While acknowledging that “the potential health effects from most drycleaners across the country are generally low,” EPA announced on July 13 that it is taking further action to reduce perc emissions in most drycleaning plants.
For most drycleaners, the main requirement will be the use of halogenated hydrocarbon detectors to conduct monthly leak detection inspections. This is in addition to the current requirement for a weekly inspection for leaks that can be spotted without measuring instruments.
The enhanced leak detection will cost about US$5million, EPA said, based on its estimates that around 20,000 drycleaning plants will have to purchase halogenated hydrocarbon detectors at a cost of US$250 each. The balance of the US$12m would be borne by businesses which have to replace old transfer machines.
The EPA is also taking steps to phase out the use of perc machines located in co-residential buildings. This measure would affect around 1,300 cleaners.
Industry groups had argued that the EPA should allow these cleaners to continue using perc indefinitely provided they met certain equipment requirements and enclosed the machines in vapour barriers to keep perc fumes from neighbouring apartments.
The new rules also require that new drycleaning facilities use at least fourth-generation equipment.
EPA says that since implementation of its 1993 air toxics standard, drycleaners have reduced perc emission by about 15,000 tons through replacement of older machines, use of alternative solvents and state and industry programs to improve efficiency and reduce perc use. The new rules will reduce perc emissions by a further 400tons.
