Fuel Combustion Operations

Fuel combustion operations may be eligible for coverage under the registration permit or general conditional major permit if the facility is comprised of any of the following:

  • Boilers;
  • Emergency generators;
  • Non-emergency generators;
    • Examples: peak-shaving generators
  • Fuel Storage tanks;
  • Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers (hospitals only); and
  • Sources exempt under S.C. Regulation 61-62.1, Section II(B).

Criteria

Registration Permit

  • Maximum size for a single boiler burning fuels other than natural gas and propane is limited to 30 million BTU/hr heat input capacity;
  • The total capacity of all boilers on site is limited to 100 million BTU/hr heat input capacity;
  • Fuel combustion sources at the facility must be fired on natural gas, propane, virgin No. 2 fuel oil, virgin diesel, and biodiesel that meets ASTM D-6751;
  • Non-emergency generators are certified by the manufacturer to meet EPA’s nonroad diesel engine emission standards/tiers;
  • To be exempt from modeling, non-emergency generators are limited to operating no more than 500 hours per year; and
  • Facility is a true minor source.

General Conditional Major Operating Permit

  • Maximum size of a single boiler must be less than 100 million BTU/hr rated input capacity.
  • Only the following fuels may be used: natural gas, propane, virgin fuel oil (sulfur content equal to or less than 2.1% by weight), biodiesel that meets ASTM D-6751 and used spec oil as defined in S.C. Regulation 61-62.1, Section I.
  • Each criteria pollutant is limited to less than 100 tons per year (TPY);
  • Single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) is limited to less than 10 TPY; and
  • Combined HAPs are limited to less than 25 TPY.

How Do I Apply for the General or Registration Permit?

To request coverage under the Registration Permit download, complete, and submit the Registration Permit Application for Fuel Combustion Operations.

To request coverage under the General Conditional Major Operating Permit, select one of the following options:

Option 1: If your facility has already been issued an operating permit, download, complete, and submit the State Operating and Conditional Major Permit Renewal Application with the General Conditional Major Operating Permit box selected and “Type” Fuel Combustion Operations selected.

Option 2: If your facility has completed construction and has not been issued an operating permit, download, complete, and submit the Operating Permit Request to request your initial operating permit.

Application/Forms

*If operations, normally covered by construction permits, are located in one of the eight coastal counties of the Coastal Zone under DHEC-OCRM's jurisdiction (Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, and Jasper), then a coastal zone consistency certification may be required.

Emission Estimator Tools

  • Fuel Combustion Calculator - this spreadsheet calculates Criteria Pollutant emissions from combustion sources using emission factors.

Reporting Tool

Tags

Bureau of Air Quality Permitting Statewide