On March 30, 2004, U.S. EPA conducted inspection of Kikkoman's soy sauce production facility in Walworth, Wisconsin. During that inspection, U.S. EPA discovered an unpermitted emission unit, the spray dryer. Kikkoman had constructed and began operating the spray dryer in late 2000.
On May 10, 2004, Kikkoman completed U.S. EPA required air emissions testing for the volatile organic compounds (VOC) being emitted from the spray dryer. Those test confirmed that the VOC emissions from the spray dryer exceed thresholds in the Wisconsin SIP that require the unit to obtain construction and operation permits. The VOC emissions also exceed thresholds that require the installation and operation of control equipment to reduce VOC emissions by at least 85%.
On September 10, 2004, Kikkoman submitted the required permit applications for the spray dryer to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
On June 14, 2005, WDNR issued an operation permit for Kikkoman?s spray dryer.
This CAFO resolves past permitting violations and collects a penalty for the Wisconsin SIP violations.
Additionally, an Administrative Consent Order has been drafted to require Kikkoman Kikkoman install and operate a thermal oxidizer by December 15, 2005 and to demonstrate the thermal oxidizer has a minimum VOC destruction efficiency of 95% by April 15, 2005.