Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act (CAA) Compliance

The operation and maintenance of university equipment and buildings and research operations create air emissions that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). These agencies regulate the type and quantity of air pollutants released to the environment from specific activities and emission sources. The regulations and permits require facilities and departments to implement procedures to control and reduce air pollution as well as monitor the type and quantity of air pollutants emitted to the atmosphere. The University has been issued as Air Operating Permit by the RIDEM for its operations. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) staff works with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with this permit and all air emission regulations

Activities Requiring a Permit from RIDEM

RIDEM issues permits for specific activities. Brown University is required to obtain the permit before any equipment is purchased or installed.

  • Installation of any fuel burning equipment (e.g., boilers, furnaces, ovens) that has an input heat capacity of one million BTU per hour or greater.
  • Installation of any emergency generator that has a heat input capacity of 350,000 Btus or more per hour or, in the case of internal combustion engines, is 50 HP or larger.
  • Any stationary source that emits or has the potential to emit, in the aggregate, 25 tons per year or more of any combination of hazardous air pollutants.
  • Any stationary source which has the potential to increase emissions of a listed toxic air contaminant by greater than the minimum quantity for that contaminant, as listed in Appendix A of Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 9.
  • Any other stationary source or process except having the potential to emit one hundred pounds or more per day, or ten pounds or more per hour of any air contaminant or combination of air contaminants into the atmosphere.
  • Any air pollution control system and appurtenances.

Activities Requiring Notifications to RIDEM

The RIDEM Office of Air Resources shall be notified in writing of any planned physical change or operational change to the emissions units and control devices identified in Brown University’s operating permit. Such notification shall include information describing the nature of the change, information describing the effect of the change on the emissions of air contaminants and the scheduled completion date of the planned change. Any change which may result in an increased emission rate of any air contaminant shall be subject to approval of the RIDEM Office of Air Resources.