Wisconsin Code § 285.63

Criteria for permit approval
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(1) REQUIREMENTS
FOR ALL SOURCES. The department may approve the application
for a permit required or allowed under s. 285.60 if it finds:
(a) Source will meet requirements. The stationary source will
meet all applicable emission limitations and other requirements
promulgated under this chapter, standards of performance for
new stationary sources under s. 285.27 (1) and emission standards for hazardous air contaminants under s. 285.27 (2);
(b) Source will not violate or exacerbate violation of air quality standard or ambient air increment. The source will not cause
or exacerbate a violation of any ambient air quality standard or
ambient air increment under s. 285.21 (1) or (2);
(c) Other permits approvable if source is operating under an
emission reduction option. If the source is operating or seeks to
operate under an emission reduction option, the required permit
applications for other sources participating in that emission reduction option are approvable; and
(d) Source will not preclude construction or operation of
other source. The stationary source will not degrade the air quality in an area sufficiently to prevent the construction, reconstruction, replacement, modification or operation of another stationary source if the department received plans, specifications and
other information under s. 285.61 (2) (a) for the other stationary
source prior to commencing its analysis under s. 285.61 (3) for
the former stationary source. This paragraph does not apply to an
existing source required to have an operation permit.
(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS FOR NEW OR MODIFIED MAJOR SOURCES IN NONATTAINMENT AREAS. The department may
approve the application for a construction permit or operation
permit for a major source that is a new source or modified source
and is located in a nonattainment area if the department finds that
the major source meets the requirements under sub. (1) and it
finds that all of the following conditions are met:
(a) Emission offsets. By the time the major source is to commence operation, sufficient offsetting emissions reductions have
been obtained so that total allowable emissions from the major
source and from other air contaminant sources in the area designated by the department will be sufficiently less than the total
emissions allowed prior to the application for the construction
permit or operation permit, so that reasonable further progress toward the attainment and maintenance of any ambient air quality
standard will be achieved.
(b) Lowest achievable emission rate. The emission from the
major source will be at the lowest achievable emission rate.
(c) Applicant’s other major sources meet or on schedule to
meet requirements. All other major sources that are located in
this state and that are owned or operated by the permit applicant
or by any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the permit applicant, as determined under s. 180.1140
(6), meet or are on schedule to meet the requirements of this
chapter and s. 299.15 and rules promulgated under this chapter
and s. 299.15 and are in compliance with or are on schedule to
come into compliance with all applicable emission limitations
and emission standards under the federal clean air act.
(d) Analysis of alternatives. Based on an analysis of alternative sites, sizes, production processes and environmental control
techniques for any major source that is located in an area designated under 42 USC 7407 (d), that the benefits of the construction or modification of the major source significantly outweigh
the environmental and social costs imposed as a result of the major source’s location, construction or modification.
(3) REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS FOR NEW OR MODIFIED MAJOR SOURCES IN ATTAINMENT AREAS. The department may approve the application for a construction permit or operation permit for a major source that is a new source or a modified source
and is located in an attainment area if the department finds that
the major source meets the requirements under sub. (1) and it
finds:
(a) Best available control technology. The source will be subject to the best available control technology for each applicable
air contaminant;
(b) Effects on air quality analyzed. The effects on air quality
as a result of the source and growth associated with the source
were analyzed;
(c) No adverse effect on air quality related values. The
source will not adversely affect the air quality related values of
any federal mandatory class I prevention of significant deterioration area; and
(d) Monitoring. The permit applicant agrees to conduct monitoring specified by the department as necessary to determine the
effects of the source on air quality.
(3m) CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Unless required under the federal clean air act, in determining whether a major source is subject to best available control
technology under sub. (3) (a) for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion or decomposition of nonfossilized
and biodegradable organic material originating from plants, animals, or microorganisms, the department may only consider carbon dioxide emissions consistent with 40 CFR 51.166 (b) (48)
and the definition of “subject to regulation” in 40 CFR 70.2.
(4) EXEMPTION FROM REQUIREMENTS. The department may
waive a requirement under sub. (2) or (3) if:

(a) Not applicable. The requirement is not applicable to the
source; or
(b) Not necessary. The requirement is not necessary to ensure
that the source will have no adverse effect on air quality if the
construction and operation or modification and operation of the
source would result in an allowable emission of less than an
amount specified by rule by the department.
