Issue #2 - Winter 2021 

Resources for Drycleaning Operations

Welcome! We're here to help. Welcome to the second edition of DEQ's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program news. Our goal is to help small businesses across Montana with environmental issues, permitting and resources. Each quarter we will feature different topics with tips and articles that we hope you find useful. If there is something you are interested in learning more about, let us know! You can contact me anytime at: JPodolinsky@mt.gov Thanks for reading and I look forward to connecting with you.  John Podolinsky Small Business Ombudsperson SBEAP hotline - (800) 433-8773

Drycleaners Resources

If you recognize terms such as muck cooker, buck, belly washer, sludge, sniffer, solvation, suzie, or perchloroethylene, then this article is for you.

The textile care industry, including drycleaners, is continually changing. In the past few years, more and more states have considered enacting legislation to phase out the use of perchloroethylene (PERC) solvent at drycleaners or increase the regulatory compliance requirements to prevent environmental contamination.

In Montana we have seen an increase in discovering PERC leaks. Most of the leaks are historical; however, these reports should strongly encourage us to be diligent in handling cleaning solvents properly to avoid leaks and spills.

Assessing and cleaning up PERC contamination is incredibly expensive. PERC is heavier than water, meaning it migrates through groundwater contaminating it on the way. Additionally, it’s resistant to natural breakdown, and its vapors are persistent and mobile and can show up in neighboring buildings. Exposure to PERC can damage our nervous system and other organs.  All these traits allow PERC contamination to be an environmental, economic, and liability nightmare.

Training staff, proper chemical handling, and following standard operating procedures can prevent leaks and spills, protect your liabilities, and save costs on environmental controls and waste disposal. Specific air quality and hazardous waste regulations apply to drycleaning activities. Some drycleaners have switched to more environmentally friendly solvents; however, many of these also need to be handled properly.

Resources are available to help!  The SBEAP staff provide a basic level of expertise with environmental regulations. We partner with other programs and organizations that have additional expertise in environmental regulation and pollution prevention. The links below will take you to informational web sites and contacts that will help you understand applicable environmental regulations, help you find ways to prevent PERC emissions and leaks, and in many cases improve your return on investment.

Helpful Links 

• The Montana Small Business Environmental Assistance Program assists small businesses with navigating environmental regulations.  Specific to drycleaners that use PERC, the SBEAP has a compliance assistance calendar aimed at assisting drycleaners with inventorying PERC use. For more information, contact SBEAP representative John Podolinsky at (800) 433-8773. 
• Emissions of PERC vapors to the atmosphere is regulated by the MT DEQ Air Quality Program. 
• Disposal of hazardous wastes such as PERC waste is regulated by the MT DEQ Hazardous Waste Program. 
• Cleaning up PERC contamination falls under the MT DEQ Superfund Section. An example is the Bozeman Solvent Site -  Fact Sheet
• Like the SBEAP, the Montana State University Pollution Prevention Program assists small businesses with preventing pollution. P2 Director Jenny Grossenbacher can be reached at jenniferg@montana.edu
• EPA provides information on environmental regulations that apply to PERC.
• OSHA publishes safety tips for dry cleaners.
• The MT Department and Labor and Industry’s Safety Bureau is a helpful resource for safety at drycleaners. Check out its free Safety Consultation Program.
• National Cleaners Association is available to assist with a wide variety of services including regulatory compliance.
• Like the Montana SBEAP, the National SBEAP office assists drycleaners with regulatory compliance, National Compliance Assistance Centers are a superb resource in understanding environmental regulations.  Specific to PERC drycleaners the NCAC has a Plain English Guide for Dry Cleaners which is a step-by-step approach to understanding federal environmental regulations.
• EPA small business ombudsman page.
• Regional Small Business Liaison Page, EPA Region 8 regional liaison is Dan Fagnant, fagnant.daniel@epa.gov

Looking for information on Underground Storage Tanks? Montana Underground Storage Tanks (MUST) Newsletter outlined new testing requirements and walkthrough inspection reminders.  Check out the recent Newsletter!