Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association

New Notification Forms Coming

The United States Environmental Protection Agency will require all perc drycleaners to submit new compliance notification reports by July 28. The forms are similar to the initial notification forms that all perc drycleaners had to fill out several years ago. However, the form now asks for information not needed previously.

It will ask if your facility is free-standing, in a strip mall, or has residences in your building.
PDCA will assist the agencies by mailing all drycleaners the necessary forms as soon as they are ready.

We believe that every cleaner should be in compliance with the regulations and everyone should equally follow the rules. Pennsylvania and Delaware cleaners will send their forms to one central location instead of to regional offices as in the past.

The form is simple, and members will receive assistance if they have questions about how to handle it. Instructions will be in our next issue.

Our District 2 Director, Mack Davis chats with PDCA members Nancy Delp of DeVono’s Cleaners in Dallastown and Dale Kaplan of Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners in Camp Hill, at DLI’s Five Star Conference. The event took place February 22 and 23 in New Orleans.

Drycleaning and Laundry Expo Growing

Booth sales are ahead of expectations our 2008 Expo set for Atlantic City, October 24-26. Already more than 150 booths have been reserved, so visitors can be assured of seeing a wide variety of equipment, supplies and services.

The seminar programs planned for Saturday and Sunday mornings will be aimed at finding ways to increase your business and your profits in these challenging times. Look for announcements of speakers soon.

The exhibit and program will be at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Two receptions will be at the Atlantic City Sheraton, the headquarters hotel. On Friday evening, there will be a welcome get together. A highlight for Saturday will be our traditional reception, featuring hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The hotel is accepting room reservations now. The rate is $161 per night. Contact them at (609) 344-3535. You must mention the Drycleaning and Laundry Expo to get this reduced rate.

PDCA Introduces New OptiMed Medical Program

PDCA is pleased to announce a new limited medical program that may be able to assist members who have been unable to obtain affordable coverage for themselves or their employees.
The OptiMed plan provides help with physicians’ visits and prescription drugs. There is also limited hospital and surgical coverage. Coverage is available to PDCA members and their employees only, and can be on an individual basis. The physician network accepting the plan is a national network.

This is not major medical insurance, since it pays a limited benefit for the covered medical services. OptiMed may provide you and your employees with limited medical coverage if you or your employees are currently uninsured. Individual coverage comes with a 12/12 pre-existing condition limitation waiting period. Employer groups meeting certain underwriting requirements may be eligible to have that waived.

Members will soon receive mailings. Mark Cohn, our insurance consultant, can fill you in with all the details. The flyer included in this issue can give you a general idea about the program. You can reach Mark at 412/243-7263 or the OptiMed Enrollment number to get additional information at 800-482-8770. When calling, please identify yourself as a member of PDCA.

OptiMed Sign Up Poster

Help with Rising Energy Costs Available

The rising cost of energy is one of the top issues facing us today. Rate caps enacted during the mid-1990s as part of the process of deregulation have expired in Delaware and in Pike County in Pennsylvania (where rates increased over 70%), with other areas to follow.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) provides no-cost energy efficiency assistance. They help small businesses increase their profitability by cutting energy costs through a step-by-step program that evaluates their energy usage. They analyze energy usage, review bills and conduct an on-site assessment of the facility. Business are provided with prioritized recommendations for cost savings, as well as other assistance.
If you would like a free energy efficiency consultation, call EMAP’s toll free hotline, 887/ASK -EMAP or visit www.askemap.org and select “Request a Consultation.”

Delaware members can get technical assistance from their two EMAP centers. They are, for New Castle County, University of Delaware Technology Park, 1 Innovation Way, Suite 301, Newark, DE 19711, and in the Wilmington area, UD Non Profit Community Resource Center, 100 W. 10th St., Wilmington, Suite 812, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Can’t Beat Meet and Greet!

A full house, plenty of conversation, lots to eat. a warm atmosphere, great door prizes were just some of the highlights of the March 5 WPCL/PDCA highly successful event.

Over 75 people got together at the Sheraton Square Hotel to network, share information and just get to know each other.

The evening was organized by a committee consisting of WPCL president Debi Datz-Borraccini, West Run Cleaners; Ryan Aguglia, M & L Supply; Daniel Anderson, Smawley’s Cleaners; David Beatty, Murrysville Cleaners; Lisa Dusak, Demino’s Cleaners; David Rosenblatt, Green Valley Cleaners and Joseph Krow Leather; Mark Cohn, PDCA Benefits Rep.; Joe and Elaine Chuong, Chuong’s Cleaners; and chairman Bob McBride, PDCA field rep.

Sponsors helped to underwrite the activity. They were R.R. Street, Inc., Metro Chem, FH Bonn, Unipress, Hoffman-New Yorker, A.L. Wilson, Firbimatic, Liberty Pittsburgh, M & L Supply, Friedman Supply, Ideal Soap and Chemical, Joseph Krow Leather, Hudson Equipment, Mini-Meds and Allegheny Leather. Sponsors had tables to display literature on their products.

In addition to door prizes offered by the sponsors, generous gifts were supplied by DLI and Cleaners Supply.

2008 Compliance Calendars Going Out

The Pennsylvania DEP has informed us that although there was a delay in printing their 2008 compliance calendars, by now Pennsylvania cleaners should have received them from Harrisburg.
PDCA has once again worked with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Department to help in the preparation and distribution of the calendars. Use of the calendar and its check list is mandatory, so be sure to actually write on it the results of your quick but required inspection. The largest cause of warnings and fines comes from poor paperwork, so save yourself unnecessary aggravation.

Remember that you need one for each drycleaning machine in your facility. Additional calendars are available from the PDCA office. Give us a call if you need more or download from here.

From the Board...

DLI ‘s Victory

We thank DLI for their persistence in pressing EPA to correct the error in the updated NESHAP regulations. We are aware the it took many persistent call and letters from DLI. and especially from Mary Scalco, to get EPA to actually follow through on their verbal promise. Many state regulators had been unable to the correction finalized, or even to have their phone calls returned. We really appreciate having our voice heard .

The major items corrected and clarified now state that:

*Only major sources (plants purchasing more than 2,100 gallons of perc per year) are required to perform expensive colorimetric monitoring of the perc concentration in the wheel at the end of the cycle.

* Pressure gauge monitoring continues to be EPA's "preferred" approach but DLI was able to get EPA to accept temperature monitoring of the refrigeration unit.

* Only major sources are required to perform colorimetric monitoring and record keeping of secondary carbon absorbers.

Leak Detector Demos Available

The next time that Bob McBride visits your plant, you can ask him to show you the proper way to use the leak detector that is required by EPA. In the revision that DLI pressed EPA to make, testing is now not only easier, but more accurate. Bob can show you where and how to do your tests.

Well-Done, Tom

Congratulations to Tom Vecchione of Gem Cleaners in Philadelphia, who had his picture and a story in the latest issue of DLI’s Fabricare magazine. Tom was cited for his clever method of displaying his DLI logo. He places it on clear plastic so that he can move easily from his store window to his door , whenever he wants to change to appearance of his shop. The article noted that Tom, a long-time member of DLI and PDCA, is in the Mt. Airy section of the city, which is more like a small town. Gem Cleaners also provides services to the adjacent upscale Chestnut Hill area.

On the Back Rack
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