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Mar 3, 2006 3:19 PM

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to apply equal permitting rules for corn milling facilities, regardless of whether they produce ethanol for fuel or for human consumption, according to EPA information.

While the processes are similar, the facilities are currently treated differently under Clean Air Act permitting programs.

EPA said corn milling facilities that produce fuel and emit less than 100 tons per year of air pollutants are not subject to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting program.

Corn milling facilities that produce products for human consumption do not trigger PSD until they emit more than 250 tons per year.

The new EPA proposal would establish the same emissions limits under the PSD program, 250 tons per year, regardless of whether the ethanol end product is used for fuel or human consumption.

The thresholds for the New Source Review and Title V permitting programs would remain at current levels, which vary from 10 to 100 tons per year depending on the area in which the facility is located.