Air Quality Permitting
Updated: 6 days ago
Air emissions are regulated by different authorities depending on the location and nature of the discharge. In BC, a permit may be required from Metro Vancouver for industrial or commercial sources under its Air Quality Management Bylaw. The Metro Vancouver air quality permitting page provides guidance and the necessary application forms. Outside Metro Vancouver, a waste discharge permit may be required for similar air emission sources as well as discharges to water or land, under the Environmental Management Act and Waste Discharge Regulation. The Province’s Waste Discharge Authorization page provides information on the application process, forms and guidance for permits, approvals and other authorizations.
Dispersion Modelling
Air dispersion modelling is commonly required in support of an air permit application to assess the potential effects of emission sources on air quality. The regulator determines whether dispersion modelling is required during the permitting process. An approved software (computer model) must be used for this purpose. The approved models and modelling requirements in BC are specified in the B.C. Air Quality Dispersion Modelling Guideline. Other provinces have similar guidelines. Before undertaking the modelling, a Dispersion Modelling Plan is normally prepared and submitted to the regulator. The Province also provides numerical weather prediction data that can be used in the modelling, in the form of Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) meteorological fields.
