New Source Review in Washington
Regional Air Permit Information
National Air Permit Information
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What makes Air Permit Regulation Different in Washington?
The Air Program in Washington State is composed of seven independent local (regional) air pollution control agencies, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and the Energy Facility State Evaluation Council (EFSEC). EFSEC has statewide jurisdiction over thermal electric power plants greater than 350 megawatts capacity. Ecology has statewide authority to issue PDS permits and Ecology operates several regional offices that cover territory that is not under the jurisdiction of a local air pollution agency. A map indicating the geographic jurisdiction of the local agencies and web links to each local program is provided on the Washington State Ecology Website.
Does this Concern a Power Plant?
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council EFSEC is a Washington State agency created in 1970 to provide "one stop" licensing for large energy projects. The council's responsibilities derive from the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 80.50, and include siting large natural gas and old pipelines, thermal electric power plants that are 350 megawatts or greater and their dedicated transmission lines, new oil refineries or large expansions of existing facilities, and underground natural gas storage fields. In addition, energy facilities of any size that exclusively use alternative energy resources (wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gas, wave or tidal action, or biomass energy) can opt-in to the EFSEC review and certification process. EFSEC's authority does not extend to hydro based power plants, thermal electric plants that are less than 350 megawatts, or to general transmission lines. EFSEC has been delegated authority by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Federal Clean Air Act for facilities under its jurisdiction.
EFSEC permits site
Focus on Washington Permit Process
Link to Ecology's List of State and Local Agencies
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