Organization and Functions

The Southwest District (SWD) Air Program regulates sources of air pollution in 11 counties (Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter) plus the portion of Marion County west of I-75. The pre-dominant industries in the SWD are engaged in the production of phosphate agricultural products, citrus products, and electrical power. The SWD is assisted in its endeavors to protect, maintain, and enhance air quality by approved local air programs in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties. These delegated local air programs administer state air pollution-related activities under separate and specific agreements with the Department. The SWD office and local programs work together effectively to ensure state and federal air requirements are met. To achieve its goals, the SWD Air Program is organized into four fundamental sections: Permitting, Compliance, Enforcement, and Ambient Air Monitoring. SWD Contacts Org. Chart

Air Permitting

The primary purpose of the SWD Permitting Section is to review applications for completeness, request additional information if required, and prepare the final permit for issuance or denial. The SWD is responsible for processing all construction permit applications involving potential emissions of up to 250 tons per year of a single pollutant and operating permits in the SWD except major electric power generating facilities (processed by the Bureau of Air Regulation in Tallahassee). The delegated local air programs at the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) and Sarasota County Natural Resources Department (NRD) also issue source permits. The Division of Air Resource Management has several on-line access tools to assist facilities and business owners in navigating permit requirements. Two such links have been provided below. You may also contact the SWD Air Program by phone for additional information about permitting.

Air Permit Document Search: To locate information current and past permit information for facilities. This information includes full permit documents.

Electronic Permit Submittal and Processing System (EPSAP): EPSAP provides industrial facility owners/ operators the ability to submit permit applications electronically.

Compliance & Enforcement

The SWD Compliance Section’s primary duty is to provide compliance assistance to permitted sources and ensure these sources meet state and federal air rules and regulations. Through this section we also administer federal asbestos regulation including the receipt and review of required asbestos renovation and demolition notifications. At a minimum, the Compliance staff performs inspections of regulated sources; audits testing procedures performed to measure compliance with emissions limits; collects data on facility operations and emissions; educates permittees about the requirements of applicable laws and regulations; and investigates complaints. Typical complaints include odors, asbestos abatement issues, open burning, and particulate fallout. Some permitted sources such as dry cleaners, crematories, and concrete batch plants are regulated through general permits. The SWD recently hosted several workshops to assist these smaller facilities and has provided links to the information below.

September 30, 2010 Drycleaner Workshop

Air Program Presentation
Hazardous Waste Presentation
Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup Program

March 30, 2010 Concrete Batch Plant Workshop

Concrete Batch Plant Air Program Presentation
Concrete Batch Plant Industrial Waste Presentation
Concrete Batch Plant Hillsborough County

October 13, 2009 Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plant Workshop

The Southwest District Air Resource Management Program hosted a workshop for the Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plants and Hot Mix Asphalt facilities operating within the District.  Below are some of the materials made available during the workshop.

PowerPoint Presentation
Example of Permit
Permit Appendices
Flow Diagram 1
Flow Diagram 2

When a stationary point source is found in violation of state and federal regulations or permit conditions, appropriate enforcement action is taken in accordance with the Department’s Enforcement Manual and Directive 923. The Division of Air Resource Management maintains an on-line access tool for citizens and industry professionals to review the compliance and enforcement activities at permitted facilities called Air Compliance and Enforcement Search (ACES). This tool enables searches by facility name, facility identification number, compliance actions, enforcement actions, county, and DEP District. You may also contact the SWD Air Program by phone for questions about compliance and enforcement issues.

Ambient Air Monitoring

The SWD Air Monitoring section maintains, operates, and collects data from various air sampling stations located within the SWD. The section is responsible for monitoring particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), and ozone (O3). In addition, wind direction and speed are monitored and recorded at the continuous sites. Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Manatee Counties also maintain and operate separate monitoring stations which report data to the Department and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 4 office in Atlanta. To learn more about Florida’s Air Quality System, check out our website at About Florida's Air Quality System (FLAQS). The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides a website, Air Now, for citizens to check the current and forecasted Air Quality Index in the area where you live.

SWD Air Program Contact Information