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April 15, 2013
Former Va. Dry Cleaner to Reimburse EPA Over Cleanup Costs

PHILADELPHIA — Agency spent $616,351 on sampling, removal, disposal of contaminated soil

PHILADELPHIA — The former Jay-Cee Cleaners and former owner John L. Darby have agreed to reimburse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for costs the agency incurred while responding to the release of hazardous substances once used at the site, the agency reports.

Darby also agreed to resolve his failure to comply with EPA’s information-gathering efforts by paying a penalty.

The Nelsonia, Va., dry cleaning business ran its operations on the property from 1957 through 2003, and used hazardous substances that included tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethylene, which contaminated the soil, the EPA says.

The agency oversaw sampling, removal and disposal of contaminated soil from the Jay-Cee Cleaners site between September 2007 and March 2010, at a reported cost of $616,351.

Under the proposed consent decree, Darby will pay the EPA 100% of the net sale proceeds from sale of the property, and 50% of net sale proceeds from the sale of an adjacent property behind the site.

The settlement will go toward EPA’s Superfund for future hazardous-waste cleanup efforts.

October 23, 2012
Balancing New Illinois Perc Law and Small Business

DOLTON, Ill. — New state law blurs dry cleaner focus on providing good service: Spomar

DOLTON, Ill. — Illinois is once again a leader in making it more difficult to own and operate a small business.

A new state law will require all new dry cleaning machines, beginning in 2013, to have “primary and secondary” control systems to reduce the concentration of perchloroethylene (perc), and to have sealed containment structures to contain leaks or spill by 2014.

This is really not an imposition, because a business owner knows in advance what is required for a new unit. As third-generation units die out, they cannot be replaced. Only fourth- and fifth-generation units are allowed on end date, but a review will be allowed.

A tougher safety measure on the use of perc requires dry cleaners to utilize “best management practices” while using the solvent. When a dry cleaning facility is operating dry cleaning machines, it will be required to have at least one person present who is trained and certified. The Illinois Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council must approve the training. Proof of training must be available at each plant, and a refresher course must be taken every four years.

April 23, 2012
EPA Finalizes Plan for Cleanup at Crown Cleaners Superfund Site

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Demolition and removal of contaminated soil on tap

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its plan to demolish a building, dig up contaminated soil and sediment, and treat the ground water at the Crown Cleaners of Watertown Inc. Superfund site in Herrings, N.Y.

The soil and sediment are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the ground water is contaminated with VOC from past operations at this former paper bag manufacturing, laundry and dry cleaning facility.

“EPA’s work at the site during the next phase of the cleanup is a step forward in our effort to protect the health of people who live or work near this abandoned facility,” says Judith A. Enck, EPA regional administrator. “Removing contaminated materials and cleaning up the ground water will reduce the health risks from this site.”

April 11, 2012
Perc Proclamation (Part 2 of 2)

WASHINGTON — What does the EPA’s classification of perc as a “likely human carcinogen” mean for the future of the solvent

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene—also known as perchloroethylene, or perc—to its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database in February, it deemed the chemical to be a “likely human carcinogen.”

The assessment replaces the 1988 IRIS assessment for perc and for the first time includes a hazard characterization for cancer effects. The assessment underwent several levels of rigorous, independent peer review including: agency review, interagency review, public comment, and external peer review by the National Research Council, according to the EPA, and all major review comments were addressed.

The Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance says 70% of U.S. commercial dry cleaners use perc; EPA estimates the total number to be 27,000. So what does this development mean for the future of the industry’s preferred solvent?

April 9, 2012
Perc Proclamation (Part 1 of 2)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems tetrachloroethylene—also known as perchloroethylene, or perc—to be a “likely human carcinogen.” So what does this development mean for the future of the industry’s preferred solvent?

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene—also known as perchloroethylene, or perc—to its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database in February, it deemed the chemical to be a “likely human carcinogen.”

The assessment replaces the 1988 IRIS assessment for perc and for the first time includes a hazard characterization for cancer effects. The assessment underwent several levels of rigorous, independent peer review including: agency review, interagency review, public comment, and external peer review by the National Research Council, according to the EPA, and all major review comments were addressed.

The Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance says 70% of U.S. commercial dry cleaners use perc; EPA estimates the total number to be 27,000. So what does this development mean for the future of the industry’s preferred solvent?

November 1, 2010
HSIA Files Petition with EPA to Classify nPB as Hazardous Air Pollutant

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance (HSIA) filed a petition last week with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to list n-Propyl Bromide (nPB), a brominated hydrocarbon, as a hazardous air pollutant under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. Such a listing would result in regulation of significant sources of nPB emissions.

May 10, 2010
Contamination Case Against Drycleaning Equipment Manufacturer Dismissed

DETROIT – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California recently dismissed an environmental contamination case against Hoyt Corp., a drycleaning equipment manufacturer formerly based in Wesport, Mass. The plaintiff, Hinds Investments LP, claimed Hoyt Corp. was responsible for perchloroethylene contamination on its property and was seeking damages for environmental remediation costs.

March 23, 2010
EPA Outlines New Drinking-Water Strategy, Targets Perc

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined a new strategy to protect the public from chemical contaminants in drinking water yesterday, as well as plans to revise its drinking-water standard for four chemical contaminants, including perchloroethylene.

January 8, 2010
EPA Proposes Stricter Clean-Air Regs

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed tougher clean-air regulations yesterday in an effort to limit smog nationwide. The move would cost heavy industry up to $90 billion, but save a comparable amount on healthcare, the agency says.

August 19, 2008
Industry Testimony Delays Philadelphia Perc Ban

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Air Pollution Control Board has delayed a proposed ban on perchloroethylene in all co-located facilities, thanks in large part to oral and written comments provided by members of the drycleaning industry, including the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s (DLI) Jon Meijer and Dale Kaplan and the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association’s (PDCA) Carol Memberg.

March 24, 2008
EPA Issues Stricter Smog Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to strengthen air-quality standards earlier this month to cut levels of ground-level ozone (O3), or smog. The new rule establishes a new limit of 75 ppb, down from 85 ppb.

Though the new rule shaves just 10 ppb from the old standard, it will quadruple the number of counties exceeding mandated limits. Groups representing children and the elderly had pressed for an even lower limit of 60 ppb.

April 25, 2007
Industry Wins NESHAP Clarification from EPA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives of the International Fabricare Institute (IFI) and Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance (HSIA) met recently with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials to get clarifications on the revised National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations for perchloroethylene drycleaning published last July.

January 17, 2007
Dual-Phase Cleanup Set to Begin in Lodi

Dual-phase contamination cleanup is set to begin in Lodi, Calif., the site of one of the longest-running and most contentious lawsuits involving cleanup funding. Though the city hasnít yet collected all of the money necessary to pay for the cleanup – estimated to total $45.7 million – pumps and vacuums have been installed to begin dual-phase extraction to remediate perc wastes simultaneously from contaminated soil and groundwater.