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We invite you to join us in sponsoring H.R. 1711, the Small Business Remediation Act. This legislation will enable the Nation's 30,000 dry cleaners, their employees, neighbors and customers to improve the local environment while preserving the dry cleaners' ability to sustain their businesses and remain vital contributors to their communities.
The bill has bipartisan support in Congress and tremendous nationwide support from the dry cleaning industry, primarily because it addresses s very real and pressing problem -- the potential liability associated with the remediation of soil surrounding some dry cleaning businesses. This potential liability has left some small business owners in the Industry (who represent the vast majority of all dry cleaners) facing bankruptcy, and many others now have trouble obtaining or renewing leases or borrowing money.
This potential liability is greatly magnified by the application of the federal drinking water standard to soil remediation projects. This federal drinking water standard is being used by some States and private sector landlords who are requiring the remediation of some dry cleaning sites, mostly because there is no other standard readily available.
The federal drinking water standard for the relevant compound (perchloroethylene or 'perc") is set at 5 parts per billion. Unfortunately, while that level might be appropriate for drinking water, it can hardly be considered for protection of soil. This standard when misapplied is not based on relevant health considerations, and, more importantly, was never meant to be used as a standard for the clean-up of soil or groundwater.
Our bill, H.R. 1711, creates a new standard for soil remediation of perc. It ties this new standard to the existing OSHA workplace exposure standard of 100 parts per million, which is the standard set by OSHA to protect workers exposed to perc in the workplace every day for their entire working lives. The new standard set by H.R. 1711 would be 10 times stronger than the OSHA standard. Under the bill, if OSHA further strengthened its standard, the soil remediation standard would be strengthened automatically.
H.R. 1711 is a win-win; it will provide certainty to cleaners, their neighbors surrounding businesses, banks, and the entire community. At the same time, by setting an achievable goal, the Small Business Remediation Act will lead to more prompt and efficient improvement of the environment. H.R. 1711 does not change the federal drinking water standard, nor does it affect the ability of EPA or the states to require remediation of dry cleaning sites.
We encourage all Members to join us in this common sense approach to a problem that affects all American communities. By supporting the Small Business Remediation Act, Members can help improve the environment, strengthen small business, and promote the prosperity or our neighborhoods and towns.
Sincerely,
Owen Pickett
Member of Congress
Date created: October 18, 1997 Maintained by: Hal Horning hhorning@pond.com