Air
Texas A&M University maintains a clean and healthy campus environment by rigorously managing our atmospheric footprint. Under the Clean Air Act, the university operates comprehensive Title V Air Operating Permits (Federal Operating Permits), which consolidate all applicable air quality requirements into a single, transparent document.
Overview
The Title V Air Operating Permit is a federally mandated document established by the Clean Air Act (CAA). Think of it as an “all-in-one” air quality license. It consolidates all air pollution requirements, limits, and monitoring tasks that a facility must comply with into a single comprehensive document.
Objectives
Environmental Health and Safety assists departments and units with compliance under the air permits.
- Assist with permit applications and renewals.
- Facilitate and manage adherence to air quality standards.
- Maintain records, conduct emission evaluations, and complete required reporting to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas A&M's Commitment
Texas A&M manages two Title V permits covering numerous emission sources across campus. This program supports required monitoring, reporting, and certification activities, and maintains compliance with strict regulatory standards while protecting air quality.
By integrating emissions monitoring and data management, research and utility operations meet or exceed emission standards, supporting the university’s Environmental Policy to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
Impact on Stakeholders
Individuals conducting small-scale procedures or experiments in instructional or research laboratories – such as those performed within a laboratory fume hood - may qualify to operate without prior authorization under the Title V permit. Applicable exemptions allow these activities, provided they are minimal and not associated with manufacturing, production, or operations intended for commercial purposes.
Departments, facility coordinators, PIs, researchers, graduate students, etc., who plan to add equipment that generates higher-than-typical lab emissions must contact EHS at least 1 year before purchasing or acquiring the equipment.
Examples of this may include, but are not limited to:
- Incinerators
- Engines (excluding those managed by Transportation Services)
- Kilns
- Paint Booths
- Animal Dehydrators
EHS must review these items prior to purchase, and authorization from TCEQ must be obtained prior to installation.
EHS will also submit any required permit application and assist with obtaining authorizations.
Need More Information?
For inquiries about Air Permits or any other general questions, please email us!
Email EHS