Residents of Waynesboro, Virginia, urged the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to reject a proposed air permit for a Northrop Grumman aerospace manufacturing facility during a public hearing held on Thursday. Attendees expressed concerns that emissions from the plant could pose long-term health and environmental risks, even though the proposed limits would keep the facility below federal major-source thresholds.
Northrop Grumman initially applied for the state operating permit in late 2025. The agency stated that the permit would establish legally enforceable limits on hazardous air pollutant emissions, allowing the facility to operate as a synthetic minor source under the Clean Air Act.
Under the proposal, the plant would be capped at 24.9 tons of combined hazardous air pollutants annually, falling just short of the 25-ton threshold that defines a major source. Emissions of any single hazardous pollutant would be limited to 9.9 tons per year.
The permit covers substances including methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, and xylene, which are expected to be used in aerospace manufacturing. Many speakers at the hearing remained unconvinced that these limits are sufficient to protect public health. Concerns focused on potential long-term exposure, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Some attendees questioned whether the projected emissions accurately reflect future operations and worried about the cumulative impact on the community. Several speakers acknowledged the economic benefits the facility could bring to Waynesboro but argued those gains should not come at the expense of public health. Many called on the agency to deny the permit or require additional protections before the project moves forward.
