MN could become first state to ban widely-used dry cleaning chemical

Minnesota could become the first state to have all dry cleaners stop using perchloroethylene, or perc, a dry cleaning solvent.

The solvent can damage the kidney, liver and immune system and is classified by the EPA as likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

HF3830, sponsored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), would ban the use of perc beginning in 2022.

The House Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee approved the bill Tuesday and referred it to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division. There is no Senate companion.

Rep. Rick Hansen

Patrick Hanlon, director of environmental programs for Minneapolis, said when the city began working with dry cleaners, sampling showed perc at acute levels in dry cleaning businesses and surrounding neighborhoods. Minneapolis became the first city to move away from perc, he said.

“There are workers right now all over the state of Minnesota that are breathing in harmful amounts of PCE every day,” Hanlon said.

There are about 20 to 22 dry cleaners in Minnesota still using perc, according to the Minnesota Dry Cleaners Association.

Hansen said the state’s remediation fund was set up in the early 1990s, when there were about 300 dry cleaners. With less than 100 remaining, there are fewer to pay into the fund for cleanup, he said.

“I’m hopeful that we could come to some type of problem solving solution so they aren’t back year after year,” he said.

Hansen’s legislation follows up on last year’s discussion about dry cleaner cleanups and would provide an additional $600,000 from the remediation fund to reimburse dry cleaning facilities that transition to a different solvent.