Licensing of New Sources and Modifications 



The SIP requires all new sources of air pollution and modifications (with 

 a few exceptions) be licensed. Two approaches to the licensing have been 

 taken. 



Sources which locate within attainment areas are subject to the Prevention 

 of Significant Deterioration Program (PSD) which requires the source to 

 undergo preconstruction review and the imposition of Best Available Control 

 Technology (BACT) . Sources which propose to locate in nonattainment areas 

 must meet more stringent requirements to insure reasonable further progress 

 in attaining the ambient air quality standard which is being violated. This 

 includes BACT for those pollutants not the cause of nonattainment and 

 Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) for those pollutants which are the 

 cause of nonattainment. Sources must also comply with the Growth Offset 

 Regulation. The requirements for licensing in attainment and nonattainment 

 areas will be briefly described. 



Programs for Attainment Areas 



Under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program, attainment areas 

 within the State are designated as either Class I, Class II, or Class III. 

 The class designations indicate, in addition to the ambient air quality 

 standards adopted by the Board of Environmental Protection a maximum level of 

 allowable increase (increment) in the concentrations of sulfer dioxide and 

 particulate matter over the baseline concentrations. The increases can only 

 be exceeded once annually. Table 2-3 indicates those increments allowable 

 for each Class. Obviously, Class I areas are highly protected followed by 

 Class II and III. 



Maine is regulated as a Class II clean air area under the Prevention of 

 Significant Deterioration Program except for those nonattainment areas 

 and the following exceptions: 



(1) Those areas of the State that are redesignated by the Board 

 following the procedures required by the Federal Clean Air Act. 



(2) Federally designated Class I areas: Acadia National Park 

 (located in the Downeast Air Quality Region); Moosehorn National Wildlife 

 Refuge designated as a Wilderness Area (located in the Downeast Air Quality 

 Region) ; and Roosevelt Campobello International Island (located in New 

 Brunswick, Canada, off the coast of the Downeast Air Quality Region). 



New sources and modifications to existing sources which are major emitting 

 sources must undergo preconstruction review. This will insure compliance 

 with both the ambient standards and the applicable increment, depending on 

 the location (i.e.. Class) of the source. Compliance is also required with 

 the Best Available Control Technology. BACT is an emission limitation based 

 on the maximum degree of reduction of each pollutant emitted which results 

 from a new source or modification. BACT is determined on a case by case 

 basis taking into account factors as energy, environmental and economic impact, 

 costs, etc. 



3-C-7 



10-80 



