May 8, 2023. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – The Washoe County Health District, Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) and the Nevada Business Environmental Program (BEP) at the University of Nevada, Reno are pleased to announce a new partnership to provide air quality compliance and permitting assistance for the Washoe County business community.
The main benefits for businesses and residents of this partnership include:
- Compliance assistance with air quality regulations
- Air quality permitting and registrations
- Information on workshops & events
- Other air quality related questions
“Our goal is making sure we’re serving our residents who have questions or needs related to air quality regulations, permitting, requirements or any other matters,” said Francisco Vega, Division Director of the Washoe County Health District’s Air Quality Management Division. ” If we can help businesses get their questions answered quickly and achieve compliance by partnering with BEP to provide business assistance on the front end, then it’s good for the business community and it frees our internal resources to focus on other important air quality issues.”
The AQMD, which provided the funding for this partnership, is delighted to provide this valuable resource for its regulated community and leverage BEP’s more than 30 years of experience helping answer environmental, energy, and sustainability questions and provide advisory services to businesses and other regulated organizations statewide. Based in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, BEP emphasizes the business case for environmental sustainability.
“Air permitting requirements can be complex and business owners can sometimes overlook the need to get a permit.” said Chris Lynch, Director of the Nevada BEP. “We can help business owners determine if their operations require an air quality permit and, if they do, we help ensure that permit applications are complete upon the initial submittal to eliminate delays caused by back and forth due to missing or incomplete information. We understand that time is money and our help can keep the process streamlined for a business.”
The AQMD has several programs and services to the community, including ambient air monitoring, permitting and compliance, planning and public education, which includes the Keep It Clean programs. Additionally, any business with a stack, dust collector, vent, or air emissions control unit – like a baghouse or thermal oxider – is likely to need a Washoe County air quality permit. Common activities that generate air pollutants include abrasive blasting, wood-burning devices, wood and metal sanding, painting and coating, solvent use, construction and demolition that generates dust or asbestos, boilers, furnaces, incinerators, and emergency generators that burn oil or gas fuels.
Whether it’s a small construction company looking for information on dust control and permitting requirements or a large-scale manufacturing company starting up operations in Washoe County, BEP is available to help. All BEP services are provided confidentially and at no charge to the businesses seeking assistance.
BEP advisory services are available over-the-phone, through email and online meetings, and through on-site assistance visits. Keep an eye out for a variety of new air quality regulatory and permitting workshops to be offered throughout 2023 on topics such as minor stationary source permitting, dust control, annual emissions reporting, and air quality requirements for gasoline dispensing facilities.
As any business considers a new location or installing a new process, contact BEP early to assess potential permitting requirements. To get in touch with BEP for your environmental regulatory compliance and permitting inquiries, call BEP toll-free at (800) 882-3233 or visit https://unrbep.org.