Stationary Source Program
Stationary Sources of air pollution include buildings, structures, or installations that emit or may emit air pollution. In accordance with 20.11 NMAC, these sources must coordinate with the Air Quality Program and comply with the regulations established to limit air pollution. Different regulatory actions are required for facilities depending on source type and emission rate, including:
- Emergency Engine - Permits issued for stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines that serve solely as a secondary source of mechanical or electrical power during the loss of commercial power, and meet criteria defined in 20.11.39.7 NMAC.
- Certificate of Registration - Permits issued for any commercial or industrial stationary source that emits more than 2,000 pounds per year of any regulated air pollutant or any amount of a hazardous air pollutant, in accordance with 20.11.40.6 NMAC.
- Gas Station - Permits issued for gasoline dispensing facilities as defined by the federal Clean Air Act’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air pollutants for Gasoline Dispensing Facilities.
- Minor New Source Review - Permits issued for pollutants from stationary sources that are not considered “major” and emit less than 100 tons per year of any regulated air pollutant, in accordance with 20.11.61.20.B NMAC.
- Synthetic Minor New Source Review - Permits issued for sources that have the potential to emit regulated pollutants in amounts that are at or above the thresholds for major sources in 40 CFR 49.167, 40 CFR 52.21 or 40 CFR 71.2, and 20.11.61.20.B NMAC, as applicable, but have implemented a restriction so that the potential to emit is less than such amounts for major sources.
- Title V Operating Permit - Permits issued for any source that emits or has the potential to emit 100 tons per year or more of any criteria air pollutant, 10 tons per year or more of a single hazardous air pollutant, or 25 tons per year or more of multiple hazardous air pollutants combined, in accordance with Title V of the Clean Air Act.
- Relocation - Permits required for each relocation by all portable sand/gravel, rock crushing and asphalt plants 20.11.41.7 NMAC.
- Major New Source Review - Permits issued for any stationary source which emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year or more for categories listed in Table 1 of 20.11.61.26 NMAC, or which emits, or has the potential to emit 250 tons per year or more for all other source categories of any regulated New Source Review pollutant in an attainment or unclassifiable area.
New Source Review, or NSR, permitting is required when sources that will emit, or have the potential to emit, regulated air pollutants are newly built or modified. NSR permitting also assures that new or modified industries are as clean as possible, and that advances in pollution control occur concurrently with industrial expansion.
Stationary Source Air Quality Permits in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County
Use the map below to see the locations of current stationary source air quality permits. Different colors represent different permit types, and the size of the circle represents the amount of total permitted emissions. Select a box in the legend to show permits by type, or choose Show All to see all permit types at once. Click on a circle to view the permit information for that source.
The mapping and air quality permit data depicted on this page are presented for informational purposes and are provisional and have not been reviewed for completeness or accuracy. Please see the disclaimer of liability at: https://www.cabq.gov/abq-apps/abq-data-disclaimer-1
Air Quality Permitting Overview
This is the typical process to obtain an Air Quality Construction Permit for Synthetic Minor and Minor sources of air pollution from the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program.
Step 1: Pre-Application Meeting
The Applicant and their consultant must request a meeting with the Air Quality Program to discuss the proposed action. If air dispersion modeling is required, Air Quality Program staff discuss the modeling protocol with the Applicant to ensure that all proposed emissions are considered.
Notice of Intent from the Applicant
Before submitting their application, the Applicant is required to notify all nearby neighborhood associations and interested parties that they intend to apply for an air quality permit or modify an existing permit. The Applicant is also required to post a notice sign at the facility location.
Step 2: Administrative Completeness Review and Preliminary Technical Review
The Air Quality Program has 30 days from the day the permit is received to review the permit application to be sure that it is administratively complete. This means that all application forms must be signed and filled out properly, and that all relevant technical information needed to evaluate any proposed impacts is included. If the application is not complete, the permit reviewer will return the application and request more information from the Applicant. Applicants have three opportunities to submit an administratively complete application with all relevant technical information.
Public Notice from the Department
When the application is deemed complete, the Department will issue a Public Notice announcing a 30-day public comment period on the permit application. This notice is distributed to the same nearby neighborhood associations and interested parties that the Applicant sent notices to, and published on the Air Quality Program’s website.
