Buncombe County board approves permit renewal and modification for local facilities

During its meeting the Buncombe County Air Quality Board approved a permit renewal for Fort Warner and a permit modification for Pratt & Whitney (RTX). Staff described both items as administrative updates to ensure permits reflect current equipment and emissions parameters.

Fort Warner: Staff said the Fort Warner permit is a Title V renewal with routine updates, including removal of equipment taken out of service and an updated insignificant-activity list. EPA reviewed the draft and provided minor corrections; staff reported no public comments during the public-notice period. Staff recommended approval, and the board approved the renewal by voice vote.

Pratt & Whitney (RTX): Staff described the Pratt & Whitney modification as a response to an update in the coating formulation and the company’s calculation of 24-hour usage rates. The change introduced hydrogen fluoride as a modeled toxic air pollutant for the process. County staff required updated North Carolina air-toxics dispersion modeling and added a permit condition to log 24-hour activator (coating) usage to ensure the facility remains within modeled bounds. Staff recommended the modification, which the board approved by voice vote.

In both cases staff said the permits will require continued annual reporting of fuel and material usage; neither item prompted public comment during the notice period. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes; the chair called votes by voice and reported both motions passed unanimously.