• ​​All new, modified or replacement installations which are potential sources of air pollution (including fuel burning equipment) are regulated and require an Air Quality Permit to Construct from MDE except those installations which are exempt under Maryland’s Air Quality Regulations, COMAR 26.11.02.
  
• DEP is responsible for preparing and submitting all permit applications to MDE for review and approval, but not for the permit fees. The permit application process for the following emission sources are as follows:

Emergency Generators: The NIH Bethesda campus has numerous emergency generators. The general permit applies to an emergency electric generator set equipped with a stationery internal combustion engine, rated at 500 brake horse power (BHP) or 373 KW) and including 2,681 BHP or 2000 KW.

• ​The processing fee is $400 per equipment to MDE for emergency generators up to 2000 KW. The fees must be paid by check payable to: Maryland Department of the Environment/Clean Air Fund.
• Please note that the check and all the required information must be sent to DEP for onward transmission to MDE. Checks should not be sent directly to MDE. It can take MDE up to 30-45 days by MDE to approve the application and issue the permit if the application contains all the required documents in the check list.
• This is a one-time permit required prior to construction and installation of the regulated emission source. If the construction or installation does not take place within 18 months of permit issuance, then approval terminates.

Emergency Generators greater than 2000 KW: Prior to commencing the construction of emergency generators greater than 2,000 KW, the Public Service Commission of Maryland is required to grant its approval.

• ​A letter from PEPCO is required showing that the generator will not be synchronized with the local electric system and will be configured so that there is no export of electricity to the Electric System.
• A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) exemption and approval is required. The application fee is $500 to the MD Public Service Commission. This process can take up to 2 months.
• Permit application fee is $500 per installation will be sent by the DEP office to MDE, including the requirements to be excluded from the CPCN exemption. The issuance of the permit can take up to 45 days.

Small Boilers with a rated heat input of 1 million (British Thermal Unit) BTU per hour up to 10 million BTU per hour: This general permit covers boilers and space heaters which burn natural gas, or distillate fuel oils. There are small boilers located at buildings: 15K, 30T, 82 and they operate on natural gas.

• The permit processing fee is $400 per piece of equipment and Checks should be made payable to: Maryland Clean Air Fund. The issuance of the permit by MDE can take up to 45 days.
  

DEP Points of Contact: Joseph Musa, musaj@mail.nih.gov; Trenise Trent, trenise.trent@nih.gov​