Fugitive Dust - Frequently Asked Questions
This guidance document is advisory in nature but is binding on an agency until amended by such agency. A guidance document does not include internal procedural documents that only affect the internal operations of the agency and does not impose additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties or include confidential information or rules and regulations made in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. If you believe that this guidance document imposes additional requirements or penalties on regulated parties, you may request a review of the document.

Form #: 02-125 Guidance Documents Revised: 9/29/22
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369 KB 02-125 Fugitive Dust FAQs.pdf

What regulations does the Nebraska Department of Environmental and Energy (NDEE) have pertaining to dust?

The regulations pertaining to the control of dust are found in Nebraska Administrative Code Title 129 - Nebraska Air Quality Regulations, Chapter 15 – Compliance, Section 003. This section is sometimes referred to as the “fugitive dust regulation.”



Chapter 15 applies to all individuals and businesses in Nebraska. There are additional regulations that apply only to facilities subject to air quality permitting requirements. These regulations require facilities applying for air quality permits to control their dust emissions, commonly referred to as fugitive dust emissions. For instance, when a facility is requesting an air quality construction permit, it must demonstrate that the visible and non-visible fugitive dust emissions that leave the facility property will not exceed the air quality standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The regulations pertaining to dust control through air quality permitting requirements are not discussed in this fact sheet; the following is focused on the regulations found in Chapter 15 of Title 129. Title 129 can be found on the NDEE website at http://dee.ne.gov under Rules and Regulations.

What does the fugitive dust regulation say?

Title 129, Chapter 15, Section 003.01 requires sources to handle, transport, and store material in such a way to prevent particulate matter (commonly referred to as dust) from visibly crossing property boundaries.



Section 003.02 of Chapter 15 is similar to Section 003.01, but it applies to construction, use, repair and demolition of buildings, roads, driveways or other open areas. This section provides examples of reasonable measures that may be taken to prevent dust from visibly crossing property boundaries.

Section 003.03 of Chapter 15 provides a limited exemption to this regulation for normal farming practices, on-farm crop drying and handling, and animal feeding activities. Sections 003.02 and 003.03 do not require that the listed activities and sources completely prevent dust from leaving their property, as long as reasonable and practical measures to limit the dust are utilized.

Are dust and particulate matter the same thing?

Title 129 does not use the familiar term “dust” except in the title of Chapter 15; instead, the term “particulate matter” is used. While the terms are very similar, their definitions differ slightly. Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary (1994) defines dust as “fine, dry particles of matter.” Title 129 adopts the definition of particulate matter as found at 40 CFR Part 51.100(oo): “any airborne finely divided solid or liquid material with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 100 micrometers.” Although the terms dust and particulate matter are sometimes used interchangeably, the definition in Title 129 is used when implementing and enforcing the air quality regulations.



The following chart illustrates and provides examples of materials with varying aerodynamic diameters.



Why should the public be concerned about particulate matter?

National air quality standards have been developed by the EPA to protect public health, welfare, and the environment from the potential effects of particulate matter less than 10 micrometers (microns) in size (PM10) and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5). PM10 and PM2.5 can carry heavy metals and cancer-causing organic compounds into the deepest and most susceptible part of the lungs. The smaller the size of particulate matter, the farther it can travel into the lungs. PM2.5 is small enough that it bypasses the body’s natural defenses and gets trapped in the air sacs of the lungs, causing an inflammatory response and increasing the potential for a heart attack. When inhaled with other pollutants, PM10 and PM2.5 can increase the incidence and severity of respiratory diseases. Children, the elderly, and people suffering from heart or lung disease (like asthma) are especially at risk. Particulate matter of any size can also impair visibility, contaminate materials and buildings, and corrode metals.



There is an unpaved county road in front of my house. Can NDEE do anything about the dust?

NDEE does not regulate general public use of county roads. County government has the primary authority regarding the reasonable care and maintenance of its roads. NDEE has, in the past, provided county governments information on methods that may minimize dust from county roads.



There is dust from the feedlot across the road. What are they required to do about it?

Section 003.03 of Chapter 15 in Title 129 states that the dust emissions from animal feeding activities shall not be regulated provided that “reasonable and practical measures” are taken to limit the dust from those activities. “Reasonable and practical measures” means the owners and operators of facilities and businesses that generate dust are required to use sound and useful techniques to assure that dust doesn’t leave their property. Reasonable and practical measures depend on many factors such as the activity or source generating dust, location, and current weather conditions. For instance, it may not be reasonable or practical to apply water to a field while it is being plowed or to apply water to control dust from a road when the temperature is below freezing. Some reasonable measures to control dust may include applying water or chemical surfactants to the facility roads or to a feedlot, paving the roads, and planting and maintaining vegetative ground cover.



There is a lot of corn chaff (also known as “bee’s wings”) flying around from the trucks loading and unloading grain at the elevator in town. Is this regulated?

The fugitive dust regulation does not regulate particulate matter that is greater than 100 microns in diameter. Corn chaff is greater than 100 microns in size. NDEE is most concerned with the smaller particles that can enter the lungs and create a health risk. The quickest way to address the problem is usually to contact the elevator or your local government officials.



A construction crew is tearing up a road or clearing land for development and a lot of dust is being created. What can be done?

Section 003.02 of Chapter 15 in Title 129 states that no person may cause or permit a road to be constructed or repaired without applying reasonable measures to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne and remaining visible beyond the premises where it originates. The same rule applies to construction in open areas. Some of the reasonable measures that may be taken include sweeping/vacuuming paved roads, driveways, and parking lots, applying chemical surfactants or water to roadways, and planting and maintaining vegetative ground cover. The problem can often be solved quickly by contacting the construction crew and explaining your concerns. If this doesn’t work, contact the NDEE Air Quality Program at (402) 471-2186. If the construction area is located in Lancaster County, contact the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department at (402) 444-8040. If the area is located within the city limits of Omaha, contact Omaha Air Quality Control at (402) 444-5220.



What about dust that is coming from roads on the property of an industrial facility?

As stated in the example above, Section 003.02 of Chapter 15 in Title 129 states that no person may cause or permit a road to be used without applying all such reasonable measures to prevent particulate matter from leaving the property boundaries. NDEE requires larger facilities to pave their roads, control traffic speed on their property, vacuum or sweep their roads, and apply water or chemical surfactants to keep the road dust to a minimum.



What can I do if I have concerns about fugitive dust from a facility?

If you have concerns regarding dust from a facility, call the NDEE Air Quality Program at (402) 471-2186 to report the problem. If the area of concern is located in Lancaster County or Omaha, contact the appropriate authority at the phone numbers listed above.


Produced by: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922,
phone (402)471-2186. To view this, and other information related to our agency, visit our web site at http://dee.ne.gov .