Similarly, the Office has worked with air program staff, as suggested by the State Advisory Board, to develop language that would notify permit applicants of the Department's policy on pollution prevention and would identify OPP as a resource. This language would be included in air permit application forms, which are currently under development. Pollution prevention is the reduction or elimination of environmental pollutants or losses at the source. Office of Pollution Prevention, a technical assistance program within DEQ, has a library of journals, books, videos, and other publications on industrial pollution prevention. Free, customized research is available to industries and their consultants.
Staff is also available to provide on-site assistance.
Process design and permit pre-application are ideal stages to consider pollution prevention options. In addition to permitting requirements under development in the air program, the Department also is investigating ways of incorporating pollution prevention into existing air, water and waste permits. Representatives from all states within Region III and the District of Columbia also attended. Permit writers from states outside the region made presentations and detailed their successes and difficulties in integrating pollution prevention into the permitting process. In addition, exercises on drafting pollution prevention permit language were included.