Dec. 3, 2004
Since the Southland’s air quality agency adopted the nation’s first rule
in 2002 to phase out the toxic chemical used in dry cleaning, the number of
non-toxic dry cleaning machines in the four-county region has tripled.
“We are encouraged by the progress being made to switch to non-toxic dry
cleaning methods,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South
Coast Air Quality Management District. “This will help reduce the cancer
risk from air pollution to Southland residents.”
According to an AQMD staff report presented today to the agency’s
Governing Board, the number of alternative dry cleaning machines in the
region has tripled in the last two years from about 100 in 2002 to more than
300 today.
Traditional dry cleaners use the toxic chemical perchloroethylene, also
known as “perc,” which is suspected of causing cancer. Alternative,
non-toxic cleaners use hydrocarbon, wet cleaning or carbon dioxide systems.
To help dry cleaners transition to these alternative technologies, AQMD’s
Board created a $2 million dry cleaning grant program in 2002. Grants for
individual cleaners range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the
technology. To date, $1.4 million has been dedicated for grant awards.
In December 2002, AQMD’s Board adopted amendments to its Rule 1421 –
Control of Perc Emissions from Dry Cleaning Systems. The amendments
resulted in tighter interim standards for perc equipment and the phase-out
of perc in the four-county region by December 31, 2020.
Other Southland programs that are assisting the transition to non-toxic
dry cleaning include:
- An advanced technology program, administered by Occidental College,
which provides incentives to dry cleaners converting to wet cleaning by
offsetting the cost of the wet cleaning equipment and establishing
demonstration centers to provide hands-on experience to other cleaners
considering the technology;
- Assembly Bill 998 (Lowenthal) established the Nontoxic Dry Cleaning
Incentive Program in 2004 for perc dry cleaners to switch to specified
non-toxic alternatives. A fee on each gallon of perc used in dry cleaning
will fund the program. Grant awards are expected to begin in early 2005;
- The City of Burbank offers grants of 25 percent of the cost for wet
cleaning equipment when replacing perc cleaning equipment due to energy
savings from using wet cleaning equipment; and
- Southern California Edison (SCE) offers an “early retirement”
incentive program to cleaners that switch from perc to wet cleaning
equipment before the end of a perc machine’s useful life. SCE also
conducts wet cleaning equipment demonstrations at its Customer Technology
Application Center in Irwindale.
In other action today, the Board:
- Set public hearings for Jan. 7 to amend Regulation XX – REgional CLean
Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) – to further reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
emissions from sources subject to RECLAIM; to amend Rule 1146.2 – NOx
Emissions from Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers; and to amend Rule
1168 – Adhesive and Sealant Applicants;
- Awarded contracts for the demonstration of natural gas stationary fuel
cells in the Southland;
- Awarded contracts to install and demonstrate a hydrogen fueling
station in Santa Monica and add a mobile hydrogen fueler in Ontario as
part of the AQMD’s hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle and
refueling demonstration program with five cities in the region;
- Awarded contract for the development of a natural gas engine for use
in heavy-duty vehicles that will meet 2007 emission standards;
- Adopted Rule 312 – Permitting and Associated Fees for Agricultural
Operations – to reduce permit fees for existing large agricultural sources
and amended several rules necessary to implement the requirements of
Senate Bill 700 (Florez) that requires, among other provisions, permits
for large agricultural sources previously exempt from air district
permits; and
- Amended Rule 1145 – Plastic, Rubber, Leather and Glass Coatings – to
set more stringent VOC limits and future compliance dates for several
coating categories.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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