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State Drycleaner Remediation Programs: An Innovative Approach to Cleanup
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| A
Quick Look |
| Dry cleaners use chlorinated
solvents, particularly PCE, in their operations and have contributed
to contamination of soil and groundwater at many brownfields sites. |
| SCRD
provides a forum for exchange of information and lessons learned regarding
the use of innovative technologies in the assessment and remediation
of dry cleaner sites. |
| Innovative technologies
are of particular benefit at small dry cleaner sites because limited
funding for cleanup of such sites is often an issue. |
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State-mandated programs have had a major impact in turning former dry
cleaner sites into marketable properties. Soil and groundwater contaminated
by dry cleaning solvent are associated with many of these sites. Resource
and budget constraints pose challenges to states as they undertake assessment
and pursue remediation of these properties. With support from EPA’s OSRTI,
the State
Coalition for Remediation of Drycleaners (SCRD) was established in
1998 to (1) provide a forum for exchange of information and discussion
of implementation issues related to established state dry cleaner programs,
(2) share information and lessons learned, and (3) encourage the use of
innovative technologies in the remediation of dry cleaner sites. The coalition
is made up of representatives of states that have established dry cleaner
remediation programs, including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, and Wisconsin. A subgroup of the coalition has focused its efforts
on conducting research about state programs and use of innovative technologies
to assess and remediate sites contaminated with dry cleaning solvents.
In its 2004 report, Drycleaner Site Assessment and Remediation – A
Technology Snapshot (2003) the coalition reports the results of a
2002 survey performed to evaluate changes in use of innovative technologies.
Surveys such as these provide information in the search for cost-efficient
and technically effective assessment and remediation technologies. Such
studies as the one performed at the Armen Cleaners site in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, will continue to generate new information about innovative analytical
approaches. That study was successful in building a collaborative data
set to confirm the completeness of vapor intrusion and ambient air pathways.
The study also better defined the extent of indoor air contamination and
identified potential residential receptors of concern. Overall, although
EPA’s investigation built upon previous data to delineate significant
sources of PCE at the site, it also found that vapor and ambient air concentrations
of tetrachloroethene (PCE) were fairly localized, dropping quickly with
distance from the site. The project was unique in its application of a
number of innovative, real-time analytical approaches as well as its use
of the Triad approach to stress systematic planning and dynamic work strategies
in order to expedite and improve site characterization and cleanup.
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| Key Resource |
| State Coalition
for Remediation of Drycleaners (SCRD) Internet Site |
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View on line at www.drycleancoalition.org
The SCRD Internet site, which is supported by EPA’s OSRTI, provides
extensive information about state remediation programs and resources
related to remediation of dry cleaner sites. Descriptions of state
programs and points of contact in member states are provided. Relevant
publications, regulations, and other documents are identified as
well. Brownfields stakeholders involved in the assessment and cleanup
of dry cleaner sites in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin may be particularly interested in
the detailed information provided about programs in those states.
Profiles of the remediation of specific sites throughout the United
States are intended to assist users, particularly state officials,
in making more informed decisions regarding remediation of sites
in their states. Publications developed by SCRD, as well as state
and federal resources that are pertinent to issues associated with
dry cleaner sites can be viewed online or downloaded at no charge.
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For more information see the following resources:
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Sunday, September 7, 2008
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