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Certificate of Approval (Air)
Permits FAQ
What is a Certificate of Approval (Air) Operating Permit?
What is a
Contaminant?
When is a CofA
(Air) Operating
Permit Required?
What is a
Grandfathered
Source?
Are There
Exemptions to the
Certificate of Approval (Air) Permitting?
What is an ESDM
Report?
What is a Noise
Review & When is
it Required?
What does a
Certificate of Approval
look like?
What is a Certificate of Approval (Air)
Operating
Permit?
A Certificate of Approval (CofA, Air) permit is issued by the
Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), allowing the regulated
discharge of contaminants into the natural environment.
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What is a Contaminant?
A contaminant, as defined in the Environmental Protection Act,
is any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration or radiation
that may cause an adverse effect on surrounding neighbours.
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When is a CofA (Air) Operating Permit
required?
Section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act, Revised
Statutes of Ontario, 1990, Chapter E.19. states that a MOE issued
operating permit is required when installing or modifying equipment
that discharges, or is likely to discharge, contaminants into the
natural environment.
Ventilated welding and paint booths are examples of exhaust
sources
that would require permits. In addition, general plant exhaust fans
that move contaminated plant air out of the building would also be
included in this category.
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What is a Grandfathered Source?
Until recently, the MOE would not issue permits for exhaust
sources that pre-dated June 29, 1988. These older sources were
unofficially coined "grandfathered". However, in 1998, the MOE imposed
new permitting and reporting reforms and contaminant emissions from the
old, previously grandfathered, sources must be included in permits with
the new sources, if they discharge similar contaminants.
However; regardless of the permit status, grandfathered or
not, the
sum of all plant emissions must be below the regulated limits, or you
are in contravention of the Ontario Environmental Protection Act and
subject to possible enforcement and penalties.
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Are There Exemptions to the Certificate
of
Approval (Air) Permitting?
Yes. Activities that pose no significant risk of environmental
impact are unconditionally exempt. Some exemptions that may be relevant
to industry include:
- On-site construction equipment
- Food / restaurant exhausts
- Plumbing ventilation
- Aqueous detergent cleaning operations
- Building air intakes and exhausts
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What is an ESDM Report?
ESDM is an acronym for Emission Summary & Dispersion
Modelling
Report. In June 1998, a document titled Procedure for Preparing an
Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling Report was released by the
MOE for use by industry and consultants to promote reporting uniformity
and improve submission quality. The ESDM report format has now become
an industry standard and is required with all applications.
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What is a
Noise
Review?
The MOE criteria states that if there is residential,
institutional or educational facilities within 500 metres of the site,
a Noise Assessment has to be done. The 500 metres generally applies to
large industrial applications, and auto body shops usually apply if
within 100 metres of the above type of facilities. We can handle the
Noise Review as well. Go here to see a
typical Data Logger sound output and learn more about sound reviews.
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What does a CofA look like?
Originally, the Ministry of the Environment actually issued a
true
Certificate. They now issue a letter stating your Approval Number and
the terms of the agreement. If we are doing your application for you,
we will issue you an additional certificate, suitable for framing,
after the approval is granted. Go here to
see more.
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For more information about dispersion modelling, environmental permits,
or compliance issues, please contact us
at
(416) 771-2991 or email us at help
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