Air Quality Regulatory Evaluation for a Malt Production Facility
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Project Objective

Malteurope North America (Malteurope) needed to evaluate the impact of impending sulfur dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on their malt production facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The facility operates under a minor-source air permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).

Geosyntec’s Scope of Services

Malteurope’s Milwaukee facility produces malts used by brewers and whiskey distillers. As required by regulatory standards for foods and beverages, sulfur is added in Malteurope’s malting process; the sulfur dioxide that remains in the malt product serves as a fungicide, bactericide, and preservative. Sulfur dioxide emission is a result of the use of sulfur in the malting process.

Our team reviewed the existing documentation regarding Malteurope’s sulfur dioxide emissions and requirements under the facility’s air permit and permit application; we also reviewed the facility’s sulfur dioxide emission calculations. Malteurope and Geosyntec personnel met with WDNR staff to discuss the agency’s NAAQS implementation plan and to explore options for facilities to meet the proposed requirements.

Different air pollution control technologies were evaluated to determine the optimal equipment and/or process operational changes that would enable the facility to meet the NAAQS. In coordination with the client, Geosyntec developed and submitted comments to WDNR on the proposed sulfur dioxide rule, including the technical implications for the malting facility and the costs associated with meeting the revised standards.

Notable Accomplishments

Geosyntec met with agency personnel on Malteurope’s behalf and provided formal public comments on the implementation of the sulfur dioxide NAAQS regulation in Wisconsin. Our regulatory agency experience and understanding of the rulemaking process allowed us to protect our client’s interest within the regulatory framework. In addition, Geosyntec provided technical support to help the facility to meet the NAAQS regulatory requirements while maintaining the facility’s operational requirements.