VOLUME REDUCTION,
MERCURY RECOVERY OR
MERCURY RECLAMATION
AIR GENERAL PERMIT
WORK BOOK
What is the Purpose of the Regulation?
The Department of Environmental Protection has established an Air General (AG) permit under
Rule 62-210.310(5)(a), F.A.C. (Florida Administrative Code), for volume reduction, mercury
recovery, or mercury reclamation operations. The use of an AG permit serves two purposes: it
provides notice to the Department of the facility’s operation and also sets the requirements under
which the facility is allowed to operate. Eligible volume reduction, mercury recovery, or mercury
reclamation operation facilities are not required to use the non-Title V AG permit, but instead may
choose to obtain a regular Air Operating (AO) permit. The Department, however, expects the AG
permit process to be less costly and burdensome than the AO permit process. This workbook is
intended to assist those who choose to seek entitlement to use the AG permit for their volume
reduction, mercury recovery, or mercury reclamation operations.
What Facilities are Eligible to use the General Permit?
 The owner or operator of a proposed new or existing facility shall determine the facility’s
eligibility to use the Air General Permit.
 Eligible facilities must not be a major source as defined in Rule 62-210.200, F.A.C.
 Eligible facilities must not emit more than ten (10) tons per year of any listed hazardous air
pollutant (HAP), twenty-five (25) tons per year of any combination of HAPs, or one hundred
(100) tons per year of any other regulated air pollutant.
 Eligible facilities must not operate any other emission units that would require an AG permit.
 Existing facilities with an AO permit may renew that permit or apply for the AG permit at least
thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit.
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Revised October 2008
What Happens If I Don’t Comply?
In addition to emitting pollutants into the environment and potentially exposing people to these
emissions, failure to comply with the requirements of the rule, could result in legal action under the
Clean Air Act, or state and local rules.
What are the General Conditions of the Volume Reduction, Mercury Recovery,
or Mercury Reclamation Operations Permit?
The duration of the Volume Reduction, Mercury Recovery, or Mercury Reclamation Operations AG
permit is five (5) years. The owner/operator or authorized representative must submit the proper
registration form and processing fee at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the
facility’s existing AG permit. The owner/operator or authorized representative shall submit a
registration form and fee to the Department prior to a change of ownership, physical change in
location, or any proposed new construction, modification or other equipment changes involving the
installation of new process or air pollution equipment, alteration of existing process or control
equipment without replacement of existing process or control equipment substantially different in
terms of capacity, method of operation, material processed, or intended use.
The owner/operator or authorized representative shall notify the Department in writing prior to any
sale, permanent shutdown of the facility, change in the name, telephone number of the facility or
owner/operator or authorized representative when it is not a change in ownership.
NOTE: The AG permit is not transferable and does not follow a change in
ownership of the facility. The new owner/operator or authorized representative must
submit a new registration form and processing fee of $250.00 at least thirty (30) days
prior to the transfer of ownership of the facility to the new owner.
This AG permit is valid only for the specific activity indicated. Any deviation from the specified
activity and the conditions for undertaking that activity shall constitute a violation of the permit.
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Revised October 2008
What are the General Conditions of the Permit? (continued)

The facility must not emit objectionable odors.

If, for any reason, the owner/operator or authorized representative of any facility or emissions
unit operating under an AG permit does not comply with or will be unable to comply with any
condition or limitation of the permit, the permittee shall immediately provide the appropriate
Department of Environmental Protection district office or local air pollution control program
office with the following information:
1. A description of and cause of noncompliance; and,
2. The period of noncompliance, including dates and times; or, if not corrected, the anticipated
time the noncompliance is expected to continue, and steps being taken to reduce, eliminate,
and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance. The permittee shall be responsible for any and
all damages which may result.
**Use of the AG permit does not eliminate the necessity for the owner/operator or authorized
representative to obtain any other federal, state, or local permits that may be required, or relieve the
owner/operator or authorized representative from the duty to comply with any federal, state or local
requirements that may apply.
What are the Control Technology and Operating Requirements?
a) Permissible Exposure Limit

Eligible facilities must adhere to the following: The United States Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit for mercury vapor, which is
listed in 29 C.F.R. 1910.1000.
b) Negative Pressure Requirement for Processing Area

The area in which the processing equipment is located shall be fully enclosed and kept under
negative pressure while processing mercury-containing lamps or devices.
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Revised October 2008
What are the Control Technology and Operating Requirements ? (continued)
c) Facilities with Dual Air Handling Systems

The owner/operator or authorized representative shall install a primary air handling system
with air pollution control equipment in order to reduce the mercury content of the air
collected during the volume reduction and mercury recovery and reclamation processes.

The air collected by the primary system shall be vented within a fully enclosed area of the
facility after the air is filtered through the air pollution control equipment.

Once each day the facility processes any mercury-containing lamps or devices and while
mercury-containing lamps or devices are being processed, a sample of air shall be collected
within the fully enclosed area of the facility in which the air collected by the primary air
handling system is vented. The mercury content of the sample shall be determined for
comparison with the OSHA permissible exposure limit.

