Region 1: EPA New England

Title V Operating Permits

EPA regulates a group of very common air pollutants, called criteria pollutants, that are widely distributed all over the country. Air pollutants can have health and environmental effects, cause property damage and reduce visibility in national parks. These pollutants are released from stationary sources, or sources that stay in one place, such as power plants, paper mills, incinerators, gas stations, and even farms.

Congress established a program under Title V of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) to help find a solution to reduce this air pollution. Title V, the operating permit program, requires stationary sources to obtain permits that include information on which pollutants are being released, and what steps the source is taking to monitor or measure air pollution. The program is designed to make it easier for sources to understand and comply with control requirements, resulting in improved air quality.

Frequently Asked Questions Who needs a permit...What pollutants are being emitted...Public involvement... more   Title V Policy and Guidance Database A searchable database with over 150 EPA-issued policy and guidance documents... more (EPA Region 7) Where Are the Title V Facilities Located? Maps and tables of every facilitity in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island... more   EPA Regional Permit Contacts EPA New England contacts... more Federal Register Notice of State Program Approvals PDF Proposed and Final Approvals in New England (PDFs)... more   Definitions Glossary of terms from the Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act... more (EPA HQ) State Permit Contacts State environmental agency contacts... more