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Small Business Clean Air Assistance Program

What is Air Pollution and Why is it Regulated?

The air we breathe should be primarily oxygen and nitrogen with just a few other chemicals thrown in from natural sources.  Modern life and all the vehicles and industrial activites that come with it has added a large number of additional chemicals to the mix.  Because of the detrimental effects of many of those chemicals, their presence is considered to pollute the air.  Air pollution regulations are intended to minimize the detrimental effects on people and the environment, not just plants and animals but structures as well.  

Why should I worry about air pollution from my business?

Air pollution affects everyone.  It's important to reduce air pollution so that everyone can enjoy our natural resources.  Because air pollution is so bad in certain areas of our nation, the EPA has set up a system to rank the quality of the air and let people know whether its healthy for them to be outside.  This ranking system is called the Air Quality Index.  Watch this video for an explanation of the Air Quality Index:  AQI Video.  

DNR notifies the public when there are Air Quality Watches and Advisories.  You can subscribe to DNR's notification system from their Air Quality web page.  

How do I know if my business generates air pollution? 

Do you have...?

  1. operations that use or store adhesives, inks, paints, varnishes, clean up solvents or any materials that contain solvents? These will generate volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Such operations would include things like: paint booths, printing, lamination, kitchen countertop production, cabinet or other wood product gluing or finishing, some dry cleaning,
  2. operations that generate dust or fumes? These are called particulate matter emissions. Such operations include things like: grinding, sanding, welding, material handling (grain, rock/gravel, dirt, flour, etc.), and vehicle traffic on dirt roads. There are a wide variety of regulations that might apply to these operations. 
  3. operations that burn fuels to generate heat, power/electricity, or process steam? Such operations have not only particulate matter emissions but also carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide (if sulfur is in the fuel), and nitrogen oxides. Specific regulations apply to these operations.
  4. anything else? All of the previous operations as well as many unique operations that don't fit into the above categories may emit hazardous air pollutants. Unique operations may include: electroplating, acid/caustic baths for parts cleaning or etching, etc., asbestos material handling/removal, water chlorination, and ammonia refrigeration, to name just a few.

What about retail or commercial businesses?

Some retail or commercial operations may also generate sufficient air pollution, or air pollution of a type that is very toxic, that they are also regulated. Dry cleaners using perchloroethylene or petroleum solvents are strictly regulated by EPA and DNR. Autobody refinishing (collision repair) facilities have new regulations from EPA that they must meet by 2011. Retail establishments with large parking lots may need an Indirect Source Air Pollution Permit. If one of these types of retail or commercial operations fits your business, you may have to meet certain air pollution requirements.

Other retail or commercial establishments like restaurants or hair salons, while they generate fumes or use certain chemicals, are not currently regulated for air pollution that goes off their property. In those cases there may be indoor air pollution present, but it's generally not regulated.

If you have any of these operations that generate air pollution, then go to our Air Pollution Regulations page for more detailed information. If you're not sure about your operations, then contact the SBCAAP staff using the email link at the bottom of the page.

How can I learn more about air pollution and how it applies to my business?

  • Read our Air Pollution Basics fact sheet to learn about the key issues behind regulating air pollution.
  • There are a number of educational opportunities available throughout the state. Go to our Events page to see what is available in the near future.
  • Review our list of announcements, to see if there are any regulations proposed recently that might affect your operations. There may be opportunity for you to provide comment to DNR or EPA on their proposed regulations. If enough businesses comment on a proposed regulation, the agency may modify their regulations. Once a regulation is final it becomes very difficult to change it.
  • Get on our mailing list for the Clean Air Advisor. The Advisor is a quarterly newsletter written by SBCAAP staff to share information about new air pollution regulations and other environmental issues that may impact businesses in Wisconsin. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by subscribing to the list-serve. All past copies are available in PDF on the Advisor web page.

Send an email to COMCleanAir@Wisconsin.gov with questions or comments about the SBCAAP web pages.