Colorado Air Pollution Control Inventory and Support Unit

Air Pollution Control Division

Stationary Sources Program
Inventory and Support Unit

The Stationary Sources Program Inventory and Support Group performs technical functions, which, in conjunction with other sections, support the goals and objectives of the Stationary Sources Program. These technical functions include managing the Stationary Source Emission Inventory and administration of the Stationary Sources Annual Fee System.

Emission Inventory
Opacity and Odor Intensity Grading Certification
Annual Fees
Woodburning Stove Certifications
Source Closure Processing
Street Sanding Oversight
Inventory Data Retrieval Requests

Emissions Inventory

The Inventory and Support Group maintains the inventory of air pollutants emitted by stationary sources in Colorado. Details of emission reporting requirements are found in the Air Quality Control Commission's (AQCC) Regulation No. 3 . Businesses report their emissions using a form known as an Air Pollutant Emission Notice. Some of the more common business categories have specific Air Pollutant Emission Notices that are tailored to their needs. The General Air Pollutant Emission Notice is available for downloading in Adobe Acrobat format. Because of the technical and sometimes complex nature of air emission calculations, the Division has formed a Small Business Assistance Program team that helps Colorado businesses to comply with the air quality regulations. Air Pollutant Emission Notices are valid for five years unless a significant increase in emissions occurs. Each Notice must be accompanied by a $152.90 filing fee.

Annual Fees

Colorado State Law (Section 25-7-114.7 (2) (a) (I)), requires that every owner or operator of an air pollution source shall pay an annual as follows: $22.90 per ton of regulated criteria pollutants and $152.90 per ton of hazardous air pollutants and ozone depleting compounds. Invoices are generated based on the emissions reported the most recent Air Pollutant Emission Notice on file with the Division. Reporting is done on a calendar year basis, generally last year, and fees are charged based on the actual quantity released. A list of the chargeable hazardous air pollutants may be found in Appendix C of Regulation No. 3 . Note that in addition to annual air emission fees, businesses may also be subject to Air Pollutant Emission Notice (APEN) filing and air permitting processing fees .

Annual Fee Frequently Asked Questions

How are the invoiced amounts of pollutants determined?

They are based on the latest Air Pollutant Emission Notice on file with the Air Pollution Control Division.

How do I appeal the invoiced amount or address questions concerning my invoice?

An appeal must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the invoice date in order to stop the deadline process and eventual collections activities. Questions about the invoice can be submitted in a letter or a call can be made to the Air Pollutant Emission Notice hotline at (303) 692-3210.

What period of time does the invoice cover?

Generally, the invoice is for emissions generated during the previous calendar year.

What if the facility was sold during the invoiced year?

Sale of a facility requires the submission of a revised Air Pollutant Emission Notice (including filing fees) documenting the transfer of ownership. The previous and new owner can decide among themselves how to prorate the fee or each can submit a revised Air Pollutant Emission Notice (including filing fees) documenting emissions for their period of responsibility.

What if the facility closed prior to the invoiced year?

An annual fee invoice may be cancelled if no operation occurred that year provided a request in writing is submitted to cancel the APEN . Additional information about source closure procedures is provided below.

Some of the pollutants are listed only as numbers, what are they?

Hazardous air pollutants are designated on the invoice by their Chemical Abstract Service number. The list of the chargeable pollutants found in Appendix C of Regulation No. 3 contains these Chemical Abstract Service numbers. These can also be identified in numerous chemical references or by calling the Air Pollution Control Division.

Source Closure Processing

If you are closing down an air pollution emissions source you may wish to have it removed from the inventory. This will avoid further annual fees for those emissions. If the source is to be permanently closed (i.e. dismantled) you will need to notify the Air Pollution Control Division in writing to have it removed and have all associated permits cancelled. Please be specific as to the equipment and permits that are to be cancelled. No filing fee is required to cancel a source; if the source is ever reopened it will require all new Air Pollutant Emission Notices and if the permit was cancelled, permits just as if it had never been permitted before. If a source is to be closed temporarily, you may cancel the APEN and keep the permit. However, a new Air Pollutant Emission Notice (including filing fees) will need to be filed prior to re-start, showing expected emissions for the coming year.

Inventory Data Retrieval Requests

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division provides reports to the public from its air pollution inventory. There is a $30 charge for each report. All requests for reports must be made in writing. Please specify the data elements needed and specific selection criteria based upon these elements (i.e. only plants in a certain county having a certain SIC code.

If the data in the inventory are not adequate, the Division's files are available for public examination, by appointment. To arrange for an appointment, please call the Division.

Opacity and Odor Intensity Grading Certification

Those individuals interested in performing stationary source opacity grading are required to be certified in accordance with the EPA's Reference Method No. 9, "Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions From Stationary Sources. Certification to perform opacity readings may be obtained from private firms.

The state's Odor Regulation (Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 2 ) states that personnel evaluating odors for compliance shall be selected using an "intensity-rating test." This testing is performed six times a year at the Division's "Odor School." Persons passing the test are certified for a one year period.

Questions and requests for Odor School enrollment forms should be directed to Roy Doyle at (303) 692-3159, comments.apcd@state.co.us .

Woodburning Stove Certifications

Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 4, the woodburning regulation, is designed to reduce particulate emissions through the sale and usage of advanced and cleaner residential burning devices. It does so through the standards established for approving residential burning devices and the implementation of residential burning bans when meteorological and air quality conditions require it.

The Inventory and Support Unit maintains an accurate list of all EPA-approved Phase II stoves, EPA-exempt devices, Colorado-approved masonry heaters and Colorado- approved pellet stoves. These are updated and mailed out on an annual basis to various wood stove dealers and local governments in Colorado. Reports of wood burning enforcement activities of local agencies are received and tracked to ensure that efforts are made to reduce the amount of wood burning in uncertified devices on high pollution days. Requests to have various models of wood burning devices granted approval status are received and analyzed for approval or denial.

For more detailed information please see the Division's residential burning regulations page.

Street Sanding Oversight

Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation No. 16 is designed to reduce particulate emissions by requiring reductions in application rates of street sanding materials by governmental agencies, increased usage of alternative liquid de-icing compounds, and improved and more frequent street sweeping. It also specifies requirements for the types of street sand that can be used.

The Inventory and Support Group monitors activities related to the emission of particulate from street sanding. To this end, the Unit maintains a database for reports of street sand usage and reduction by municipalities on an annual basis, along with tracking the production of street sanding materials by various suppliers in terms of the percent of fine (sized) particulates they contain.

Street Sanding Frequently Asked Questions

How "dusty" can street sand be?

The established percentage of fines (silt) content for street sand materials depends on how durable (easily ground up) the material is. For less durable street sand, 2 percent is the maximum percent fines content and for more durable material, 4 percent is allowed.

Should I call the state about dusty street sweeping operations on windy days?

No, the local street maintenance, highway, or road and bridge department, which has jurisdiction, is responsible for such operations and should be notified of such complaints.

What are particulates and specifically what is PM10?

Particulates are fine dust particles. Many processes produce particulates, including the continued "grinding up" action of traffic on street sand. PM10 is the designation applied to particulate matter with an average particle size of less than 10 microns (millionths of a meter) in diameter.

How much sand can be applied to the road?

Application rates are left up to the decision of the local jurisdiction, but the maximum established baseline rate is 500 pounds of sand per lane mile. Each governmental agency must achieve a 20 percent reduction over their established baseline rate (Denver's is 30 percent) each year.