National Clothesline

Two years of debate and discussion ended with a split decision last month when the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted to let cleaners continue using perc through 2020.

On the one hand, the board’s ruling represented some gains for the industry from the initial proposal which would have ended perc use by 2010 and forced many cleaners to buy new equipment much sooner. But the industry had argued for a plan calling for replacement of older perc equipment over several years while allowing perc use to continue indefinitely.

At the Dec. 6 board meeting, it appeared the industry might get its way after board chairman William Burke introduced a plan that would have reduced perc use without an elimination date. But the 2020 date was added to the plan before the final vote was taken.

The first portions of the new set of rules kick in immediately. As of January 1, 2003, there can be no new perc facilities in the four-county South Coast area. Also, any facility adding an additional machine must use non-perc technology.

The next date in the phase-out schedule come July 1, 2004, when all machines that have been converted from vented to non-vented must be replaced with perc machines that have primary and secondary controls (fourth generation) or with non-perc technology.

Finally, by November 2007, all perc equipment must be equipped with primary and secondary controls.

Within those restrictions, SCAQMD says drycleaners can continue using perc until 2020, with one caveat: they must also comply with another air district rule, Number 1402, which limits the lifetime cancer risk of a facility to no more than 25 in one million.

That risk is based on a formula that takes into account the amount of perc used, proximity or neighboring businesses or residences and weather patterns. The calculations will be different for each cleaner based on those factors, but for some it could result in the air district ordering restrictions on their perc use.

The risk factor calculations and possible usage restrictions could become contentious sooner rather than later. A spokesman for the air quality district told the Los Angeles Times that the district is developing a letter to send to all drycleaners seeking information to determine their risk level — distance from houses and businesses, the kind of cleaning equipment they have and the amount of perc they use.

Jon Meijer of the International Fabricare Institute said the air board “clearly intended for cleaners to have until 2007 to make any decision on their equipment.” But if the SCAQMD staff uses survey results to make some plants upgrade their equipment sooner, the industry “will likely go back to the board for a clarification of the board’s intent or possibly file a legal challenge,” Meijer said.

South Coast officials believe that no more than 20 percent of cleaners can meet the 25 in one million standard. Industry leaders, however, believe that most cleaners using modern equipment should be able to meet the standard.

The difference of opinion centers on key point of contention between the industry and the air district staff. Air officials believe 50 percent of the perc used by cleaners is emitted into the atmosphere. Industry figures show 15 percent of the perc used ends up in air emissions.

At the Dec. 6 meeting, the South Coast governing board directed the staff to review the air emissions issue and other information that served as the basis for the rule. A motion calling for an independent third-party review was defeated, however.

Steve Risotto of the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance said the industry will continue working to convince the air district that the risk factors and emissions levels have been overstated. “We hope to put data in front of them that is indisputable,” Risotto said.

The review is expected in two years at which time the governing board could revisit the phase-out schedule.

“Until then,” said IFI’s Meijer, “we have to live with a potential phase-out and elimination of perc in southern California.”

In the meantime, cleaners who want to switch to a non-perc alternative may get some financial assistance from SCAQMD. Also approved on Dec, 6 was $2 million for grants of up to $10,000 for each drycleaner switching to wetcleaning or carbon dioxide and up to $5,000 for each drycleaner switching to hydrocarbon or silicone solvent.

The grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the first nine months, 50 percent will be reserved for areas with low income and high levels of cancer risk from air pollution.