The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is seeking 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. held a synthetic minor air quality permit from DAQ, which capped its emissions below major-source thresholds of 100 tons per year. In 2022, the company was granted a state construction and operation permit that allowed it to emit pentane, a volatile organic compound (VOC), at major-source levels. However, the facility’s actual emissions have remained at minor-source levels.
As part of the 2022 permit requirements, Carpenter Co. is now applying for a major-source Title V permit. The proposed Title V permit would limit VOC emissions to 250 tons per year to avoid triggering Prevention of Significant Deterioration permitting.
The facility is classified as a minor source of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and must comply with federal rules for area sources of HAPs regarding its adhesive coating operations. It has demonstrated that its emissions of toxic air pollutants will remain below respective permitting rates.
Conditions in the draft permit ensure that ambient levels of all pollutants emitted by the facility meet emission standards, including applicable health-based standards beyond the facility’s fence line. The facility would also need to adhere to recordkeeping and reporting requirements and undergo 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 are accepted 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. Comments can also 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, community profile draft, and project fact sheet are available online.
For information in Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, Lao, Swahili or another language, call 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.
