Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines

Reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) combust fuel to run an engine. Internal combustion engines supply energy to run equipment such as emergency generators or pumps.

RICE are eligible to operate in Florida under the terms of an air general permit (AGP) pursuant to the requirements of 62-210.310(4)(b), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). 

An AGP is an authorization by rule to construct or operate a specific type of air pollutant emitting facility. Use of such authorization by any individual facility does not require action by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The terms and conditions of an AGP are set forth in the rule, rather than in a separately issued air construction or air operation permit.

Some RICE may qualify for an exemption under 62-210.300(3)(a)(35), F.A.C., provided the following conditions are met with respect to each such unit:

1. The unit is not subject to the Acid Rain Program, CAIR Program, or any unit-specific applicable requirement.
2. The unit shall not burn used oil or any fuels other than natural gas, propane, gasoline, and diesel fuel.
3. Collectively, all units claiming this exemption at the same facility shall not burn more than the collective maximum annual amount of a single fuel, as given in sub-subparagraph d., or equivalent collective maximum annual amounts of multiple fuels, as addressed in sub-subparagraph e.
4. If burning only one (1) type of fuel, the collective annual amount of fuel burned by all units claiming this exemption at the same facility shall not exceed 53,000 gallons of gasoline, 64,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 288,000 gallons of propane, or 8.8 million standard cubic feet of natural gas.
5. If burning more than one (1) type of fuel, the equivalent collective annual amount of each fuel burned by the units claiming this exemption at the same facility shall not exceed the collective maximum annual amount of such fuel, as given in sub-subparagraph d., multiplied by a fuel percentage. The fuel percentage is the percentage ratio of the total amount of the fuel burned by all units claiming this exemption at the same facility to the total amount of such fuel allowed to be burned by all units claiming this exemption at the same facility pursuant to sub-subparagraph d. The sum of the fuel percentages for all fuels burned by the units claiming this exemption at the same facility must be less than or equal to 100 percent.

Registration

You can register, renew, change ownership or make administrative corrections to AGPs online.

• Air General Permit Electronic Registration System (AGPERS)

If you do not wish to use AGPERS, you can optionally download and complete the following worksheet and mail it to DEP at the address indicated in the worksheet instructions along with the $100 processing fee.

• Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines Air General Permit Example Worksheet

Compliance Assistance Info

• Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines Informational Handout

For more information on AGPs or assistance with using AGPERS, please contact DEP's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at 1-800-722-7457.

For questions related to compliance procedures such as test notifications, report submittals, record keeping, inspections, etc., please contact the compliance authority specific to the county where your facility is located. If it’s located in Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas or Sarasota counties, visit our Local Program Air Contacts page. For all other counties, go to our District Air Contacts page.