Air Emission Environmental Fee

2009 Wisconsin Act 28 (the 2009-2011 biennial budget) revised the methodology to calculate air emission fee billing effective January 1, 2010. In previous years, air emission fees were based on the levels of billable pollutants emitted by a facility. For the 2011 data year, major sources will still be billed this way. However, for non-major sources environmental fees are determined based on the facility's EPA Class Code as December 31, 2011. See the “Finding EPA Class Codes” section below if you need to determine the class code for your facility.

  EPA Class Code Definition Emission Fee Determination
Major Source A Maximum theoretical emissions and potential to emit are greater than major source thresholds. Based on actual annual emissions; same process as previous years. The emission fee is $35.71 per ton of billable pollutant. The total amount of billable pollutant must exceed five tons.
Non-Major Source SM80 Maximum theoretical emissions are greater than major source thresholds. Potential to emit is at least 80% but less than 100% of major source thresholds. Based on EPA Class code, $4,100
SM Maximum theoretical emissions are greater than major source thresholds. Potential to emit is less than 80% of major source thresholds. Based on EPA Class Code, $300
B Maximum theoretical emissions and potential to emit are less than major source thresholds. Based on EPA Class Code, $300

Definitions

Major source thresholds – 100 tons per year for any pollutant except particulate matter or federal hazardous air pollutants. For particulate matter, the threshold is 100 tons per year of PM10. For federal hazardous air pollutants, the threshold is 10 tons per year of any single pollutant, or 25 tons per year of all hazardous air pollutants in combination. (See definition in NR 407.02(4), Wis. Adm. Code).

Maximum theoretical emissions – The quantity of air contaminants that could theoretically be emitted by a source before control devices, based on the design capacity or maximum production capacity of the source. (See definition in NR 400.02(95), Wis. Adm. Code)

Potential to emit – The maximum capacity of a source to emit air contaminants under its physical and operational design, taking into account control equipment and enforceable permit limitations. (See definition in NR 400.02(127), Wis. Adm. Code)

Exempt Sources

These sources were not required to obtain an operation permit and had received an exemption status from DNR.

  • Before 2009 Wisconsin Act 28. If the source had actual emissions of a regulated pollutant in excess of 3 tons then the source was charged $300 for the year.
  • After 2009 Wisconsin Act 28. While the source is charged a one time fee for an official determination that a permit is not needed, they will not be billed an annual fee.

Finding EPA Class Codes

In order to find the EPA Class Code for your facility, you must log into the DNR Switchboard using your Web Access Management System (WAMS) ID and password. To log onto the DNR Switchboard do the following:

  1. Go to this web page - https://dnrx.wisconsin.gov/switchboard/capture.do
  2. Enter your WAMS user id and WAMS password. Click the log in button.
  3. You will now see a page titled 'The Switchboard - your information at your fingertips!'. This page summarizes everything regarding reporting that DNR has authorized you to do.
  4. Find the name of the facility in left column of the table. [Note: If you do not find the name of your facility in that column then you do not have the proper authorization. Send Ralph Patterson an email message at Ralph.Patterson@wisconsin.gov requesting that authorization.]
  5. On the right column find and click on the hyperlink that says "View Facility Air Data (and Upload)".
  6. You will now see a page listing general information about the facility with a slider bar on your right. Either slide the page down to the bottom or use the down arrow on your keyboard to reach the bottom of the web page.
  7. The EPA Class Code will be shown in web page section labeled Facility Information in Air Management.

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Last Revised: Tuesday November 22 2011