Help/Assistance

For assistance information and materials please visit https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Permits-certifications/Air-Quality-permits/Air-quality-general-orders.

Other sources of help, information, and references:

Small Water and Steam-Generating Boiler (General Order)

Description/Purpose

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) issues general orders to businesses in their jurisdiction to make sure Washington meets state and federal air quality requirements. We issue general order permits to commercial sources of air pollution. A general order is a category of permit that simplifies the New Source Review (NSR) air permitting process. When several sources of air pollution are similar, we can issue a streamlined NSR permit (or “general order”) for sources in that category, rather than a series of full NSR individual permits. Currently, there are seven categories of general orders for air pollution that come from commercial sources.

If you apply for a general order and we approve it, we will issue an individual Coverage Order for your facility under that specific General Order.

Triggers and activities which would require this permit

Any facility proposing to use a small water heater and steam-generating boiler in the following counties:

  • Adams
  • Asotin
  • Chelan
  • Columbia
  • Douglas
  • Ferry
  • Franklin
  • Garfield
  • Grant
  • Kittitas
  • Klickitat
  • Lincoln
  • Okanogan
  • Pend Oreille
  • San Juan
  • Stevens
  • Walla Walla
  • Whitman

This includes chemical pulp and paper mills, aluminum smelters, and the Hanford Reservation site.

If the county you would like to operate in is not listed here, please visit the Washington Clean Air Agencies webpage to get the correct contact information.

Facilities that don’t meet the criteria for a general order will need to apply for the individual Notice of Construction permit.

If you own or operate the type of business below and already have a valid air permit from a local clean air agency, we will accept that permit if it was issued after July 1, 2010 and complies with the other portable relocation requirements in WAC 173-400-036:

  • Portable asphalt plants
  • Portable concrete plants
  • Portable rock crushers
  • Non-road engines used to power these operations
Costs/Fees
see details
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$625 application fee if SEPA review is complete.

$981 application fee if SEPA review is required.

No separate permit fee; annual fees for the source are assessed through the AQ Registration Program.

Statutory Details: WAC 173-455-120 Table 4

Prepared from information and data submitted for calendar year 2024.

Application Information

The application is called 'General Order Application: Small Water Heaters and Steam Generating Boilers' is online and can be accessed at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/ECY070344.html.

See the application instructions for what to include in your application.

When making the decision on your order, Ecology will consider:

  • The applicable laws and rules.
  • The contents of your application.
  • The background environmental conditions.

Facilities that don’t meet the criteria for a general order will need to apply for an individual Notice of Construction permit.

Send your complete application package to the address provided on the application.

The General Order is valid for the life of the facility or until the source either modifies the equipment or its practices.

An order, permit, license, or decision can be appealed within 30 days from the “date of receipt” of the decision. The appeal process is governed by RCW 43.21B and WAC 371-08. “Date of receipt” is defined in RCW 43.21B.001(2). Get more information on the Pollution Control Hearings Board webpage.

Agency Analysis
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Prepared from information and data submitted for calendar year 2024.

Permit Timeliness Results

Permit Timeliness data collection is in response to a State Auditor’s Performance Audit and RCW 43.42A. Each regulatory agency developed a plan to improve permit clarity, predictability, and timeliness. Each agency considers the customers experience to ensure permit assistance is simple to use, easy to access, and designed in a customer-friendly manner. Agencies report progress to the Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA). ORIA prepares and distributes reports, with participation from the State Auditor’s Office and Results Washington. See latest report here: https://www.oria.wa.gov/ORIA-2020-PermitTimelinessProgressReport.pdf.

Estimated Time Required By the Agency to Process a Permit Application (Definition)
Average days from Receipt to Complete: 52
Maximum days from Receipt to Complete: 255

Estimated Time Required By the Agency to Issue a Permit Decision (Definition)
Average days from Complete Application to Decision: 40
Maximum days from Complete Application to Decision: 63

The general order permits are not tracked individually so the results are combined for General Order of Approval for: Asphalt Plants, Auto Body Shops, Concrete Batch Plants, Dairy Manure Anaerobic Digesters, Gas Fired Emergency Electrical Generators, Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaners, Small Boilers Using Natural Gas, Propane, or Diesel Fuel, and Stationary or Portable Rock Crushers.


(Summary results based on 12 submittals in 2024)

Published Decision Time
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Ecology has 30 days to determine if your application is incomplete, approved or denied. Applicants should receive a Coverage Order for the General Order 30 days after Ecology receives the complete application.

Statutory Details:

  • WAC 173-400-560 (application completeness determination within 30 days; final action within 30 days).
  • WAC 173-400-171 (15 day internet posting where a comment period can be requested; 30 day comment period including prominent advertisement; if hearing held, notice must be 30 days prior to the hearing).

Prepared from information and data submitted for calendar year 2024.

Legal authority
Notes / Comments

The agency that issues these general orders varies by location. If your county is not listed below, visit the Washington Clean Air Agencies website to see which agency covers your location.

The Department of Ecology issues the general orders in the following counties:

  • Ecology Central Regional Office - Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan counties
  • Ecology Eastern Regional Office - Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties
Related Entries
Contacts
Department of Ecology
Air Quality Program
Headquarters
300 Desmond Drive
PO BOX 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
Website: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Our-Programs/Air-Quality
Telephone: (360) 407-6000
Triggering Questions
  • Will you be using a new, small natural gas or liquefied natural gas fired package boiler with a heat input between 4 and 50 mmBTU/hr within counties and facilities under Department of Ecology Air Quality jurisdiction?
  • Do you emit criteria air pollutants below 100 tons/year, toxic air pollutants below 10 tons/year or 25 tons/year in aggregate to the outside air? (Criteria air pollutants include total particulate, PM10, CO, NOx, SOx, VOC, or Lead)
  • Will you have a commercial or industrial facility that emits air pollutants that Ecology has determined impact air quality and warrant regulation?
* Credential details last updated 8/14/2023
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