National Clothesline

By Aaron Getchell and Mike Lodato

As a geologist working as an environmental consultant who completes site assessments at drycleaning facilities, I can honestly tell you that nobody likes seeing me pull up to their store in my company vehicle.

I start my visit by taking some notes on my clipboard, make sure my batteries are charged in my digital camera and start walking towards the door with an executed access agreement in-hand.

When tasked with performing a site assessment at a drycleaning facility, I first observe current operations for evidence of environmental compliance, which will help reduce the risk of a release of drycleaning solvents (typically tetrachloroethylene (PCE or perc) or petroleum distillate solvent (Stoddard solvent).

The goal of this article for drycleaning facility operators and industry professionals is to present a practical view of environmental compliance; provide some resources for regulatory guidance; and relate several items an environmental consultant (such as myself) would look for when evaluating possible chemical mismanagement and the potential for a release of drycleaning solvent.

Environmental compliance is practical. Environmental compliance has been promulgated to reduce the risk of chemical mismanagement. When drycleaning solvents are mismanaged, they have a high potential to be released into the environment (air, soil, surface water and ground water).

Once in the soil, the drycleaning solvent can cause vapor intrusion issues and potentially pose health-risks to building tenants or facility workers.

Once in the surface or groundwater, drycleaning solvent can contaminate private or public drinking water wells, or impact natural resources like springs and surface water bodies used for drinking water and recreational purposes.

Environmental compliance with local and federal environmental regulations can also save costs to a drycleaning facility operator; savings could be realized in reduced solvent purchase or not paying costly environmental fines.

Guidance documents

Numerous guidance documents are available that describe drycleaning facility compliance. One resource can be obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website (www.epa.gov), including the “Plain English Guide for the Dry Cleaners”(pdf file). A “Drycleaning Facility Compliance Assistance Brochure” is also available on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website (www.floridadrycleaners.org).

Both documents are informational and easy to read. The purpose of this article is not to replace the guidance documents found at these resources or to replace local or federal regulations. This article provides owners and operators with an idea of what an environmental consultant (such as myself) would be looking for when tasked with completing a site assessment at a drycleaning facility.

The following is a list of items that can be cost-effective and time-efficient to address, and help prevent releases of drycleaning solvent to soil and groundwater.

Good housekeeping

Many different chemicals are used at a drycleaning facility on a regular basis such as supplies for operational use, machinery maintenance, or excess waste chemicals. These chemicals could include paint, lubricating oil, bleach, soap, spotting agents, pre-cleaning agents, drycleaning solvents, spent solvent, and drycleaning residues.

Chemical containers located indoors in one central storage area within secondary containment is a sign of good housekeeping. Other signs include keeping this indoor central area clean and free of drips or obvious signs of leaks or overfilling; keeping containers labeled for contents; and keeping containers sealed when not in use.

Paperwork and documentation

Drycleaning facilities are often registered with the state or other local municipality (proof of regulatory inspections on a regular basis). Registration paperwork and inspection forms should be kept in a central location along with other paperwork. Other paperwork should include waste disposal manifests (proof of proper manifested offsite disposal of chemical waste), Material Safety Data Sheets (evidence of proper chemical inventory), and facility inspection records (evidence of well-maintained drycleaning machinery).

Seal floors

Floor-space in drycleaning facilities is often limited and subject to high-traffic. The concrete floor-space in the immediate vicinity of drycleaning operations should be free of cracks and seams that could act as a direct conduit to soil and groundwater if an accidental chemical release were to occur.

Cracks and seams should be patched with pre-mixed concrete patch available at any big-box home improvement store. Once cracks and seams are patched, an application of a two-part epoxy (available at a specialty paint supply store) will help reduce the chance of impacting soil or groundwater by an accidental chemical release.

Secondary containment

Secondary containment is designed to provide a barrier between a chemical container and soil and groundwater in the event of an accidental release.

Secondary containment can be a solvent-resistant plastic or metal and is usually placed beneath drycleaning machines, supporting machinery (such as spotting areas and solvent reclamation units), chemical storage areas, and chemical waste storage areas.

Displaying orderly and clean secondary containment units (free of drips, spills, other containers or supplies) is evidence of proper chemical management.

The goal of this article was to provide drycleaner operators and industry professionals a practical view of environmental compliance, resources for regulatory guidance, and a practical view of a few prominent items of what an environmental consultant would observe at a drycleaning facility for evaluating the potential for a chemical release.

Aaron Getchell and Mike Lodato are consultants with Geosyntec, a specialized consulting and engineering firm that works with private and public sector clients to address problems involving the environment, natural resources, and our civil infrastructure. Geosyntec has a staff of 600 engineers, scientists, and related technical and project support staff located in more than 30 offices throughout the U.S. and in Canada, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. For more information or questions about drycleaning facility assessment, contact Getchell, (561) 995-0900 or agetchell@geosyntec.com, or Lodato (813) 955-0990 or mlodato@geosyntec.com.