California Code of Regulations
Title 3 - Food and Agriculture
Division 4 - Plant Industry
Chapter 3 - Entomology and Plant Quarantine
Subchapter 1 - Apiaries
Article 2 - Construction and Operation of Licensed Wax-Salvage Plants
Section 2977 - Uniform Specifications for Plant Installations
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024
Plants which may be licensed in California to salvage wax, hives and appliances from diseased apiaries shall be constructed in accordance with the following uniform specifications:
(a) Local Restrictions. Plant installations shall comply with all local ordinances, including those regarding building, sanitation, and zoning.
(b) Floors shall be of smooth finish concrete or other suitable water-tight material and shall be sloped toward an adequate drainage outlet connected directly to a settling tank.
(c) A sanitary cove shall be provided at the junction of floor and walls.
(d) Walls and ceiling may be of any suitable rigid material. All joints, cracks, and openings, including doors, windows and vents, shall be made bee-tight.
(e) Windows and vents shall be double screened with wire screen not less than 16 mesh to the inch, the screens not less than three inches apart.
(f) Vestibule. Any entrance to the enclosure shall be provided with a vestibule which shall be not less than six feet in length, either tightly walled or double screened in the same manner as specified for windows and vents, and with a tightly fitted door at each end.
(g) Doors shall be solid, or double screened in the same manner as specified for windows and vents.
(h) Vats shall be of durable construction and shall be equipped with an adequate heating device or provided with an adequate source of steam capable of maintaining water or lye water solution at the boiling point continuously for the required period of time. Each vat shall be provided with a drainage outlet connected directly to a settling tank or as may be approved by the Director.
(i) Drainage from the floor or vats shall flow directly into a settling tank and thence directly into a sewage disposal system or a cesspool, except that the Director may prescribe other suitable means of disposal for the lye water solution.
(j) Settling tanks for trapping wax and other solids in waste water shall have adequate capacity to contain all drainage water from all source connections during continuous operation of the plant. Settling tanks located outside the enclosure shall be underground and tightly covered or otherwise constructed in a manner that will make their contents inaccessible to bees.
(k) Cesspools shall have adequate capacity to contain all drainage water from all source connections during continuous operation of the plant and shall be tightly capped or covered.
(l) Drainage connections located outside of the enclosure shall be watertight pipe and permit no leaks or seepage of waste water accessible to bees.
(m) An incinerator or other adequate means of completely disposing of contaminated material shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Director.
(n) Pallets shall be provided in the enclosure for handling of hives, appliances and wax which have undergone treatment.
1. Editorial correction of NOTE filed 10-21-82 (Register 82, No. 43).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 29032, 29192 and 29193, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 29192 and 29193, Food and Agricultural Code.
