The Department of Environmental Protection is making reimbursement grant funds available to encourage the dry cleaning industry to replace certain perchloroethylene dry cleaning equipment with equipment that is less polluting to the environment.

Any facility in New Jersey that operates a perchloroethylene dry cleaning system may be eligible for a reimbursement grant to remove their existing equipment and replace their equipment with more environmentally friendly equipment.

To be eligible you must complete one or more of the following:
1. Remove a perchloroethylene dry cleaning system that is 15 years old or less, and replace that system with a non-perchloroethylene system either at the current business location, or at a new business location. The owner/operator of the business must remain the same.
2. Remove a third generation perchloroethylene dry cleaning system that is 15 years old or less, and replace that system with a fourth generation perchloroethylene system or any non-perchloroethylene system either at the current business location, or at a new business location. The owner/operator of the business must remain the same.
3. Remove a fourth generation perchloroethylene dry cleaning system that is 15 years old or less from a facility that is that is sharing a building with a residence (co-residential) without the installation of any new equipment.

If the above eligibility requirements are met, complete and submit an application. Once reviewed and eligibility is confirmed by the Department, the facility and the Department must execute a contract detailing all of the requirements for the reimbursement grant. Details of the Dry Cleaner Equipment Replacement Reimbursement Program and a copy of the application and contract template can be found on the Departments web site at:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/drycleanergrant.html

For additional information, please contact Air Compliance and Enforcement - Minor Source Compliance Investigations at: 609-292-3133