MassDEP Air Plan Applications

You will most likely need to obtain a MassDEP Air Plan Approval before beginning work on a:

• Manufacturing process,
• Fuel combustion unit, or
• Crematory

Some projects are exempt from the Plan Approval requirement or qualify for an alternative compliance pathway, such as a permit-by-rule or compliance certification.

For example, many of the following types of installations require only one-time compliance certifications:

• Commercial, industrial and institutional boilers
• Stationary engines and turbines

To learn more about facilities that require Air Plan Approvals, see the Overview & Applicability Tables in Additional Resources below.

Cumulative Impact Analysis Requirements

Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) requirements apply to certain comprehensive plan applications (CPAs) for projects located in or near environmental justice populations.  Check the requirements to see if your project is subject to the CIA regulations at the Cumulative Impact Analysis webpage.

Based on pre-application discussions, MassDEP may require ambient air quality modeling for your project. If so, you will need to file an Air Quality Modeling Submittal (AQ MM).  

Prior to filing their AQ MM, applicants should review the Massaschusetts Air Quality Modeling Guidance to be sure they are familiar with current practices and procedures for estimating impacts from stationary sources of air pollution recommended by MassDEP (see Additional Resources below).  This guidance supplements the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Guideline on Air Quality Models in Appendix W to 40 CFR Part 51, which applicants should also review.

Refined modeling is the method of modeling emission sources preferred by MassDEP.  Refined modeling is an analytical technique that allows for a detailed treatment of physical and chemical atmospheric processes. It requires the use of 5 years of hourly meteorological data.   A link to the latest available 5 years of pre-processed meteorological data in AERMOD-ready format is in Additional Resources below.

Follow the Key Action links below for detailed information on how to apply via the EEA ePlace Portal for the category of MassDEP Air Plan Approval you need for your proposed project. 

Please Note:

• The agency may require you to submit one or more Supplemental and/or Pollution Control Device forms forms along with your application. Most of these may be completed online.

• If you are a new ePlace user, you will need to create an account first.

After obtaining a Plan Approval from MassDEP, you will need to submit an Administrative Amendment to:

• Report changes in business or facility name, ownership, or contact information;
• Revise the frequency of record keeping, monitoring, reporting or testing; or
• Correct typographical errors.

If you have multiple Plan Approvals, you may voluntarily streamline their various applicable requirements into one enforceable document through a Consolidation.