NC Division of Waste Management

The Special Remediation Branch manages environmental cleanup of two types of contaminated sites: dry-cleaning sites and manufactured gas plants. In North Carolina, both types of sites have dedicated cleanup resources specific to their program.

Contacts:

Pete Doorn, Special Remediation Branch Head at (919)707-8369

• Dry-cleaning Solvent Cleanup Act (DSCA) Program

The Dry-cleaning Solvent Cleanup Act of 1997 and its amendments established a fund to assess and cleanup dry-cleaning solvent contamination at dry-cleaning and wholesale distribution facilities and authorized the program to develop and enforce rules to prevent dry-cleaning solvent releases at operating facilities. The DSCA program is wholly funded by receipts from taxes on dry-cleaning sales and dry-cleaning solvents. Financial statements and program accomplishments are summarized yearly in the DSCA Annual Report.

The DSCA Remediation Unit administers and oversees the assessment and cleanup of dry-cleaning solvent contaminated sites certified in the DSCA Program. Entry into the program is voluntary and all work is completed by state-lead environmental engineering firms. For sites certified in DSCA, the Remediation Unit will assess and remediate dry-cleaning solvent contamination in water, soil, building materials, and air to safe levels. When public health is affected, immediate steps are taken to ensure that drinking water and indoor air are safe.

The DSCA Compliance Unit administers a compliance inspection and enforcement program to ensure active dry-cleaning facilities and wholesale distribution facilities are compliant with applicable regulations. Through educational assistance and inspections, the Compliance Unit helps ensure that owners/operators understand and adhere to practices that prevent future releases of dry-cleaning solvent to the environment.

• Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Initiative

Under a cooperative agreement with the DEQs Division of Waste Management, the MGP Group (a coalition of utilities and municipalities) is assessing and remediating former MGP sites with oversight from the MGP program.