Revisions to the Petition Provisions of the Title V Permitting Program
FACT SHEET
FINAL ACTION
•	On January 14, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized revisions to
the title V permitting regulations to streamline and clarify processes related to the submittal
and review of title V petitions.
•	This final rule implements changes in three key areas:
o Providing direction as to how petitions should be submitted to the EPA.
o Requiring mandatory content and format for title V petitions,
o Requiring permitting authorities to respond in writing to significant comments
received (when applicable) during the public comment period for draft title V
permits, and to provide that response in the form of a response to comments
document with the proposed title V permit to the EPA for the agency's 45-day review
period.
•	Additional revisions were finalized to ensure that the title V regulations are consistent with
the language contained in the Clean Air Act (CAA):
o Requiring a petitioner to provide copies of its petition to the permitting authority
and permit applicant.
o Correcting a citation to refer to the appropriate section of the Act, which focuses
on the availability of records, reports, and information to the public.
BACKGROUND
•	The title V operating permit program, established under the 1990 CAA Amendments, is a
vehicle for ensuring that air quality control requirements are appropriately applied to facility
emission units and for assuring compliance with such requirements, but it does not generally
impose new pollution control requirements.
•	Most states, certain local agencies, and two tribes have federally-approved operating permit
programs. As part of an approved program, title V of the CAA requires every major source
and certain other sources to apply for and operate according to the specifications in an
operating permit. It further requires that such permit contain conditions that assure
compliance with all of a source's applicable requirements under the Act, including the
requirements of the applicable implementation plan.
•	The CAA requires permitting authorities to submit a proposed title V permit, including initial
permits, permit renewals, or permit modifications/revisions, to the EPA Administrator for a
45-day review period before issuing the permit as final. During that review, if the
Administrator determines that the permit contains provisions that are not in compliance with

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the applicable requirements under the Act, the Administrator must object. If the
Administrator does not object to the permit during the 45-day EPA review period, any person
may submit a title V petition to the Administrator within 60 days after the expiration of the
45-day review period seeking such an objection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• To download a copy of today's final action from the EPA website, go to "Current
Regulations and Regulatory Actions" at the following address: https://www.epa.gov/title-v-
operating-permits/current-regulations-and-regulatory-actions.
• For more information on the final action, contact Carrie Wheeler at (919) 541-5469 or
wheeler.carrie@epa.gov: or Cheryl Vetter at (919) 541-4391 or vetter.cheryl@epa.gov.

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