BCAA Banner (text browsers use links) Return to BCAA Lobby Webpage help and general contact info Current BCAA News and Events How to contact BCAA staff and board General information about the BCAA and what we do Other Air Quality links Information about the major Benton County air quality issues Local, State and Federal regulations and policies Air Quality information for commercial operations Air Quality information for agricultural operations Air Quality information for residences

[COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS, cont.]

You are here: Home > Commercial > FAQ102

What are the annual requirements (source registration) of an existing source of air pollution in Benton County?

Individuals as well as businesses contribute to air pollution. This is why reducing air pollution is everybody's business. Just as individuals are required to follow certain activities, such as limiting outdoor burning, businesses are also required to reduce emissions released into the air. Some businesses create or contribute a variety of different pollutants depending on their manufacturing process and products used in their processes. These businesses are also subject to various air pollution regulations. Through registration, the BCAA can be kept informed of the business's:

  • status with respect to location, type of equipment, amount of air pollution.
  • compliance status with respect to current local, state, and federal air pollution rules; and
  • air pollution control system effectiveness.

A common question from sources about the BCAA registration program is: what does the business "get" from being registered and by paying the registration fee. The simple answer is that by being registered, these businesses are allowed to discharge air pollution into the air, even if those discharges contain detrimental, hazardous, or toxic air pollutants. The registered businesses are regulated by the BCAA to minimize the adverse impact of the source's air pollution upon the public health. For the registered businesses, the BCAA can be a resource for:

  • determining if the business is currently in compliance with the air pollution regulations;
  • devising strategies that may reduce the amount of pollution that a business emits; and
  • providing technical assistance when the business is considering an increase in production or an equipment change.

Businesses that are registered are required to provide annually, at BCAA's request, information about the source's location, size, operating hours, kinds of processes, throughputs, air contaminant emissions, and other information relevant to air pollution. Regular inspections of registered sources are conducted to verify compliance with existing air pollution regulations. Most registered businesses are inspected annually, however, the frequency varies depending on agency resources and priorities. In addition, facilities that are not registered with BCAA may be inspected to determine if they need to be brought into the registration program. During inspections, business records are often reviewed along with other data documenting air emissions.

There is an annual fee for maintaining the registration of a business. The fee amount varies depending on the emission levels of the business. The fee structure is outlined in BCAA Regulation I, Article 10. The fee consists of three parts: a base fee, an emission point fee, and a fee based upon the quantity of emissions. Facilities that are more complex or that emit more pollution pay a higher fee than simpler facilities. The fees are used to fund the BCAA engineering and inspection programs in order to provide businesses with technical assistance and the public with compliance assurance.

Over the past ten years, air quality in Benton County has greatly improved, however, the area still experiences occasional violations of air quality standards. As Benton County's population continues to grow, it is critical that businesses, as well as individual citizens, do their part to reduce air emissions to achieve compliance with national clean air standards.

For further information on the source registration program, please contact the BCAA.

Return to FAQ listBCAA Home

[Residential] [Agricultural] [Commercial]
[Local Policies & Regulations] [Local Air Quality Issues] [Other Air Quality Resources]
[About Us!] [Contact Us!] [What's New!]