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PROPOSAL:

Issue RFP to Develop Additional Technologies to Monitor and Reduce Fugitive Emissions at Dry Cleaners

SYNOPSIS:

Fugitive emissions of perchloroethylene from dry cleaners represent a potentially significant source of risks under the California Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act (AB 2588) program. AQMD Rule 1421 requires dry cleaners to perform daily checks to ensure compliance with fugitive emissions limits for perchloroethylene, but the equipment available to detect leaks is costly and hard to maintain. This action is to issue an RFP from which qualified contractors will be selected to develop new technologies to reduce fugitive emissions at dry cleaners and to simplify, reduce, or streamline monitoring by dry cleaners.
A total of $200,000 is available for this effort in the AB 2588 Air Toxics Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, July 24, 1998, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Issue the attached RFP #9899–05 for assistance in developing additional technologies to monitor and reduce fugitive emissions at dry cleaners at a cost not to exceed $200,000.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

In 1993, EPA promulgated its new National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning operations.

To accommodate the new federal standard, CARB and AQMD subsequently amended their respective air toxics rules.

Amended AQMD Rule 1421 - Control of Perchloroethylene Emissions from Dry Cleaning Systems reflects the tighter emission standards of the state Perchloroethylene Airborne Toxic Control Measure – Dry Cleaning Operations (17 CCR, Section 93109), and further incorporates the more stringent monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements from the NESHAP.

As amended, Rule 1421 requires dry cleaners to perform daily checks for vapor leaks using a halogenated-hydrocarbon detector or a portable gas analyzer. Lower-cost halogenated-hydrocarbon detectors preferred by dry cleaners are very sensitive to perchloroethylene leaks, but do not yield the quantitative results necessary to determine which leaks require repair. Monitoring equipment capable of quantifying these leaks costs at least $3,000. This high cost, coupled with complex calibrating and maintenance requirements, can be a significant burden for dry cleaners. Compliance assurance requires the development of new, more cost-effective methods to monitor and reduce fugitive perchloroethylene emissions at dry cleaning operations.

Fugitive perchloroethylene emissions from dry cleaners add substantially to the area source toxic inventory. Because dry cleaners are distributed throughout the Basin and are often located near retail businesses and residential areas, their emissions directly impact the public.

Under the California Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act (AB 2588), sources with significant emissions are required to inventory their toxic emissions and perform an individual Health Risk Assessment. To reduce the economic hardship dry cleaners and certain other small source categories would suffer if required to comply individually with these requirements, AB 2588 allows these sources to be grouped by category for emissions inventory purposes. AQMD is required to conduct and periodically update an industrywide emissions inventory that identifies specific areas ("hot spots") where these emissions could impose significant health risks on the public. By further decreasing fugitive perchloroethylene emissions from dry cleaners, the proposed project should help reduce these health risks throughout the Basin.

Proposal

The purpose of this RFP is to competitively select a qualified contractor to assist AQMD in developing new methods to reduce fugitive emissions at dry cleaners and to simplify, reduce, or streamline monitoring by dry cleaners. The study will also be helpful relative to Rule 1401 – New Source Review of Carcinogenic Air Contaminants compliance. Specific tasks to be performed under this contract include:

Compiling available leak data from local APCDs.

Surveying manufacturers on design criteria and recommended maintenance practices.

Developing or refining emission factors and achievable leak rates, and estimating or measuring mass emissions as a function of relative perchloroethylene concentrations.

Surveying monitoring equipment and monitoring needs, determining the likelihood of leaks, and proposing monitoring options which ensure high compliance levels, minimize costs, and are simple to perform.

Performing an engineering study of several dry cleaning machines to determine causes of leaks, and recommending technological and maintenance/operational solutions.

Developing "housekeeping" methods to reduce emissions from handling of perchloroethylene.

Recommending changes to the state ATCM with respect to leak limits, maintenance and operational practices and monitoring requirements.

Developing a comprehensive guidance manual for use by dry cleaners to reduce overall perchloroethylene emissions.

Competitive bids shall be solicited for tasks to be performed on a time-and-materials (T&M) basis.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be published in the following publications:

1. Antelope Valley Press	9. Korea Central Daily	17. Palm Springs Desert Sun
2. Black Voice News	10. La Opinion	18. Philippine News
3. Chinese Daily News	11. La Voz	19. Precinct Reporter
4. Eastern Group Publications	12. Los Angeles Daily News	20. Rafu Shimpo
5. El Chicano	13. Los Angeles Sentinel	21. Riverside Press Enterprise
6. Excelsior, The	14. Los Angeles Times	22. San Bernardino Sun
7. Inland Empire Hispanic News	15. M/W/DVBE Source	23. Santa Clarita Signal
8. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	16. Orange County Register	24. State of California Contracts Register

Additionally, potential bidders will be notified from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority and Cal Trans Directories of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Copies of the RFP will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business & Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line [(909) 396-2724].

Bid Evaluation

Proposals received will be evaluated by a diverse panel of technically qualified individuals according to the scoring criteria described in the attached RFP.

Resource Impacts

Funds to support this effort will be drawn exclusively from the AB 2588 Air Toxics Fund in an amount not to exceed $200,000. This amount shall be used on this project per agreement with ARB to satisfy a portion of state fees collected by AQMD on ARB’s behalf for the Air Toxics Program for FY 1993-94.

Attachments

RFP # 9899-05

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