The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is inviting public comments on a draft Title V air quality permit for Carpenter Co., an expanded polystyrene manufacturer located in High Point, Guilford County.
Previously, Carpenter Co. operated under a synthetic minor air quality permit from DAQ that kept its emissions below the major-source threshold of 100 tons per year. In 2022, the company received a state construction and operation permit allowing it to emit pentane, a volatile organic compound (VOC), at major-source levels. Despite this allowance, actual emissions have remained at minor-source levels.
The 2022 permit required Carpenter Co. to apply for and obtain a major-source Title V permit. The proposed Title V permit would limit VOC emissions to 250 tons per year to prevent triggering Prevention of Significant Deterioration permitting.
Carpenter Co. is classified as a minor source of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and must adhere to federal rules for area sources of HAPs related to its adhesive coating operations. The facility has shown that its toxic air pollutant emissions are below the respective permitting rates.
Conditions in the draft permit ensure that ambient pollutant levels comply with emission standards beyond the facility’s boundaries, including health-based standards. The facility will also be subject to recordkeeping, reporting requirements, and regular inspections.
Public comments will be considered by the Division before making a final decision on the proposed permit. Comments or requests for a public hearing can be submitted until August 8, 2025. They can be emailed to daq.publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with “CarpenterCo.22C” in the subject line or left via voicemail at 919-707-8726. Alternatively, comments can be mailed to:
NCDEQ Division of Air Quality
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1641
Copies of relevant documents such as the public notice, draft permit, draft review, application materials, community profile draft, and project fact sheet are available online.
For information in Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, Lao, Swahili or other languages, contact Shawn Taylor at 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.
