Air Quality Modeling Guidance for Permits

Colorado Modeling Guideline Supplemental Guidance, Forms, and Information Meteorological Data Maps, Figures, Tables Federal Modeling Support On-Line Training

Queried Sources of Air Pollution Map

This webpage presents current air quality permit modeling guidance for estimating impacts from stationary sources of air pollution.

For general permitting questions, contact the Stationary Sources Program. Contact monitoring or modeling staff in the Technical Services Program for monitoring or modeling questions, respectively.

Completeness Checklist for Modeling Submittals

FAQs on Air Quality Modeling Data and Techniques

Colorado Modeling Guideline for Air Quality Permits

• Colorado Modeling Guideline for Air Quality Permits (Dec. 27, 2005; Tables 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 last updated May 20, 2011; threshold analysis)

Supplemental Modeling Guidance, Forms, and Information

• Air Quality Modeling Form - This optional form is a supplement to the Pollution Emission Notice (APEN) and application forms.
• Checklist for Non-PSD Sources/Modifications (e.g., minor sources) (March 8, 2002; updated 4/25/11)
• Background concentration form (April 17, 2012)
• Third Party Modeling Review (SB11 - 235) request procedure - This option may be available for minor source permitting actions if a modeling review backlog exists.
• Checklist for Modeling Protocol (June 17, 1997)
• Database of "scenic and/or important views" (March 11, 2005)
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Increment Tracking (February 26, 2001; updated 12/28/05)
• Maps, Figures, Tables

Meteorological & Geophysical Data for Air Quality Permit Modeling

The Technical Services Program of the Air Pollution Control Division has data from current and historic meteorological towers in Colorado that are suitable for use in regulatory models. Contact the Division for data. Division approval should be obtained on a case-by-case basis before meteorological datasets are used for regulatory (e.g., air permit) modeling.

Maps, Class I Receptors, Figures, Tables for Air Quality Permit Modeling

• Colorado PSD baseline areas and minor source baseline dates [Colorado PSD baseline map.pdf]
• Nonattainment/Maintenance Area Boundaries (interactive map: http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/ss_map_wm.aspx)
• Federal Class I Areas (interactive map: http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/ss_map_wm.aspx)
• Federal Class I Areas (Figure 4 from Colorado Modeling Guideline)
• Federal Class I Area Map and Standard Class I receptors (links to NPS)
• Class II areas with the protection of Class I increments for sulfur dioxide (Figure 3 from Colorado Modeling Guideline)
• Flowchart of permit review process from a modeling perspective (Figure 5 from Colorado Modeling Guideline)
• Diagram of roles and responsibilities in the modeling review process for construction permits (Figure 6 from Colorado Modeling Guideline)

Federal Modeling Support

• U.S. EPA
• Support Center for Regulatory Atmospheric Modeling (SCRAM) - EPA guidance, models, user's guides, and related information. The primary EPA modeling guideline is Appendix W to 40 CFR Part 51 [appw_05.pdf].
• Technology Transfer Network (TTNWeb)- a collection of related Web sites containing information about many areas of air pollution science, technology, regulation, measurement, and prevention.
• New Source Review (NSR)
  • 1990 "New Source Review Workshop Manual" [wkshpman.pdf]
• OAQPS Air Quality Modeling - topics and areas associated with air quality modeling.
• Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division (ASMD) - the Division is part of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory and is responsible for performing much of the air pollution meteorology research for the USEPA.
• Federal Land Managers
  • National Park Service Air
    • Permit Applications
  • USDA ForestService

On-Line Training

• Air Pollution Training Institute
• OS411 - Computational Atmospheric Sciences