Md. Code Regs. 26.11.19.29

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 21, October 18, 2024

Section 26.11.19.29 - Control of Volatile Organic Compounds From Distilled Spirits Facilities

A. Applicability. This regulation applies to a person who owns or operates a distilled spirits facility that has a total potential to emit VOCs of 25 tons or more per year.

B. Definitions.

(1) In this regulation, the following terms have the meaning indicated.

(2) Terms Defined.

(a) "Aging warehouse" means a building in which distilled spirits are aged in barrels before being bottled and packaged for distribution.

(b) "Automated filling system" means an automated bottle filling system that minimizes fugitive VOC emissions by rapidly filling individual containers with the assistance of gravity and creating a vacuum or pressure during the bottling operation.

(c) "Bottling operation" means an automated process by which empty bottles are filled with distilled spirits and sealed.

(d) Distilled Spirits.

(i) "Distilled spirits" means an alcoholic beverage such as rum, gin, vodka, bourbon, or whiskey.

(ii) "Distilled spirits" does not include beer or ale.

(e) "Distilled spirits facility" means a process where unaged distilled spirits are received in bulk, adjusted to a designated proof, pumped into barrels, stored in an aging warehouse, bottled, and packaged.

C. General Requirements.

(1) A person who owns or operates a distilled spirits facility subject to this regulation shall:

(a) Empty barrels using a pump-operated, bayonet-type suction device, or comparably effective device that minimizes VOC evaporative losses when emptying barrels;

(b) Drain distilled spirits from filter plates that are located between the barrel unloading and storage tanks to either a recycling tank or to an enclosed collection system; and

(c) Use a gravity and vacuum or pressure filling system or comparably effective system to minimize fugitive emissions from the bottling operations.

(2) During the warmer weather, used barrels that are stored in the outdoors awaiting disposal shall be periodically (at least weekly) wetted down to reduce potential leakage and fugitive emissions.

D. Control of Other Fugitive Emission Sources.

(1) A person who owns or operates a distilled spirits facility subject to this regulation shall submit to the Department for approval a good operating practices manual to minimize fugitive VOC emissions from the aging warehouse and other operations that are not subject to §D of this regulation.

(2) The good operating practices manual shall be submitted to the Department not later than April 30, 2001, and shall be implemented not later than 60 days after approval by the Department.

(3) Following implementation of the approved good operating practices, a report shall be submitted to the Department which includes the following information:

(a) An identification of the sources of fugitive emissions at which good operating practices will be implemented;

(b) A description of a method used to estimate emissions and estimated annual emissions for each source of fugitive emissions identified; and

(c) A description of the method used to estimate the emission reduction resulting from implementing good operating practices and an estimate of the annual reductions achieved.

(4) The report required in §D(3) of this regulation shall include emissions and emission reduction estimates for calendar year 2001 and shall be submitted to the Department by April 1, 2002.

Md. Code Regs. 26.11.19.29

Regulation .29 adopted effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1732)
Regulation .29 amended effective October 15, 2001 (28:20 Md. R. 1783)