During this 30-day comment period, individuals have the opportunity to submit written comments expressing their concerns or support for the proposed project, and/or to request a Public Information Hearing. If approved by the Environmental Health Department Director, Public Information Hearings are held after the technical analysis is complete and the permit has been drafted.
Step 3: Technical Analysis and Draft Permit
Air Quality Program staff review all elements of the proposed operation related to air quality, and review outputs from advanced air dispersion modeling software that considers existing emission levels in the area surrounding the proposed project, emission levels from the proposed project, and meteorological data. The total calculated level of emissions is compared to state and federal air quality standards and informs the decision on whether to approve or deny the Applicant’s permit application.
Draft Permit: The permit will establish emission limits, standards, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. The draft permit undergoes an internal peer review process to determine if the emissions were properly evaluated, permit limits are appropriate and enforceable, and the permit is clear, concise, and consistent.
Public Notice from the Department
When the technical analysis is complete and the permit has been drafted, the Department will issue a second Public Notice announcing a 30-day public comment period on the technical analysis and draft permit. This second Public Notice, along with the technical analysis documentation and draft permit, will be published on the Air Quality Program’s website, and the public notice for availability of the technical analysis and draft permit will only be directly sent to those who requested further information during the first comment period.
During this second 30-day comment period, residents have another opportunity to submit written comments expressing their concerns or support for the proposed project, and/or to request a Public Information Hearing.
Possible Public Information Hearing
The Environmental Health Department Director may decide to hold a Public Information Hearing for a permit application if there is significant public interest and a significant air quality issue. If a Public Information Hearing is held, it will occur after the technical analysis is complete and the permit has been drafted.
Step 4: Public Comment Evaluation and Response
The Air Quality Program evaluates all public comments received during the two 30-day public comment periods and Public Information Hearing, if held, and updates the technical analysis and draft permit as appropriate. The Air Quality Program prepares a response document to address the public comments received, and when a final decision is made on the permit application, the comment response document is published on the Air Quality Program’s website and distributed to the individuals who participated in the permit process. If no comments are received, a response document is not prepared.
Step 5: Final Decision on the Application
After public comments are addressed and the final technical review is completed, the Environmental Health Department makes a final decision on the application. If the permit application meets all applicable requirements set forth by the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act and the federal Clean Air Act, the permit is approved. If the permit application does not meet all applicable requirements, it is denied.
Notifications of the final decision on the permit application and the availability of the comment response document are published on the Air Quality Program’s website and distributed to the individuals who participated in the permit process.
The Department is legally required to approve a permit application if the proposed action will meet all applicable requirements and if it demonstrates that it will not result in an exceedance of ambient air quality standards. Permit writers are very careful to ensure that estimated emissions have been appropriately identified or quantified and that the emission data used are acceptable.
The Department must deny a permit application if it is deemed incomplete three times, if the proposed action will not meet applicable requirements, if estimated emissions have not been appropriately identified or quantified, or if the emission data are not acceptable for technical reasons.
Public Information Hearing Policy and Request Form
The state air quality code (Regulation 20.11.41 NMAC) states that “if the Environmental Health Department director determines there is significant public interest in the air quality permit application and a significant air quality issue is involved the Department shall hold a public information hearing pursuant to 20.11.41.15 NMAC.”
Public interest is considered significant if:
- five or more individuals request a Public Information Hearing, or
- a request includes a petition signed by five or more individuals, or
- a request is submitted by an elected official, including an elected representative of a Neighborhood Association, who represents the area surrounding the proposed action.
An air quality issue is considered significant if:
- it relates to a Title V stationary source, or
- it relates to a Synthetic Minor stationary source, or
- it is specific to air quality permitting regulations and is based on the permitting action described in the Public Notice.
To request a Public Information Hearing: Complete the Public Information Hearing Request Form and submit it to the Permitting Division via mail or e-mail within 30 days of the Public Notice. Instructions and addresses are included on the form.
Following the 30-day comment period, the Department will review all requests within 10 business days to evaluate if there is significant public interest and a significant air quality issue. Based on the evaluation, the department Director will determine if a Public Information Hearing will be held.
Download the Public Information Hearing Request Form.
Permit Application Forms
View Air Quality Permit application forms for stationary sources.
Air Quality Regulations
View air quality regulations applicable to operators in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.