporated
into any permit application, incompleteness letters, or final permits.
There are several typical types of permits issued by DEP. These are
general permits, construction permits, and operating permits.
General Permits:
General permits are permits by rule. A facility operating under a general
permit does not get an actual permit issued to them. Instead, their
permit “conditions” are contained in the state rules. A facility
submits a notification to FDEP as a notice of eligibility. FDEP either
denies the permit if the facility is not eligible, or allows the permit
to become effective. There are two types of general permits, Title
V general permits, and Non-Title
V general permits .
Construction Permits:
Construction permits are required for any proposed new or modified facility
or emissions unit prior to the beginning of construction or modification.
Title V facilities must use form
62-210.900(1), and non-Title V facilities must use
form 62-210.900(3). The FDEP forms can be found on their website.
Operating Permits:
Operating permits are required prior to expiration of an existing operation
permit (renewal), or prior to the expiration of a construction or modification
permit. Title V facilities must use form
62-210.900(1), and non-Title V facilities must use
form 62-210.900(3) following construction or modification, and form
62-210.900(4) for renewals. The FDEP forms can be found on their website.
Compliance:
The Compliance staff investigate air pollution related complaints from
citizens to determine the source of odors, dust, fumes, mists, and other
air pollutants that may cause harm, or discomfort to the public. Complaint
investigations often require interaction with other agencies such as
the County’s Environmental Enforcement Division, County Health
Department, fire agencies, etc.
Asbestos
Hazards and Your Health (More
Information About Asbestos Hazards) Asbestos can cause serious health problems. Three specific diseases - asbestosis
(scarring of the lungs), lung cancer and mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining
of the chest) - have been linked to asbestos. These microscopic fibers tend
to break into even smaller microscopic fibers that can be inhaled into the
lungs. Because of their extremely small size, the fibers, once inhaled,
can remain in the body for many years. For
more information on Asbestos Hazards from EPA .
Asbestos Management Procedures (Additional
Information About Asbestos Management Procedures)
Proper asbestos management procedures should be followed before beginning
any activity, which might disturb materials containing asbestos:
A written asbestos survey is required before demolition of a building (removal
of any load bearing, structural supports), before building renovations (this
includes maintenance on various building systems). These materials could
either be coated or covered with asbestos containing materials. Only a licensed
asbestos consultant can perform asbestos surveys in the State of Florida.
Only licensed asbestos contractors may remove asbestos-containing materials.
All Regulated Asbestos-Containing Materials (RACM) must be removed from
buildings, prior to demolition activities.
Licensure as an asbestos contractor is not required for removal of certain
types of material. You must contact the Florida Department of Business and
Professional Regulation (
DBPR ) if you have questions about any asbestos license exemptions.
Written notification is required to be mailed ten (10) working days prior
to any demolition, and ten (10) working days prior to removal of any Regulated
Asbestos Containing Material (RACM). Notifications are required to be mailed
to the Environmental Protection Program (pdf)
responsible for the geographic area in question. In Pinellas County you
must send the notification to:
Environmental Management
Air Quality Division
300 South Garden Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
Asbestos Notification Requirements
Who is responsible? The owner of the building, and the contractor
performing the demolition, or renovation are responsible to notify.
What projects are exempt? Only a single, family residential home,
and apartment buildings with four (4) dwellings, or less, are exempt from
notification. All other structures and buildings are regulated and must
comply with asbestos notification requirements.
Whom should the notifications be sent to? Mail the notifications
to the Environmental Protection Program (pdf)
responsible for the geographic area in question, and keep a copy for your
own records.
What are the notification requirements? The rules require that
the written notification be mailed or hand delivered:
- Ten (10) working days
prior to a demolition. This includes buildings where no asbestos is
present.
- Ten (10) working days
prior to a renovation operation, if the amount of asbestos material
stripped or removed is greater than 160 square feet on facility components
or 260 linear feet on pipes, 35 cubic feet.
- One (1) day prior to demolition,
if the building has been declared structurally unsound and in danger
of imminent collapse by a State or local governmental agency (a building
official must make this determination).
How do I know if I have asbestos
in my building? An asbestos survey is required before any renovation
or demolition activity begins. A copy of the survey report must be kept
on-site during renovations, and a copy must be attached to the written
notification for demolitions. Asbestos surveys must be performed by a
State Licensed asbestos consultant.
Who can remove asbestos-containing material? All removal, handling,
or other related activities associated with asbestos-containing materials
must be done by a Florida Licensed Asbestos Contractor. Licensure as an
asbestos contractor is not required, if certain criteria are met, for
the moving, removal, or disposal of asbestos-containing roofing materials,
resilient flooring materials, and exterior conduit or piping. Supervisors
and/or workers must be trained in accordance with Florida Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) requirements. All employers
of workers who require employees to handle asbestos must comply with the
U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA regulations.
If I have a survey done, and do not disturb any asbestos, do I have
to notify? If you have an asbestos survey of the affected areas, and
do not disturb any asbestos, you must maintain the asbestos report on
the job site during all renovation activities. A written notification
is not required for renovation activities, when no asbestos containing
materials are disturbed. All demolitions require notification, even when
no asbestos is present. Additional Asbestos Information for Pinellas
County.
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