Increase Fees Stationary Sources Air Pollutants

Air quality control commission - stationary sources of air pollution - increased fee caps - stakeholder process - reporting - appropriation. The act increases the statutory caps on the following fees set by the air quality control commission (commission) by rule and assessed against stationary sources of air pollutants:

Type of FeeCurrent CapNew Cap

Air pollutant emission notices $152.90 $191.13

Per-ton fee for regulated pollutants $ 22.90 $ 28.63

Per-ton fee for hazardous pollutants $152.90 $191.13

Per-hour permit processing fee $ 76.45 $ 95.56

The maximum statutory fees automatically increase by the rate of inflation on each January 1 from 2019 to 2028, but the commission, by rule, will set the fee amounts at or below the statutory caps. The division of administration in the department of public health and environment (department) shall prioritize its use of the revenues generated by the fee increases to reduce permit processing times.

The division will:

• Engage affected industries to identify and assess measures to improve billing practices, increase accounting transparency, and assess potential efficiency improvements with respect to division activities financed by the fees; and
• Report status updates on the stakeholder process to the general assembly through 2022.

$1,555,293 is appropriated from the stationary sources control fund to the department to implement the act.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)