Purpose

To address the health risk potential for sensitive receptors for emissions from the perchloroethylene dry cleaning industry, and to encourage a transition to less toxic dry cleaning chemicals and processes.

Background

In 2005 the Department proposed rules to regulate, and eventually eliminate, the use of perchloroethylene in the dry cleaning industry. As a result of public comments, including the financial burden of the proposed rules, the Department decided to re-propose the rules with compliance deadlines that would reduce the financial burden. In addition, as a result of an enforcement settlement, the Department is receiving over $4,000,000 to be used in a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP). All parties involved in the settlement have agreed to use the SEP funds to reduce the health risk impact of the perchloroethylene dry cleaning industry. This grant program will use the SEP funds to encourage the removal of older perchloroethylene dry cleaning systems, especially those with the greatest impact on sensitive receptors such as those that are co-residential and co-located with day care centers.

Reimbursement Program

This Reimbursement Program will identify the mechanism and qualifications for receiving a reimbursement grant, and the amount of that grant.

Qualifying systems

• The removal of a perchloroethylene dry cleaning system, and replacing that system with a non-perchloroethylene (hydrocarbon or professional wet cleaning) system either at the current business location, or at a new business location. The owner/operator must remain the same.
• The removal of a third generation perchloroethylene dry cleaning system, and replacing that system with a fourth generation perchloroethylene system or a non-perchloroethylene (hydrocarbon or professional wet cleaning) system either at the current business location, or at a new business location. The owner/operator must remain the same.
• Removal of a fourth generation perchloroethylene dry cleaning system from a facility that is co-residential without installation of any new equipment.
• Only removal of dry cleaning systems 15 years old or less may qualify for this program.

Amount of Reimbursement

The amount of the reimbursement grant will be as determined in Attachment 1 of the Grant Application Package. The amount is based on the type of system, the capacity of the system in pounds of clothing cleaned per load, and by the age of the equipment at the time it is removed.

For removal of a perchloroethylene dry cleaning system from a facility that is co-residential without installation of any new equipment, the reimbursement grant will be at 75 % of the amount in Attachment 1 for removal of a fourth generation system.

If the replacement non-perchloroethylene system utilizes a water based technology, also know as professional wet cleaning, the amount of the grant will be increased by $15,000. The applicant can install both a water based and non-water based system to qualify for the additional $15,000.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a reimbursement grant, the dry cleaning facility must complete the reimbursement 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. You must also submit a W-9 with the executed contract.

The Department must verify that the equipment to be removed meets the qualifications for this reimbursement grant. The Department must also verify that the equipment installed meets the requirements for the reimbursement grant.

Once the requirements for the reimbursement grant, including removal and installation of qualifying equipment, have been completed, the Department will issue a payment for the approved reimbursement grant amount.

To participate in this program, the applicant must complete the reimbursement application form and submit the application form to:

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
MSCI Air Compliance & Enforcement
P.O. Box 407
4 Station Plaza
22 South Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625-0407

The Department will review the application and will notify the applicant if the application qualifies. If the application does not qualify, the Department will return the application with the reason.

Once the Department determines the application qualifies for this program, the applicant and the Department must execute a contract, as specified above.

For additional details contacting the Department at (609) 292-3133.