(5) CONDITIONAL PERMIT. The department may issue a conditional air pollution control permit even if it finds that the
source, as proposed, does not meet the requirements under subs.
(1) to (3). If the department issues a conditional permit, it shall
prescribe reasonable permit conditions to assure that the source
will meet the requirements under subs. (1) to (3) if it is constructed, reconstructed, replaced, modified or operated in accordance with those conditions.
(6) EXEMPTION FROM REQUIREMENTS FOR MODIFICATIONS.
The department may waive a requirement under subs. (1) to (3) if
the application is for the modification of a source, the source already has an air pollution control permit and the source already
meets the requirements as a condition of that permit.
(7) USE OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND GROWTH ACCOMMODATION. (a) Subject to the conditions and restrictions specified in this subsection, the department shall grant use of the
growth accommodation as a means for a stationary source to
comply with either sub. (1) (b) or (2) (a), or both subs. (1) (b) and
(2) (a).
(b) Upon application by a source, the department shall certify
to the applicant a growth accommodation credit in the amount requested subject to all of the following conditions:
1. The applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that it is unable, through reasonable means which could
include installation of the best available control technology, to
eliminate its need for a growth accommodation credit by reducing
emissions of volatile organic compounds from any stationary
sources that it owns or operates in the volatile organic compound
accommodation area. If the department determines that an applicant could, through reasonable means, reduce the amount of
growth accommodation credit applied for by reducing emissions
of volatile organic compounds from any stationary sources that it
owns or operates in the volatile organic compound accommodation area, the department shall certify to the applicant a growth
accommodation credit equal to the amount requested by the applicant minus the amount by which the department finds the
source could, through reasonable means, reduce emissions from
other stationary sources that it owns or operates in the volatile organic compound accommodation area.
2. Except as provided in s. 285.69 (5) (d), the applicant is in
compliance or is complying with an approved schedule to be in
compliance with this chapter and s. 299.15 with respect to all stationary sources that it owns or operates and has paid the fees required under s. 285.69 (5).
3. Except as provided in subd. 8., the growth accommodation
reported for the current year under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1. , after reduction by the amount of the proposed growth accommodation
credit and any growth accommodation credits issued since the
date of the report, is greater than 2,500 tons.
4. If the growth accommodation reported for the current year
under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1., less a reduction by the amount of any
growth accommodation credits issued since the date of the report
under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1., is greater than 3,000 tons, the department may certify to the applicant no more than the amount of the
growth accommodation reported for the current year under s.
285.39 (2) (b) 1., less the sum of 2,750 tons and any growth accommodation credits issued since the date of the report under s.
285.39 (2) (b).
5. If the growth accommodation reported for the current year
under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1. , after reduction by the amount of any
growth accommodation credits issued since the date of the report
under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1., is greater than 2,500 tons but less than
or equal to 3,000 tons, the department may certify no more than
250 tons to the applicant in that year.
6. The applicant agrees to forfeit any unused growth accommodation credits that the department determines the applicant
does not need, as provided under sub. (8).
7. The applicant agrees not to sell or transfer any amount of
the growth accommodation credit to any person other than the
department.
8. If the growth accommodation reported for the current year
under s. 285.39 (2) (b) 1. , after reduction by the amount of the
proposed growth accommodation credit and any growth accommodation credits issued since the date of the report, would be
2,500 tons or less, the department may certify to the applicant a
growth accommodation credit in the amount determined under
this section if, because of facility shutdowns or replenishment activities under s. 285.39 that have occurred, the growth accommodation for the next succeeding year after reduction by the amount
of the growth accommodation credit will be greater than 2,500
tons.
9. An applicant shall inform the department of the date or
dates when it will need to use any given amount of the growth accommodation credit. The department shall certify to the applicant the proper amount of the growth accommodation credit on
the date which the applicant states it will need it and shall reserve
the proper amount of the growth accommodation credit for certification to the applicant upon the date needed, except for any
amount which is forfeited under sub. (8). The department may
use reserved growth accommodation credits to certify temporary
growth accommodation credits which expire on or before the date
when they are certified to the source which reserved them.
10. Upon request by an applicant, the department may certify
to the applicant a growth accommodation credit which expires
upon a date designated in the permit. The applicant shall sign a
statement to acknowledge the expiration date of the permit.
Growth accommodation credits issued under this subdivision
may be certified from growth accommodation credits reserved by
another source under subd. 9.
