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Questions?

Contact your nearest

DEQ regional office

or

DEQ's Pollution Prevention Program

Joanna Pierce

(208) 373-0146

or

Idaho Small Business Development Center:

Environmental Solutions Program

Joan Meitl

(208) 426-1839

toll-free: 1-800-225-3815

Environmental Assistance:

Dry Cleaners

Air Quality Regulations Need Help?
Hazardous Waste Regulations Industry-Specific Resources
Water Quality Regulations  
 
Dry cleaners in Idaho are impacted by various environmental regulations depending on the type of solvent used in the cleaning process.
 
 Air Quality Regulations

Dry cleaning operations use solvents and cleaners which may emit volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants. As such, dry cleaning operations may be subject to air quality rules and regulations.

Dry cleaners that use perchloroethylene (perc) are subject to federal standards called National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs), which regulate 187 hazardous air pollutants from particular industrial sources.

Dry cleaners that use petroleum solvents may be subject to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS).

Dry cleaners that qualify as major sources under NESHAPs or NSPS are also subject to Clean Air Act Title V (Tier I) operating permits requirements.

For more information visit:

Tier I (Title V) Air Quality Permits
New Source Performance Standards
Hazardous Air Pollutants and MACT Standards (Clean Air Act Section 112)
 
 Hazardous Waste Regulations
Dry cleaning operations typically generate hazardous waste and therefore must comply with the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Still bottoms, spent filters, and spent perc are a few examples of wastes that need to be handled and managed properly under RCRA. The type and number of requirements that must be complied with is based on the quantity and type of waste generated. Click here for more information on RCRA and hazardous waste regulations on this Web site.
 
 Water Quality Regulations
Dry cleaning facilities can have an impact on Idaho's surface and ground waters and may be subject to federal water quality standards and the National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES) program. Under this program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the discharge of pollutants into any water body of the U.S., including storm water sewer systems. Depending on the activities and services provided, a dry cleaning facility may need its own NPDES general permit for direct or indirect discharge. If the facility is located within a city that has an NPDES permit, it may be subject to the city's pretreatment and storm water requirements.

Click here to learn more about NPDES permits (U.S. EPA Web Site).

 
 Need Help?
If you need assistance in determining specific environmental regulations applicable to your dry cleaning operation, contact your nearest DEQ regional office or the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at the Idaho Small Business Development Center.
 
 Industry-Specific Resources

 On Other Web Sites

Air Quality Rules For Perc Dry Cleaners, A Simple Guide to

(U.S. EPA Web Site)
International Fabricare Institute

Plain English Guide for Perc Cleaners

(U.S. EPA Web Site)

Plain English Guide for Perc Dry Cleaners: A Step-by-Step Approach to Understanding Federal Environmental Regulations

(pdf on U.S. EPA Web Site)

Profile of the Dry Cleaning Industry: EPA Sector Notebooks

(pdf on U.S. EPA Web Site)

RCRA In Focus: Dry Cleaning

(pdf on U.S. EPA Web Site)

Rule and Implementation Information for Perchloroethylene Dry Cleaning Facilities

(U.S. EPA Web Site)




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