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Dry-Cleaning Services
The most commonly used dry-cleaning solvents are perchloroethylene and petroleum-based solvents. Perchloroethylene (perc) and petroleum solvents can cause health effects through exposure to vapors or contaminated soil or groundwater. Some estimates suggest that over 80 percent of all active and abandoned dry-cleaning sites have some form of subsurface contamination. Sites become contaminated as a result of spills from machines, air emissions and subsequent condensation from improper atomizers/evaporators, lack of secondary containment for waste storage, and improper disposal practices.Because of the chemical properties of perc, the cleanup of contaminated dry-cleaning sites can be very costly. These cleanup costs are typically more than a dry-cleaning business can afford, and are problematic for property transactions and loan acquisitions. As a result, many States have or are in the process of developing dry-cleaning solvent cleanup regulatory programs to provide financial assistance for assessment and remediation activities and limited liability protection. Because these programs are developed at the State level, they vary considerably from both a regulatory and funding standpoint. In North Carolina, we have been actively involved with the initial development of dry-cleaning legislation and subsequent rule-making process. Our professionals have tracked the development of State dry-cleaning regulatory programs to understand their effect on dry-cleaning, real estate, and lending markets. This allows us to provide technically sound and cost-effective solutions for your needs.