Winery Air Quality
Throughout the steps of making and selling wine, substances are emitted into the air. Some of these substances can contribute to air pollution. This page will help guide you through the rules and reporting necessary to comply with air quality regulations.
Why the Regulation Exists:
Air emissions are regulated to preserve and improve air quality. High levels of pollutants in the air can have negative impacts on the health and well-being of residents exposed to them. Air emissions are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and local air districts throughout California. The responsibility for monitoring air quality and enforcing regulations is usually delegated to the local air districts.
Do I need a Permit?
Answer the question prompts below to determine if a permit is needed for your operation. Click on a topic below to jump directly to that section or scroll down the page to work through each topic.
Click here to review additional background information before answering the questions.
Title V Permit (Major Facility Review Program)
Answer the question below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Question:
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Is there a potential for your facility to emit: 100 tons per year of a criteria air pollutant (NOx, SO2, Pb, VOC, CO or PM10); 10 tons per year of a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP); OR 25 tons per year of any combination of HAPs?
If yes, contact your local air district to determine if you may require a Title V Permit.
Background:
Title V permits are required by EPA. Title V of the Clean Air Act requires major sources of air pollutants, and certain other sources, to obtain an operating permit; operate in compliance with that permit; and certify annually their compliance with permit requirements.
For more information:
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Details on the Title V permit including who is required to obtain it.
Permit to Operate - Boilers and Steam Generators
Answer the questions below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Questions:
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Does your facility have an individual (or grouping of) boilers or large water heaters with a rated head over 2.0 million BTUs per hour (MMBtu/hr), or want to install boiler(s) with that rating?
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Is the boiler(s) or water heater(s) fired by natural gas or LPG?
If you answered yes to both questions, before you start installation or construction, contact your local air district to determine if you need a permit.
Background:
You must first obtain an Authority to Construct (ATC). When construction and installation are completed and approved you will be issued a Permit to Operate (PTO). The same form is used for the ATC and the PTO.
For more information:
The ATC/PTO forms for each district can be found in these locations:
Stationary Diesel / Internal Combustion Engines
Answer the questions below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Questions:
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Do you have a diesel fired emergency standby generator engine; a diesel fired emergency firewater pump engine, or another diesel engine?
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Are any of the diesel engines 50 horsepower or greater?
If you answered yes to both questions, you may require a permit from your local air district and need to comply with the State’s Stationary Diesel Engine Air Toxic Control Measures.
For more information:
Gasoline Dispensing Facilities
Answer the questions below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Questions:
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Does your facility maintain a fueling area that includes gasoline dispensing?
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Do you use this gasoline facility to fuel vehicles other than farm equipment? This includes trucks and over-the-road vehicles that transport farm equipment.
If you answered yes to both questions, contact your local air district to determine if you need a permit.
For more information:
View a map that shows the Air District Boundaries, which can be used to access local air district websites or email addresses for a specific district if there is no website.
Mobile Vehicle Emissions
Answer the questions below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Questions:
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Does the operation have four (4) or more forklifts, sweepers, scrubbers, or industrial tow tractors with large spark ignition (LSI) engines of 25 horsepower (19 KW) or greater?
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Do you have several facilities, that together maintain 4 or more LSI engines of 25 horsepower or greater?
If you answered yes to both questions, follow directions on the Air Resources Control Board’s website to calculate a baseline inventory, determine if your LSI average fleet emissions is within the appropriate range.
Fermentation and Aging/Storage Permits
Answer the question below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Question:
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Is your facility located in the San Joaquin APCD, Monterey Bay ARD, Santa Barbara APCD, San Luis Obispo APCD, or South Coast AQMD?
If yes, these air districts require a permit for fermentation and storage tanks (including barrels). Contact your local air district.
For more information:
View this map that shows the Air District Boundaries, which be used to access local air district websites or email addresses for a specific district if there is no website listed.
Refrigeration Management Program
Answer the question below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Question:
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Does your facility maintain a stationary refrigeration system using more than 50 pounds of a high-global warming potential (high-GWP)* refrigerant? The 50-pound threshold applies to the largest refrigeration system; it is not based on the cumulative total charge of all refrigeration systems at the facility.