(c) Nothing in this subsection grants the recipient of a growth
accommodation credit a property right to emit volatile organic
compounds.
(d) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b) (intro.), the department
may not grant use of the growth accommodation under this subsection for an air pollution control permit application submitted
after July 1, 1992, as long as the growth accommodation area is
designated under 42 USC 7407 as an ozone nonattainment area.
(8) FORFEITURE OF GROWTH ACCOMMODATION CREDITS.
Within 4 years after the department certifies, under sub. (7), a
growth accommodation credit to an applicant or reserves for the
future use of an applicant a growth accommodation credit, and at
least every 4 years thereafter, the department shall determine
whether the certified or reserved growth accommodation credit is
reasonably necessary for the applicant’s current use and future
plans. If the department determines that any amount of the certified or reserved growth accommodation credit is not reasonably
necessary for the applicant’s current use and if the applicant cannot demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that any
amount of the certified or reserved growth accommodation credit
is reasonably necessary for the applicant’s future plans, the applicant shall forfeit an amount of the growth accommodation credit,
as determined by the department. The department shall deposit

the forfeited amount of the growth accommodation credit in the
growth accommodation replenishment.
(9) RESTRICTION ON EMISSION REDUCTION OPTION PROGRAMS. (a) No emissions of volatile organic compounds may be
used in an emission reduction option program if:
1. The program involves a grantee of emissions of volatile organic compounds that is different than the grantor of emissions of
volatile organic compounds; and
2. The emissions of volatile organic compounds specified in
the program are from a recorded source.
(b) In this subsection, “recorded source” means a stationary
source in the volatile organic compound accommodation area
owned or operated by any person who owns or operates on May
17, 1988, a stationary source whose actual 1980 emissions of
volatile organic compounds are recorded as zero in the 1982 plan
approved by the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42
USC 7502 (a).
(10) REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATORS.
(a) In this subsection, “medical waste incinerator” has the meaning given in s. 287.07 (7) (c) 1. cr.
(b) In addition to the requirements under subs. (1) to (3), the
department may approve an application submitted after
May 14, 1992, for a permit required or allowed under s. 285.60
for the construction of a medical waste incinerator or for the modification of a medical waste incinerator that expands the capacity
of the medical waste incinerator only if it finds that the new or
modified medical waste incinerator will be needed and that the
site of the medical waste incinerator is appropriate.
(c) The department shall consider all of the following in evaluating the need for the proposed medical waste incinerator:
1. An approximate service area for the proposed medical
waste incinerator that encompasses all sources of waste that could
potentially be burned in the medical waste incinerator. The department shall delineate the service area based on the economics
of waste collection, transportation and treatment.
2. The quantity of waste that could potentially be burned in
the proposed medical waste incinerator and that is generated
within the anticipated service area.
3. The remaining capacity or design capacity of other solid
waste facilities, if those facilities are located within the anticipated service area of the proposed medical waste incinerator and
are currently providing or are expected to provide solid waste
management for any sources of solid waste that could potentially
be burned in the medical waste incinerator.
4. The quantity of waste having the potential to be burned in
the medical waste incinerator that may be managed in an effective
recycling program created under s. 287.11.
5. The potential for reducing the quantity of waste having the
potential to be burned in the medical waste incinerator by reducing the amount of waste that is generated within the anticipated
service area and the potential for using alternative technologies
for disposing of the waste.
(d) The department may not determine that the site of a proposed medical waste incinerator is appropriate if the medical
waste incinerator or the transportation of solid waste to the medical waste incinerator will have an adverse effect that is both substantial and unreasonable on any of the following:
1. Existing recreational land uses.
2. Land or surface water that has any of the characteristics
under s. 23.27 (2).
3. Scenic vistas of statewide significance.
4. Residential property.
5. Schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, or child care
facilities.
6. Projected land uses identified in any municipal master
plan or official map that is in effect at least 15 months prior to the
submission to the department of the permit application, if the
land uses are expected to occur during the site life of the medical
waste incinerator and any expansions of the medical waste
incinerator.
(e) The department shall promulgate rules for making the
findings under par. (b).
(11) MODELING. The department is not required to use air
dispersion modeling as a basis for making its findings under sub.
(1) for a minor source unless modeling is specifically provided
for under the federal clean air act, rules promulgated under this
chapter, or a federal or state agreement.

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