West
Perc phase-out nearer in So. California
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At its August trade show, the California Cleansers Association was gathering signatures on a petition opposing SCAQMD’s phase-out of perc. At the CCA booth, Ray Rangwala (right) of the Cleaning Store in Glendale, CA, shows Nick Yohanna (left) of Maclay Cleaners in San Fernando where to sign while Claude Turpin of Heritage Cleaners in Hollister offers encouragement.
The first step in a phase-out of perc use
in Southern California could begin as early as January under a
timetable proposed by the South Coast Air
Quality Management District.
SCAQMD has been considering a phase-out of
perc for over a year and has scheduled and postponed action on
its plan several times. The governing board is now scheduled to
hear the issue at its November 1 meeting in Diamond Bar, CA.
As it stands, the phase out of perc could
begin next year and continue until 2019. Existing perc
equipment could operate for a time, depending on its age and
type, but after January 1, 2003, new drycleaning facilities
would be required to use non-perc equipment. Perc plants could
replace existing perc equipment with new perc machines, but
additional equipment would have to be of a non-perc variety.
The next big date on the phase-out
timeline would be July 1, 2004. As of that date,
“converted” perc could no longer be operated.
SCAQMD defines converted equipment as vented machines that have
been modified to close-loop machines. Vented machines, as well
as transfer machines, have been banned in the air
district’s jurisdiction since 1998.
That date would also mark the end of
replacing existing perc equipment with new perc equipment. And
from that date onward, any perc machine would have to be
replaced with a non-perc alternative when it becomes 15 years
old.
Since the proposal was introduced last
year, industry groups have tried to convince SCAQMD that the
phase-out is unnecessary. Opposition has been led by the California
Cleaners Association, the
Korean Dry Cleaners of Los Angeles, the International
Fabricare Institute and the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance.
Several hundred opponents of the plan
turned out at a public workshop held a year ago to protest the
phase-out. At that time, the plan was to phase-out perc by
2011. Since then SCAQMD has modified the plan and extended the
phase out, but the end result remains the same. The air board
calculates that the health and environmental hazards of perc
are serious enough to merit a phase-out and the availability of
alternatives makes a phase-out feasible.
There are an estimated 2,200 cleaners
under the authority of the SCAQMD, which covers the four
counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside.
According to a list of “Green Cleaners” compiled by
SCAQMD, there are 94 “alternative solvent” cleaners
in the four-county region now. That includes 11 wetcleaners, 63
hydrocarbon cleaners, 19 GreenEarth cleaners and one CO2
cleaner. (The list is available on SCAQMD’s web site:
www.aqmd.gov.)
Though there may be other alternative
cleaners not on SCAQMD’s list, the vast majority of the
cleaners in the area are still using perc and would face major
changes in the operation if the proposal is approved.
Although perc is widely regulated,
Southern California would be the first locale to outright
prohibit its use, and, in fact, is the first to even seriously
consider it.
An Associated Press news wire report
circulated last month said SCAQMD believes perc causes more
cases of cancer than anything except diesel exhaust.
Barry Wallerstein, executive director of
SCAQMD, was quoted as saying “To the average person on
the street, they have a belief a refinery or power plant is
their largest exposure to carcinogenic air contaminants, when
in reality, it’s a drycleaner in their community —
other than diesel exhaust.”
SCAQMD’s findings are at odds with
those of other agencies, most notably and recently the North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources which,
after studying the issues, concluded earlier this year that no
further regulation was needed and that perc,“as it is
currently used in the drycleaning industry, “does not
pose a significant human health risk to the general
population.”
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Attendance tops 3,000 at CCA’s trade
show in Long Beach
The companies that filled over 300 booths
to show their wares at the California
Cleaners Association’s Fabricare
2002 trade show weren’t disappointed. Attendance topped
3,000 for the Aug. 23-25 show and the exhibit hall was active
from the opening on Friday through closing on Sunday.
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Social events finished the day on a
relaxed note. At the Saturday night banquet, new officers were
introduced and association awards were presented.
Outgoing president Marti Russell of
Belmont Village Cleaners in Belmont passed the gavel to new
president Sonny Shah of 5th Avenue Cleaners in Long Beach.
Other CCA officers are vice presidents
Lynette Watterson of Crystal Cleaning Center in San Mateo and
Bob Blackburn of the CSATF/State Prison in Porterville. Lenore
Griffin of Carlmont Village cleaners in Belmont serves as
treasurer and Reena Luis of Snow Cleaners in Stockton is
Sergeant-at-Arms.
The CCA Dry Cleaner of the Year Award was
presented to Carolyn Varian of Memory Lane in Rancho Palos
Verdes. Kelly Kelleher of Kelleher Equipment Co. in Long Beach
received the Allied Tradesperson of the Year Award.
The President’s Award went to Jackie
Smith of Class Act Cleaners in Westminster in honor of her work
for the association and the industry, especially for the many
hours of time she has spent representing the industry in the
fight against the proposed ban on perc in southern California.
Also during the show, CCA raised over
$1,000 for the association’s educational programs though
a grand-prize raffle. The winner of the week’s vacation
at the ocean view cabin was Herm Walker of Wilammette Financial
Services.
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CCA offers leathers class
A class on Leathers and Other Specialty
Garments will be held at the California Cleaners Association school in Stockton on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002.
The course will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Snow Cleaners in Stockton. The fee is $75 per person for CCA
members and $125 for non-member cleaners, with discounts on
registration available for cleaners who register two or more
employees. The fee includes donuts and coffee. Lunch is not
provided.
Several classes at the Northern California
School in Stockton are scheduled for 2003. A two-part fibers
and Fabrics course will be offered February 8 and March 8 and a
two-part Art of Spotting course will be presented April 12 and
May 10. Bob Blackburn will be the instructor for those courses.
For registration and other information,
contact CCA, (916) 325-9990.
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