Philadelphia Board Proposes Perc Ban
The Air Quality Board of the Philadelphia Department of Health has proposed regulations that would effectively ban perc from almost all locations in the city within two years. In the plan, two years after the effective date, perc would be banned not only in co-residential facilities, but also in co-located facilities.The department estimates that there are only eight free-standing locations in Philadelphia. All the others will fall under the ban. Current NESHAP regulations will ban perc in co-residential buildings, with complete removal of existing machines by 2020. The rules were constructed to allow use of newer equipment for the approximate life of the machines. A draft of Philadelphia’s plan was forwarded to PDCA last month, with a request for our comments. We immediately sent a letter to the Air Management Services, which had prepared the proposal. In our letter we said that PDCA is are ready to help the agency develop responsible guidelines for Philadelphia. On June 26, PDCA vice president Dale Kaplan, executive director Carol Memberg, DLI vice president Jon Meijer and Philadelphia drycleaner Max Izaquirre met with Thomas Huynh, Director of Air Management Services, Roger M. Fey, Chief of Compliance and Enforcement, and Prasad Philip, environmental engineer for the city. Also attending were Francine Carlini and William Stroble of DEP’s Air Quality Program’s Southeast Regional Office, based in Norristown. At the meeting we emphasized the enormous reduction in perc vapors and usage through the years. We explained the cost of converting to hydrocarbon machines would involve not only the cost of new equipment, but also the very large expense of installing the required sprinkler systems and water line hook-ups. This cost would be prohibitive for most city cleaners, who tend to be very small. We also pointed out that there are no open areas that cleaners could move their businesses to. The Air Pollution Control Board, which had asked the Air Quality Board to draw up the new regulations, is scheduled to meet on August 5. The proposal will be discussed at that meeting. PDCA and DLI will prepare comments to be presented at that meeting. Our aim will be to have the agency modify the regulations so that good Philadelphia cleaners can continue to operate their business while meeting the kinds of standards that are necessary in a congested environment. |
||||||||||
Expo Seminars Set, Exhibit Spaces Filling Up
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
National Conference Brings Positive Spotlight on Cleaners
|
||||||||||
|
The National Conference of Small Business Ombudsmen (SBO) and Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAP) took place in Harrisburg June 17-20.
Hosts for the meeting were Pennsylvania ombudsman Julien Gaudion and PDCA Vice President Dale Kaplan, who also serves as the chair of the Pennsylvania Compliance Assistance Program. The purpose of the conference was to bring together representatives from the groups who work with small businesses to aid them in achieving compliance, answer questions and help to solve problems. The participants discussed Greening Business opportunities and technologies, various compliance assistance programs and updates on new rules, regulations and programs. |
|
|||||||||
Pennsylvania Small Business Ombudsman Julien Gaudion and PDCA’s Dale Kaplan |
||||||||||
|
There were two panel discussions that dealt directly with the cleaning industry. The small business panel focused on the activities of three companies, a printing company, a metal finishing company, and a drycleaner. Representing cleaners, Dale discussed the changes he, as well as others, had made in equipment through the years, that resulted in reduction of perc consumption and waste. He talked about the expenses involved that sometime make compliance more difficult.
Another panel focused on trade associations. In that one, DLI’s Jon Meijer talked about the efforts that our national association has made to help members come into compliance, and of some of the difficulties that regulations can cause. He was joined by representatives of a graphic imaging association and an automotive recycling group. In both instances, the drycleaning industry was portrayed as being active in promoting sound and responsible environmental procedures. |
 |
|||||||||
Joining PDCA’s Dale Kaplan (left) on the small business panel were Kathie O’Donnell (right), vice president of sales and marketing for CDI Printing/Packaging, and Joe Reilly, president of Reilly Finishing Systems. |
||||||||||
PDCA Assists PA in Forms Mailing
|
||||||||||
|
Did you wonder why your required Pennsylvania Compliance Notification Report came from PDCA?
