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Air Pollution Control Division

The Air Pollution Control (APC) Division of Canton City Public Health is one of nine local air agencies (LAA) within the State of Ohio that serves its individual Stark County community by providing local management and protection of the area’s outside air quality through contract with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). The primary purpose of the APC Division is to protect Stark County citizens from the adverse health and welfare impacts of air pollution by attaining and maintaining ambient air quality standards. This is accomplished through monitoring levels of ambient air pollutants, implementation of the State’s industrial permit program, and compliance monitoring and enforcement of state & federal clean air regulations, which are described in more detail below.

Canton APC operates a network of air quality monitoring stations throughout Stark County for the purpose of capturing and analyzing ambient air samples which are representative and indicative of the quality of air to which area residents are exposed.  This network is part of Ohio EPA's air monitoring network plan. Canton APC monitors levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone, and carbon monoxide.  The monitoring stations are located in Canton at the Health Department, Fire Station #8, and Malone University, and also in Brewster and Alliance.  Canton APC also operates a lead (Pb) and metals monitoring station at the Republic Steel facility in Canton per agreement with the facility. Air quality data collected from the monitoring stations is available on our Air Quality page.

Canton APC's work activities include preparing permits for stationary industrial air pollution sources (which are issued by Ohio EPA), performing facility inspections for permit compliance, performing complaint investigations, reviewing submitted documents to monitor compliance, and pursuing enforcement actions for non-compliance. In addition, the division performs similar work activities for state & federal regulations governing the removal, handling and disposal of Asbestos as it relates to renovation and demolition of buildings, vehicle anti-tampering, and Open Burning. Air pollution sources include industrial smoke stacks, industrial equipment, gasoline stations, dry cleaners, roadways and other areas that generate dust, odors, or emissions.

Management of Stark County’s outside air quality is centered around the implementation of the State of Ohio’s air pollution permit system through Ohio EPA, monitoring compliance with permit, and enforcement of permit non-compliance. Each potential source of air pollution is required to apply for and obtain an approved Ohio EPA air pollution permit prior to installing and operating. Approval for a permit requires the source to demonstrate it is operating in compliance with all rules and not emitting excess air contaminants. Permit application forms, instructions, and guidance are available through Ohio EPA's website.

There are several different types of Ohio EPA air permits which are dependent on the size and type of facility. Major industrial sources, which are considered high priority facilities (HPF), are required to obtain comprehensive Title V air permits or a Federally Enforceable Permit to Install and Operate (FEPTIO). Minor sources are required to obtain a Permit to Install and Operate (PTIO) or Permit by Rule (PBR). Some sources are small enough to be exempt from permit requirements. As of 01/01/2018, Canton APC currently has 20 Title V, 20 FEPTIO,  183 PTIO, and 283 PBR facilities located in its jurisdiction of Stark County.

One of the major ways to monitor permit compliance is by performing periodic facility inspections. Many inspections are unannounced to ensure the sources are routinely meeting their permit conditions. The priority and frequency of inspections are dependent on complaints received, the size and type of facility, and the type and severity of the pollution problems. The inspections of high priority facilities meet the requirements of the federal Compliance Monitoring Strategy issued by U.S. EPA. For more details on inspections, see our Compliance and Enforcement page.

Stark County residents receive prompt response to their air-related complaints and questions (See bottom of this page on how to submit a complaint). Such complaints may concern activities of the private or public sector (i.e., industrial plant emissions), neighborhood open burning, and other areas that generate dust, odors, or emissions. All require a thorough investigation/response with appropriate corrective actions. For more details on complaint investigations, see our Compliance and Enforcement page.

Enforcement results from the discovery of violations of permit terms and/or air regulations. Discovery occurs as a result of inspections, stack tests, compliance reports, surveillance activities, complaint investigations, or emission calculations. For more details on issued enforcement actions, see our Compliance and Enforcement page.

Complaints:

To report complaints of open burning, fugitive dust, odor, asbestos or facility air pollution, please call (330) 489-3231 and press #7, or submit electronically through the city-wide service request system by clicking here.  If requested, callers may remain anonymous. More contact options are on our Contact Us page.

Tip: It is best to receive the complaint call immediately, while the issue is still occurring. This allows Canton APC inspectors to respond promptly so they can see the issue themselves and evaluate compliance.

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