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Compliance Assistance For Dry Cleaners
Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for Dry Cleaners Takes Effect On July 13. 2006 the final air toxic requirements for dry cleaners using perc was issued. The new rules include a phase-out of perc machines located in residential buildings. By 2020, dry cleaning machines in residential buildings will be prohibited from using perc but may continue to operate if they use alternative technologies (CO2, hydrocarbon, and wet cleaning). More sophisticated methods for detecting leaks, and perc emission standards that parallel New York States DEC Part 232 requirements (installation of vapor barriers, carbon adsorbers) are also part of the new rule and must be employed within two years. The main goals of the new standards is to decrease overall perc emissions in all dry cleaners while focusing on the cleaners that are located in residential buildings, where the greatest risk to the general population exists. EPA
Cites Dry Cleaner in Charlotte Amalie Dry cleaners* are the single largest users of Perchloroethylene (PCE or perc). Perc is an organic solvent of known human toxicity and is a precursor to ground level ozone (smog). Exposure to perchloroethylene can occur in the workplace or in the environment following releases to air, water, land, or groundwater. PERC enters the body when breathed in with contaminated air or when consumed with contaminated food or water. PERC is less likely to be absorbed through skin contact. Once in the body PERC can remain, stored in fat tissue. Perchloroethylene evaporates when exposed to air. It dissolves only slightly when mixed with water. Most direct releases of PERC to the environment are to air. It also evaporates from water and soil exposed to air. Once in air, PERC breaks down to other chemicals over several weeks. Because it is a liquid that does not bind well to soil, PERC that makes its way into the ground can move through the ground and enter groundwater. Plants and animals living in environments contaminated with PERC can store small amounts of the chemical. Although most dry cleaners use less than 140 gallons of perc a year, there are an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 dry cleaning facilities nationwide. Therefore, the cumulative environmental impact from these numerous facilities is significant. *(Standard Industrial Classification or SIC Code 7216) The majority of dry cleaners are small businesses whose owners often have technical difficulty understanding our environmental regulations. English may also be their second language. Region 2's Compliance Assistance Program has been established with to provide assistance for small businesses in meeting the federal regulations. EPA's efforts to bring large and small businesses and industries into compliance include a variety of efforts such as public outreach, on-site assistance, compliance guides, Internet information, and more. Noncompliance may result in enforcement actions that are publicized. ToolsThe goal of the Agency is to increase compliance in the dry cleaning sector through a heightened awareness of the environmental regulations impacting it and the pollution prevention opportunities available to the sector. Plain English Guide for Perc Cleaners - Guide to the regulations, perc handling, and record keeping designed for Dry Cleaners who use perchloroethylene. Fact
Sheet with many points of interest concerning perc usage and
handling, and how perc affects the general public Multimedia Checklist for Dry Cleaners - a quick and simple way to check your compliance status. Just fill out the questions and see where you stand. The final filled out form can be mailed to EPA and used as a formal request for amnesty under the SBREFA act! AQMD - The Air Quality Management
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