PDCA played an essential role in distributing the packet that you recently received. When the state realized that they would be unable to handle the project, despite the fact that it was federally mandated, they turned to us for help. We used our list of all Pennsylvania drycleaners to level the playing field, assuring that everyone would have to meet the same requirements. Dale Kaplan prepared a letter of explanation to help you understand the forms. We also made sure that you received explanations of what was you were signing off on. We were pleased to receive assistance from an anonymous source which covered all the costs involved, so there was no financial burden for us. PDCA has always had a good working relationship with our state regulators. This policy has been extremely important in fostering cooperation, not confrontation, between the regulators and drycleaners. |
||||||||||
New Associate Member Offers Energy Conservation
|
||||||||||
|
HydroProducts Company, LLC , a Pittsburgh based energy conservation company is new PDCA member hoping to contribute to the Association members’ continued efforts to strengthen their businesses while better serving their customers and communities.
HydroProducts’ founder Ken Siefers, a Carnegie Mellon educated engineer with over 50 years experience in water conservation and steam systems explains; “With respect to energy conservation, we feel retail dry cleaners represent an under served business group anxious for solutions that both trim their operational costs while simultaneously making them better corporate citizens. As a company based in Pennsylvania for the last 27 years, we always look first to our back yard for an opportunity to get involved in member organizations. PDCA has a strong tradition and we are excited to be on board.” “We are keenly aware that rising energy costs are exacting a mounting toll on energy intensive small businesses such as dry cleaners. We look forward to the opportunity to do our part to help offset those market realities.” HydroProducts Company is the developer of The Steam Saver System, an all stainless steel, non-mechanical steam trap that replaces conventional steam traps found in cleaners. Conversion to the technology typically reduces energy consumption of a plant by 12-20%. The device is guaranteed for 10 years and is a candidate for the Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant, which should receive fiscal ’08 applications at the end of July. For more information contact Matthew Ferrara at MattFerrara@HydroProductsCompany.com or (412) 894-7822. |
||||||||||
From the Board... |
||||||||||
|
IWA Insurance Now Available From Many Agencies
Your local insurance broker can now sell the highly favorable IWA insurance policies that are recommended by DLI and PDCA. Previously, Triester Rossman Associates were their exclusive agents in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Under a new arrangement, TWA will continue to handle IWA policies, but cleaners who have a relationship with their own broker can now use that company to obtain IWA insurance. For information on the IWA, or for your broker to reach them, call Keith Camacho at 800/243-1811.
Speaking of Insurance... Our health insurance consultant, Mark Cohn, has a new web site for information on health insurance. It’s http//norvax.com/uspc/cohn809. Check it out to speed things up if you want to investigate the many plans and programs that Mark has available for you. Free Admission Keep in mind that PDCA members get free admission to all the seminars and social events at our Drycleaning and Laundry Expo 2008. That includes our Friday and Saturday reception nd the breakfast on Sunday morning. It’s our way of saying thank you for your support. Just member to register in advance. You’ll be getting plenty of reminders, or you can use our web site, pdclean.org. Keeping an Eye on Electricity Rates Electricity rates in Pennsylvania are due to expire soon. We want you to know that we are monitoring activity in Harrisburg and are taking an active part in behind the scenes work to try to keep those increases as small as possible. Our legislative watchdog, Bob Stewart, keeps us informed on meetings and proposals. We understand how important this is to you and will continue to be active in the fight to hold those cost increases to a minimum. Heal Fast, Garth Our wishes for a quick recovery go to our past president, Garth Eck.. Garth had a nasty bike accident, badly tearing up his knee and breaking his tibia. After surgery to repair some of the damage, he will be on bed rest for weeks. Then doctors will evaluate his progress and determine what the next step will be. Garth will be out of Faxon Cleaners for quite a while. Fortunately, his son, Michael, was able to get a two-month leave of absence form his job in Colorado and is home, helping to run the plant. |
||||||||||
On the Back Rack
Click Here to See Our Archive of Past Stories