If you answered "yes," you may need to register your system on the Air Resources Control Board’s R3 Tool and comply with the Refrigeration Management Program.
*High-GWP refrigerants include CFC, HCFC, and HFC refrigerants such as R-12, R-22, R-404A, R407A, R-410A, R-507, etc. High-GWP refrigerants do not include ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Burn Permits & Smoke Management Program
Answer the question below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Question:
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The permissibility of burning is determined by your local air district and is posted on their website by 3:00pm the preceding day. An Agricultural Burn Permit must be obtained before any burning takes place.
Background:
Per the California Air Resources Board: “Agricultural burning is the intentional use of fire for vegetation management in areas such as agricultural fields, orchards, rangelands and forests. Agricultural burning helps farmers remove crop residues left in the field after harvesting grains, such as hay and rice. Farmers also use agricultural burning for removal of orchard and vineyard prunings and trees. Burning also helps remove weeds, prevent disease and control pests. For some crops, including rice and pears, burning is the most efficient and effective way to control disease. Burning is allowed only on Permissive Burn Days, which are issued based on the forecast of air quality and meteorological conditions that can affect smoke dispersion. All burn permit holders must comply with fire protection agency requirements."
For more information:
Fugitive Dust Control
Answer the question below to determine if this permit is relevant to your operation:
Question:
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Consult your local air district for the regulations regarding the control of fugitive dust and other airborne particulate matter (PM).
Background:
Airborne particulate matter (PM) can be made up of many different solid and liquid components. Particles are defined by their diameter for air quality regulatory purposes. Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) can cause adverse health effects when inhaled. Particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less are a subset of PM10 and are considered more dangerous than PM10. Fugitive dust is one component of airborne particulate matter.
For more information:
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View a map that shows the Air District Boundaries, which can be used to access local air district websites or email addresses for a specific district.
Background Information:
Regulation in Practice – What it Means for You:
If you are constructing a new winery, or expanding an old one, you must contact the local air district. You will not be able to get the necessary building permits without getting the project approved by the local air district. They will let you know what forms must be filled out to gain approval for your project. They will also identify what sources of emissions will result from your project. They may require changes to your equipment or processes to reduce the amount of emissions you will release.
When your project is operational you will be required to submit reports to the local air district to demonstrate that you are emitting within the Permit To Operate they granted you.
There are different kinds of emissions. “Criteria pollutants” are emissions that have been recognized in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) because they have serious detrimental effects on human health and the environment. The six criteria pollutants are: lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and sulfur oxides. The EPA regulates levels of these substances based on studies examining their effects on human health or the environment. Of particular importance to wineries are NOx and PM, which are generated during fuel combustion for boilers, diesel engines and other internal combustion engines. Another important emission for wineries is volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), which are generated during alcoholic fermentation, wine aging, and wastewater treatment. Limits on emitting of these substances can affect a wineries production capacity.
Air Quality Monitoring and Reporting:
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Many air districts require reporting on wine fermentation, and wine storage in barrels and stainless-steel tanks. Each district’s reporting forms and requirements are different, so consult your local district.
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Emergency stand-by diesel engines must be run on a regular basis for testing and to insure readiness. It is necessary to keep track of the hours that these engines are run so it can be reported to your local air district.
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Source testing may be required for boilers, steam generators, or process heaters with a capacity of 2.0 million btu’s per hour or greater. A source test measures the level of emissions of a piece of equipment during operations. Source tests must be performed by a CARB approved testing contractor. A source test plan must be prepared and submitted to your local air district 15-30 days ahead of time.
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The Toxic Air “Hot Spots” law (AB 2588) requires companies to complete a Toxic Emission Inventory Plan (TEIP). After review and approval by your local air district it will be used to produce a Toxic Emission Inventory Report (TEIR). Contact your local air district for the data and format required for completing a TEIP.
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California has enacted Advanced Clean Truck Regulations. These regulations require companies that have fleets of 50 vehicles or more must complete the California Fleet Operations Survey.
Visit the Winery Resources page for additional information on winery air quality.