As compliance deadlines approach, Philadelphia’s Division of Air Management Services (AMS) is knocking on doors and reaching out to business owners in a proactive effort to ensure that dry-cleaning facilities in the city will comply with regulations that became effective in December 2010.
For a Limited Time receive a
FREE EHS Report, "Recordkeeping for EHS Managers." This special report contains a recordkeeping checklist to help you keep track of your records for major environmental laws and OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard.
Download Now
The regulations affect dry cleaners using solvents containing perchloroethylene (perc) or n-propyl bromide (n-PB), and include the following provisions:
- Dry-cleaning facilities with older equipment must upgrade their dry-cleaning machines by December 13, 2012.
- The use of perc solvents at any dry-cleaning facility sharing a common wall, floor, or ceiling with a residence, sensitive facility, commercial business, or industrial site (i.e., is a co-located facility) will be phased out by December 31, 2013. Sensitive facilities include any school or educational facility for children and healthcare facilities.
- The use of dry-cleaning solvents containing n-PB is banned at any facility co-located with a residence or sensitive facility.
To ensure facilities will meet their compliance obligations, AMS has conducted over 80 facility inspections and/or compliance assistance visits since the regulations became effective. The agency has also been contacting facilities to determine their intended compliance strategy.
INFO: Contact AMS at 215-685-7580.