The Environmental Quality Board published proposed increases in the Title V Air Quality Permit fees for public comment in the February 2 PA Bulletin.

The proposal would increase fees from $56/ton to $85/ton to, in part, make up for a reduction in revenue caused by declining regulated air emissions over the last few years.  Under the existing fee, revenue was projected to decline to $10.3 million in 2015 from $16.8 million in 2012.  Under the new fee, revenue is estimated to be $15.6 million in 2015.

States are required by the federal Clean Air Act to charge fees sufficient to cover the cost of the Title V Air Quality Regulatory Program.

In an attempt to make up for drastic reductions in General Fund support for environmental protection efforts, DEP adopted a series of permit fee increases totaling about $26.5 million over the last four years. Click Here for background on DEP’s budget situations.

2/4/2013