Los Angeles mulls hydrocarbon ban
The City of Los Angeles is in the early stages of a process that could lead to a
ban on hydrocarbon and perhaps other drycleaning solvents that have been
popular choices for cleaners faced with choosing an alternative to
perchloroethylene.
Since the South Coast Air Quality Management enacted a phase-out of perc in
2002, cleaners have shown a strong preference for hydrocarbon solventsv,
raising concerns from environmentalists about VOC (volatile organic compounds)
emissions that can contribute to smog formation.
The South Coast phase-out has prohibited new perc facilities since 2003. As of
November of this year, all perc machines in the region, which includes Los
Angeles and three adjacent counties, must be equipped with primary and
secondary controls. All perc equipment will be phased out in the region by
2020.
More recently, the state Air Resources Board adopted a perc phase-out program
that eliminates the solvent
’s use statewide by 2023. In studying California drycleaning trends the air board
found many cleaners already have switched to hydrocarbon systems.
The air board staff estimated that 84 percent of 5,440 drycleaning machines in
the state were using perc. By 2006 there were about 1,000 fewer perc machines,
accounting for 70 percent of 5,210 drycleaning machines in operation.
In the same period, the number of hydrocarbon machines increased by 460 to a
total of 1,100, representing 21 percent of all machines. Hydrocarbon equipment
represented 70 of the non-perc alternatives in California.
Some members of the state governing board, along with environmentalists,
expressed concern about the growing use of VOC-emitting hydrocarbon equipment.
However, an option presented by the air board
’s staff for a statewide phase-out of hydrocarbon along with perc was rejected.
While the state air board staff called the increase in VOC emissions a “significant issue,” it recommended against phasing out hydrocarbon along with perc due to increased
cost to the industry.
The Los Angeles City Council wants to take another look at that issue. Sam
Siegel, environmental deputy to City Council President Eric Garcetti, said the
council is in the very early stages of a process that could lead to further
restrictions on hydrocarbon solvent and perhaps other alternatives such as
GreenEarth.
He said the council is seeking information from both the environmental and
drycleaning communities and wants to work toward a consensus of what is
economically feasible.
The council, he said “wants to explore ways to reduce our collective environmental footprint.”
“We’re exploring the environmental and economic impacts of alternatives to
perchloroethylene drycleaning, seeking input from industry to encourage
environmentally friendly processes in a manner that fits business.
”
Since learning of the city council’s interest in further restrictions on drycleaning solvents, industry groups have
held meetings to discuss the possibilities. Sandra Giarde, executive director
of the California Cleaners Association, said she has been in conversation with
Siegel and that CCA and other industry trade associations will be keeping an
eye on developments in Los Angeles.
While the industry would resist a ban on hydrocarbons, environmental groups are
likely to support one.
At CARB hearings on the phase-out, environmentalists sought a quicker phase-out
of perc and additional restrictions on perc alternatives other than wetcleaning
and liquid carbon dioxide.
Peter Sinsheimer, director of the pollution prevention program at Occidental
College in Los Angeles, urged the CARB board to
“prohibit the use of any chemical solvent that has not been shown to be safe.”
In written testimony to the state air board last year, he said the board should
phase out perc drycleaning and prohibit new VOC-containing systems.
“We believe ARB should use its regulatory authority to prohibit the use of any
chemical, including GreenEarth, until toxicity issues have been more fully
evaluated and regulatory issues resolved,
” Sinsheimer wrote.
That view was rejected by the state air board in January, but it may be getting
another hearing in Los Angeles.
