New clean-air rules kick in July 28
The Environmental Protection Agency published revisions to its rules for perc
drycleaners nearly two years ago. Among those rules was a drop-dead date for
the use of transfer drycleaning equipment. EPA is requiring that any existing
transfer equipment be replaced with fourth-generation dry-to-dry equipment by
July 28.
July 28 is also the date on which perc drycleaners must begin complying with new
monitoring and record-keeping requirements.
Most drycleaners fall into the “area source” category — using less than 2,100 gallons of perc per year — for these requirements. Area source cleaners must use a halogenated leak
detector for at least one of the weekly leak checks each month. Previously, EPA
allowed for leak detection by sight, smell or touch.
Major source drycleaners — those using more than 2,100 gallons of perc per year, must use a PCE gas
analyzer to perform one of the weekly leak detections each month. These
cleaners also must measure perc concentrations in the wheel at the end of the
drying cycle using a PCE analyzer or colorimetric detector tube.
Also as of July 28, all drycleaners must file a compliance report for any
location that has a perc drycleaning machine. These forms should be coming
through state environmental offices or EPA regional offices.
The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, in a bulletin published in the June issue
of Fabricare, said that the questions on the forms a straightforward “except possibly for the question regarding whether you are in compliance. The
forms that DLI has seen do not provide a listing of the requirements; they just
ask if you are in compliance with Section 63.322.”
DLI said the requirements of section 63.322 include storing perc and perc waste
properly with no perceptible leaks in containers; completing weekly leak
detections and recording the results, including at least one with a leak
detector as described above; repairing leaks promptly; not operating a transfer
machine; and operating the appropriate machine for your location.
A list of manufacturers of leak detectors was also provided in the DLI bulletin.
The new EPA rules restrict the type of equipment that can be operated in some
locations, notably plants in the same building with a residence. EPA prohibited
installation of perc machines in these locations after July 13, 2006 and
requires that all perc machines be removed from these locations by December 21,
2020.
Machines that were installed in co-residential buildings between December, 2005
and July 13, 2006 can continue operating if they are in a vapor barrier room or
are upgraded to fourth-generation with a door fan. Even so, those machines will
have to be removed by July 27, 2009.
