Nebraska Department of
Environmental
Quality

Fact Sheets

.
This information is
provided by the
Nebraska Department
of Environmental Quality
to assist the
public and regulated community.

EAD007
03/2005
What Every Nebraska Business Should Know About Environmental Permits
This Document is also available as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file.
File size is 46 KB
Get Adobe Reader
.
What Every Nebraska Business
Should Know About
Environmental Permits
Answers to these questions and more!!!

Do you own a business or plan on starting a new business? Are you expanding, installing new equipment or making changes to your existing business? If so, you may need to apply for environmental permits issued by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ). Permits are often required for facility construction, as well as water discharges and air emissions that exceed regulatory thresholds. Also, you will have to comply with regulations for handling your wastes. Why? Because it’s the law, and by acquiring these permits you demonstrate your company’s commitment to protecting the environment and being responsible citizens. Yes, the permitting process can be complicated, but there is help! The NDEQ has numerous assistance resources available to help you determine what permits you need and the process for obtaining them. NDEQ also provides guidance on complying with environmental regulations.
Just call (402) 471-8697!


Why does NDEQ issue permits?
Your business, whether large or small, is expected to obey laws and regulations designed to protect the environment, preserve natural resources, and safeguard the health of our citizens. NDEQ issues permits that specify environmental measures you must take to be allowed to construct and operate your process(es). During the permit application process, the NDEQ staff determines the impact of your process on the environment and establishes operating conditions that, if complied with, will ensure your process does not pollute the environment beyond regulatory standards. The permit will state conditions for operation of the process, reporting requirements, and pollution monitoring or testing requirements.

Ensuring your permit accurately reflects your process and that the permit conditions and limitations are appropriate relies on the quality of information you provide in your permit application. The permit application you submit must be complete, accurate, and timely. You or your staff can complete some of the applications; for others you may need to retain the services of a consultant. The NDEQ website (www.deq.state.ne.us) provides many of the permit applications you may need, guidance for completing them, and a Directory of Environmental Consultants and Engineers under Publications/Environmental Assistance.

Do I need a permit? When should I apply?
Due to complex environmental regulations, businesses that are existing, expanding, or new are encouraged to contact the NDEQ for help in determining what, if any, regulations you may need to comply with or permits you may need to apply for. Some permits must be obtained before starting most construction activities. There could be civil and criminal penalties for beginning construction before obtaining the necessary NDEQ permits.


Examples of process and busniess sectors that may require environmental permits are:
Asphalt
Dryers
Boilers
Auto Repair
Fiberglass
Fuel Handling
Construcion
Grain Handling
Painting
Auto Recycling
Printing
Rock Crushing
Dehydrators
Sand & Gravel
Dry Cleaning
Incinerators
Septic Systems
Meat/Food Processing
Livestock Production
Water Treatment

Generally, any process that has the potential to emit gases, vapors, and/or particulate matter to the air, discharge wastewater to the environment, or produce solid or liquid wastes may need an environmental permit issued by the NDEQ, or may have other regulatory requirements.

How long will it take to get my permit?
The time from submittal of your application(s) to the issuance of the permit depends on the type of permit applied for, the complexity of your process(es), the completeness and accuracy of the submitted application, the number of applications ahead of yours, and issues that arise from the 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods. You can keep the time required to obtain your permit to a minimum by contacting the NDEQ early in your planning process.

What are some examples?
Before most construction activities begin, you may need to apply for one or more of the following permits or approvals:Before discharging waste water from your facility you may need to apply for one of the following permits: Before discharging wastewater from your facility you may need to apply for one of the following permits:
After you begin operation of a new facility, you may need to apply for one or more of the following permits:
What else?
In addition to permits, you may need to comply with regulations regarding the disposal of wastes; hazardous wastes; open burning; hazardous material storage; other programs not administered by the NDEQ such as the EPA Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements; risk management plans; Toxics Release Inventories; and regulations pertaining to refrigerants. Other agencies that have environmental requirements you may need to address are the Nebraska Health & Human Services System, Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and your local natural resources district

How do I find out more?
The NDEQ One-Stop Permitting Assistance Program
Unsure of what permits you need? The NDEQ One-Stop Permitting Assistance Program will get you to the right people and get your questions answered. Call Hugh Stirts, Small Business & Public Assistance Program Coordinator, at (402) 471-8697, or email at hugh.stirts@ndeq.state.ne.us


Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Environmental Assistance Division
March 2005

.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186