Construction Permitting Materials

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Construction Permitting Materials

Air construction permits are required prior to constructing or modifying equipment or control equipment. Applicants should submit permit applications to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources using our online application system, EASY Air. Alternatively, applicants may submit paper copies of the application forms (see Application Forms below) to DNR. Air quality staff will enter paper application forms into EASY Air before the project is assigned for review.

Iowa EASY Air

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has developed an electronic permit application system for construction and Title V operating permit applications. It is a web-based, secure system available for submitting permit applications.

Instructions and access to "how-tos" can be found below, along with more information about the system and its advantages for fast, accurate application submittals.

Notice to SLEIS users logging in to Iowa EASY Air for the first time: Your email account from SLEIS was migrated into Iowa EASY Air, so you do have an account. However, your SLEIS password was not migrated, so you will need to set up a password in Iowa EASY Air.

Click on the "Forgot your login user name or password?" link and follow the directions to have a temporary password emailed to you.

Please direct any system-related comments or questions to easyair@dnr.iowa.gov, or by phone at 515-725-9569 or 515-204-3749.

Login to Iowa EASY Air

Responsible Officials (ROs) may use the preferred e-Verify option for identity verification. The EASY Air account registration instructions for ROs document | provides more information on how to use this option. ROs who are not able to successfully use this preferred option may submit an Electronic Signature Agreement (ESA) form to DNR following the instructions provided in the account registration instructions for ROs document.

 

Recordings from the December 19, 2019 webinar:

The EASY Air training webinar includes eight sections designed to help customers use the online system. They include:

  1. Background [YouTube Link]
  2. Accessing the System [YouTube Link]
  3. Applying for a Construction Permit [YouTube Link]
  4. Modifications and Determinations [YouTube Link]
  5. Using General Permits, Templates or Registrations [YouTube Link]
  6. Questions for Construction Permit Applications [YouTube Link]
  7. Applying for a Title V Permit [YouTube Link]
  8. Questions and Answers [YouTube Link]

If for any reason you are unable to hear the sound on this webinar, DNR provides other training materials including instructions, online instructions, tips and help embedded in the EASY Air application, and Help Desk staff who can answer your questions. Please direct any system-related comments or questions to the EASY Air Help Desk at easyair@dnr.iowa.gov, or by phone to 515-725-9569 or 515-204-3749.

Basic Application Forms and Guidance

E-File Via EASY Air

If you have trouble downloading any of this material, you can receive copies of the application forms and other information by sending your name and address to Air Quality Bureau, Department of Natural Resources, 502 E 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319. You can also call the Construction Permitting helpline toll-free at 1-877-AIR-IOWA (1-877-247-4692).

 

 

Specific Application Forms & Guidance

The following information includes the aggregate processing plant permit template and the Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Form GHG. The Form GHG must be submitted with all projects. Please refer to the instructions on the back of Form GHG for detailed information on how to fill out the form.

The following information includes the asphalt plant permit template as well as the Form GHG. The Form GHG is required to be submitted with all projects. Please refer to the instructions on the back of Form GHG for detailed information on how to fill out the form.

The following information includes the concrete batch plant permit template as well as the Form GHG, and an example of how to fill out the equipment list form. The Form GHG is required to be submitted with all projects. Please refer to the instructions on the back of Form GHG for detailed information on how to fill out the form.

The following information includes the bulk gasoline permit templates as well as the Form GHG. The Form GHG is required to be submitted with all projects. Please refer to the instructions on the back of Form GHG for detailed information on how to fill out the form.

Group 1 Registrations

Country grain elevators, country grain terminal elevators or grain terminal elevators are classified as Group 1 facilities in 567 IAC 22.10(455B) if the potential to emit of the facility is less than 15 tons of PM10 per year. Owners or operators of Group 1 grain elevators were required to submit a registration form by March 31, 2008 for existing equipment.

Permitting Requirements and Documents

Air Permitting Requirements

Forms

The following information includes the grain elevator registration form, permit template, Form AF, and Form GHG. The Form AF is required for all construction permit applications (the Group 1 registration form includes instructions for the required fees). The Form GHG is required to be submitted with all projects. Please refer to the instructions on the back of Form GHG for detailed information on how to fill out the form.

Miscellaneous

The following information includes instructions and resources for prepared feeds facilities that may need to obtain construction permits. The application forms specified in the guidance are available by scrolling up on this webpage and clicking on "Application Forms".  For the emissions calculations, requested on Form EC, please use the emissions calculator provided below.

The efficient use of energy is one of the best ways to decrease human impact on the environment, and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) projects are a good way to fulfill this goal.  CHP is a method for a facility to generate power (electricity) and useful heat (steam) from one unit rather than using separate units.  This reduces capital investment and increases overall efficiency. Facilities that have excess electrical or steam generating capacity may find CHP an economical option.  If you are considering a CHP project, most likely you will need to apply for an air quality construction permit before you begin. Allow at least 65 days for construction permit application processing.  There are several things to consider.

Iowa’s Air Quality and Permission to Construct

The Ambient Air Monitoring conducted across the state shows that air quality is good in most areas of the state. Construction permits help ensure new facilities are designed and built in such a way that air quality remains high, despite adding a new source of air pollutant emissions.  Some common questions about permitting CHP facilities are answered in the following document:

Where to Locate

The location within a community chosen for a facility is important.  The DNR has compiled the Cleaner Air, Better Communities guide to assist in this key decision.

Ambient Air Analysis

In order to ensure that the Iowa’s air quality is maintained an ambient air analysis may be required for projects that are projected to emit a larger quantity of emissions, or for projects locating in areas with existing emissions of air pollutants. The construction permitting Form MD can be used to determine if an analysis will be needed for a particular project.

When an ambient air analysis is necessary, using dispersion modeling helps design the proposed facility so that it will comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The following information can be used to assist in this effort:

Depending on the pollutants that will be emitted by the project, there are certain areas of the state that may require special consideration. These include two areas of Iowa currently designated as non-attainment: a small area in Council Bluffs for lead, and approximately one third of Muscatine County for sulfur dioxide (SO2).

There are several other areas of the state that are classified as maintenance areas.  These areas include Buffalo for particulate matter (PM10), Cedar Rapids (SO2), Clinton (SO2), Mason City (PM10), and Muscatine (PM2.5). Locating in any of these areas will require special considerations to ensure that the proposed project will not cause or contribute to an exceedance of the national standards.

Additional Information

The Iowa Economic Development Authority has complied information to assist in the development of CHP projects in Iowa.