The owner/operator or authorized representative shall operate, monitor and maintain the
primary system air pollution control equipment in such a manner that does not OSHA
permissible exposure limit for mercury vapor within the fully enclosed area of the facility in
which the air collected by the primary air handling system is vented.

The owner/operator or authorized representative shall install a secondary air handling system
in order to maintain negative pressure in the fully enclosed area of the facility in which the
air collected by the primary system is vented.

The owner/operator or authorized representative shall install, operate, monitor and maintain
air pollution control equipment in order to reduce the mercury content of the air collected by
the secondary air handling system.

The primary system with air pollution controls shall be independent and separate from the
secondary system with air pollution controls.
The primary and secondary system air
pollution controls shall incorporate carbon filters or equivalent technology.
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Revised October 2008
What are the Control Technology and Operating Requirements? (continued)
d) Facilities Using a Single Air Handling System with Redundant Mercury Controls

The owner/operator or authorized representative shall operate, monitor and maintain an air
handling system with redundant air pollution control equipment in order to reduce the
mercury content of the air collected during the volume reduction and mercury recovery and
reclamation processes.
 Redundant air pollution control equipment shall incorporate at least two carbon filters or
equivalent technology arranged in series so that the air passes through both filters before
being released. Each filter shall be designed as to ensure compliance with the OSHA
permissible exposure limit for mercury vapor at the emission point in the event of a single
filter failure.
 Once each day the facility processes any mercury-containing lamps or devices and while
mercury-containing lamps or devices are being processed, a sample of air shall be collected
downstream of the first carbon filter (or equivalent technology) and upstream of the second.
The mercury content of the sample shall be determined for comparison with the OSHA
permissible exposure limit.
 The owner/operator or authorized representative shall operate, monitor and maintain the air
pollution control equipment in such a manner as not to exceed the OSHA permissible
exposure limit for mercury vapor downstream of the first carbon filter (or equivalent
technology) and upstream of the second.
What are the Record-keeping Requirements?
The owner/operator or authorized representative of a facility using this AG permit shall maintain
records of monitoring information that specify the date, place, and time of measurement; the
methodology used; and the analytical results. These shall include all calibration and maintenance
records of monitoring equipment. The owner/operator or authorized representative shall retain
records of all monitoring data and supporting information, available for Department inspection, for a
period of at least five years from the date of collection.
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Revised October 2008
What if I Change or Modify Equipment?
If the facility installs new process or air pollution control equipment, alters existing process or
control equipment without replacement, or replaces existing process or control equipment with
equipment substantially different than that noted on the most recent registration form, the
owner/operator or authorized representative shall submit a new and complete general permit
registration form with the appropriate general processing fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)
to the Department.
What are the Registration Requirements?
Any facility wishing to use the AG permit for volume reduction, mercury recovery, or mercury
reclamation operations must register its intent to use the AG permit by completing and submitting a
Volume Reduction, Mercury Recovery, or Mercury Reclamation Air General Permit Registration
Form (DEP form No. 62-210.920(2)(a) to the FDEP at least thirty days prior to beginning operations
under the AG permit. The AG permit registration form must be accompanied by the appropriate AG
permit processing fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). The form must be signed and certified
by an owner/authorized representative of the facility. A licensed Professional Engineer must sign
and stamp the form attesting to the following:
1. To the best of my knowledge, there is reasonable assurance that the air pollutant emissions
unit(s) and the air pollution control equipment described in this Air General Permit Registration
Form, when properly operated and maintained, will comply with all applicable standards for
control of air pollutant emissions found in the Florida Statutes and rules of the Department of
Environmental Protection; and
2. The engineering features of the air pollution control equipment described in this Air General
Permit Registration Form have been designed or examined by me or individuals under my direct
supervision and found to be in conformity with sound engineering principles and the applicable
standards of Rule 62-296.417, F.A.C.

Copies of the registration form can be obtained by visiting our website at:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/air/emission/mercuryrecovery.htm
…or by contacting the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (1-800-722-7457).
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Revised October 2008
Submitting your Registration Form or Need Additional Information?
Please send your check for $250 made out to FDEP and completed permit application to:
FDEP Receipts
PO Box 3070
Tallahassee, FL 32315-3070
Questions regarding the Surface Coating Operations AG permit, including registration
procedures and information on the specific terms and conditions of its use, should be directed to:
General Permits Section (850) 717-9000 or
Small Business Environmental Assistance Program 1-800-722-7457
DISCLAIMER: This workbook is for guidance purposes only. It is not official rule language and
does not include a comprehensive listing of all environmental regulations that may be applicable
to a volume reduction mercury recovery or mercury reclamation facility. Please refer to Rule 62210.310, Florida Administrative Code, (F.A.C.), for complete and up-to-date rule language.
Dickson E. Dibble
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Revised October 2008