Pollution Prevention Center

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Policy

Assembly Bill 998

AB 998 was signed by Governor Gray Davis on September 8, 2003.  The bill implements a fee on perchloroethylene sold in California.  The money collected will create a trust fund to provide cleaners with $10,000 grants to switch to an approved cleaning technology. The balance funds will be used to establish a demonstration program to showcase these alternatives. 

AB 998 implements a $3 per gallon fee on perchloroethylene beginning on January 1, 2004.  This fee will increase $1 per gallon per year through 2013, reaching a maximum of $12 per gallon per year.  

The funds collected will be used to establish the Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program, which will provide $10,000 grants for cleaners switching to an approved alternative (wet cleaning and carbon dioxide cleaning).  In addition, a demonstration program will be established to showcase these non-toxic, non-smog forming cleaning technologies.  Applicants to the demonstration program will be required to obtain 50 percent matching funds.

The grant and demonstration programs are designed to run indefinitely, although it is anticipated that the need for the demonstration program may diminish over time.

For more information on AB 998, contact the ARB's Public Information Office at 916-322-2990 or check out their web site.

Rule 1421

On December 6th 2003, the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted unanimously to phase out Perchloroethylene by 2020, passing the nation's first ban on perchloroethylene, the most common cleaning solvent used by professional dry cleaners.  This ban will affect Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

If you have questions on Amended Rule 1421 please contact Jill Whynot at (909) 396-3104.

Grant Applications for Wet Cleaning Conversion are available at the South Coast AQMD.