Air Quality Permitting Compliance Assistance | Understanding Common Violations

Complying with air quality regulations is important for protecting public health and the environment in Arizona. To help the regulated community better prevent air quality infractions, we have listed the common violations found by our compliance inspectors:

Visible Emission Violations

  • Opacity greater than 20 percent or the applicable standard
  • Failure to have Method 9 observer onsite or oncall | Learn More on EPA Page >

Visible emissions can be reduced by practicing regular equipment maintenance. Permittee's should follow the manufacture specifications and individual permit requirements for each piece of equipment.

Air Pollution Control Violations 

  • Failure to operate equipment per a permit condition

The Air Quality Compliance Manager is available to provide additional assistance | 602-771-4365 | Email >

Visual Emissions Survey Not Conducted

  • Failing to conduct weekly fugitive emissions monitoring
  • Failure to conduct monthly visible emission surveys

Weekly or monthly records of Visible Emission Surveys may be required, depending on the type of facility you oversee. Please review your permit for specifics. ADEQ inspectors will request these weekly or monthly records at the time of inspection.

Out of Compliance with Other Permit Terms

  • Failure to Submit Reports, Compliance Certifications and Emission Inventory
  • Failure to report excess emissions or inadequately report
  • Failure to maintain air quality records

For assistance staying in compliance, visit ADEQ's compliance assistance webpage | View >

Non-Road Engines Violations

  • Failure to keep a non-road engine log

If you have a non-road engine, you must maintain a non-road engine log, which must contain all of the following:

  1. Date that the engine is brought to the facility
  2. Engine make
  3. Engine model
  4. Engine serial number
  5. Capacity of the engine
  6. Date that the engine is removed from the facility

If you have an engine that is not a non-road engine, contact ADEQ to add the engine to your air quality permit | Email ADEQ >

Asbestos NESHAP Violations

  • Failure to notify construction of a regulated facility | Learn More >

Regulated Facilities must submit a Notification Form for all demolition and renovation (even when no asbestos is present) activities involving threshold amounts of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM). Provide the Asbestos NESHAP notification at least 10 working days prior to the demolition or renovation activity | Watch Video to Learn More >

Asbestos NESHAP Notification Form | View/Download > 

Performance Tests (Stack Testing) Not Conducted

  • Failure to conduct performance tests (stack testing)

Timely scheduling of Performance Test requirements are specified in individual permits. The Arizona Testing Manual for Air Pollutant Emissions outlines requirements for performance tests protocols and reporting | View Manual >

Open Burning

  • Conducting open burns without notification and proper permit | Learn More >

ADEQ Agriculture Source Inspectors conducted inspections of all 60 jurisdictions that issue open burn permits throughout Arizona.

Burn permits are issued by local fire jurisdiction or ADEQ | View Jurisdiction List >

Exception: Maricopa, Pima and Pinal Counties and Tribal Country have authority to issue burn permits:

For those within our jurisdiction, ADEQ provides an Open Burn Permit online portal to easily apply for and receive coverage | Visit Portal >