AI-assisted research summary: The director must accept a qualifying local air pollution program and issue a certificate of acceptance, while local governments must apply if they want certification.
When an air pollution control program conducted by a political subdivision, or a combination of political subdivisions, is deemed upon review, as provided in section 455B.134, to be consistent with the provisions of this subchapter II or the rules established under this subchapter II, the director shall accept such program in lieu of state administration and regulation of air pollution within the political subdivisions involved. This section shall not be construed to limit the power of the director to issue state permits and to take other actions consistent with this subchapter II or the rules established under this subchapter that the director deems necessary for the continued proper administration of the air pollution programs within the jurisdiction of the local air pollution program. 1. In evaluating an air pollution control program, consideration shall be given to whether such program provides for the following: a. Ordinances, rules, and standards establishing requirements consistent with those imposed by this subchapter II or rules and standards adopted by the department. b. Enforcement of such requirements by appropriate administrative and judicial process. c. Administrative organization, staff, financial, and other resources necessary to administer an efficient and effective program. d. Location of emission monitoring devices in areas of the political subdivision in compliance with uniform state standards adopted by the department. The department shall adopt uniform state standards for the location of emission monitoring devices specifying such intervals and such procedures to provide a reasonably consistent measurement of emissions from air contaminant sources regardless of the political subdivision of the state in which the sources may be located. 2. Upon acceptance of a local air pollution control program, the director shall issue a certificate of acceptance to the appropriate local agency. a. Any political subdivision desiring a certificate of acceptance shall apply to the department on forms prescribed by the director. b. The director shall promptly investigate the application and approve or disapprove the application. The director may conduct a public hearing before action is taken to approve or disapprove. If the director disapproves issuing a certificate, the political subdivision may appeal the action to the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. At the hearing on appeal, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing shall decide whether the local program is substantially consistent with the provisions of this subchapter II, or rules adopted under this subchapter II, and whether the local program is being enforced. The burden of proof shall be upon the political subdivision. c. If the director determines at any time that a local air pollution program is being conducted in a manner inconsistent with the substantive provisions of this subchapter II or the rules adopted under this subchapter II, the director shall notify the political subdivision, citing the deviations from the acceptable standards and the corrective measures to be completed within a reasonable amount of time. If the corrective measures are not implemented as prescribed, the director shall suspend in whole or in part the certificate of acceptance of such political subdivision and shall administer the regulatory provisions of this subchapter II in whole or in part within the political subdivision until the appropriate standards are met. Upon receipt of evidence that necessary corrective action has been taken, the director shall reinstate the suspended certificate of acceptance, and the political subdivision shall resume the administration of the local air pollution control program within its jurisdiction. In cases where the certificate of acceptance is suspended, the political subdivision may appeal the suspension to the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. d. Nothing in this subchapter II shall be construed to supersede the jurisdiction of any local air pollution control program in operation on the first of January, 1973, except that any such program shall meet all requirements of this subchapter II. [C71, §136B.15; C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §455B.24] C83, §455B.145 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1899, 1899B; 87 Acts, ch 33, §1; 2021 Acts, ch 76, §82; 2022 Acts, ch 1032, §65; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2021; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §105; 2023 Acts, ch 109, §19 Referred to in §331.382