Creating A More Effective New Source Review Permitting Program

摘要

The New Source Review (NSR) permitting section in any state agency receives the brunt of political and public outcry. This is because the section, while being responsible for all sources which construct or operate, must also protect the health and welfare of the citizens and promote economic and social development while allowing for the enjoyment of the natural attractions of the state. Regulated sources, in general, have limited time constraints within which to begin (and complete) construction and start operation. For the first time in recent history, the West Virginia Office of Air Quality (WVOAQ) is issuing more permits (and permit determinations) than we have received (by clearing out the backlog). This, while the minor source workload for 1998 has increased by roughly 10 percent and the major source (PSD) workload has increased by 65 percent and is expected to go even higher in the near future. The team of experts (these are permit engineers, most with less than five years experience) working on the permits will issue roughly 44 percent more completed work by the end of 1998 than by 1997. It is impossible to point to any one modification, which allowed the permitting section to make such a bold turnaround in a short period of time. This document is not intended to be a total compilation of all changes, but a series of road signs, to alert other agencies to those that have worked so well for the WVOAQ.