Hazards and Cleanup

Purpose

The Department of Environmental Quality appointed an Advisory Committee to provide recommendations and advice to the DEQ in administering statutes relating to the Dry Cleaner Program. The purposes of the Dry Cleaner Program are to protect public health and the environment by ensuring the cleanup of contamination resulting from dry cleaning facilities and by preventing future releases of dry cleaning solvent to the environment, and to exempt dry cleaning owners and dry cleaning operators from cleanup liability.

Authority

The Oregon Legislature in ORS 465.507 directed the Department of Environmental Quality to appoint an advisory group to meet periodically and advise the DEQ regarding the implementation of the Dry Cleaner Program.

Mission

The Advisory Committee's mission is to assist the Department of Environmental Quality regarding:

• methods and standards for removal and remedial actions at dry cleaning facilities;
• waste minimization and other requirements for dry cleaning facilities;
• the Department of Environmental Quality's use of the Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Account;
• the adequacy of revenue generated by fees for meeting the costs of removal and remedial actions at dry cleaning facilities; and
• ultimate cost of cleaning up contaminated dry cleaning facilities
• prioritizing contaminated dry cleaning facilities
• reducing administrative costs;
• other matters pertinent to the purposes of ORS 465.500 to 465.545

Committee members

The Committee consists of professionals and experts with a broad range of experience and training in dry cleaning and related environmental and public policy issues. Representatives from the following groups have been included:

• Dry cleaning operators;
• Dry cleaning property owners;
• Dry cleaning industry members other than owners and operators;
• Citizens;
• Environmental organizations; and
• Local governments.

Committee meetings

Agendas and minutes from advisory committee meetings are sent to interested parties. To get on the interested parties list, contact Jessika Cohen​ , 503-229-6258​.

Staffing and support

The Department of Environmental Quality provides Advisory Committee members with appropriate materials and background information to carry out their duties.