September 27, 2005

The Department of Environmental Quality has authorized $525,000 to address contamination from dry cleaning operations at Armen Cleaners in Ann Arbor.

Improper waste handling procedures have resulted in spilled solvents on the property where commercial dry cleaning operations have been conducted since 1950. This has caused soil and groundwater contamination and poses a new risk to indoor air in adjacent residential properties.

“It is crucial for business operators who use potentially hazardous chemicals to ensure they are disposing of them properly,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “In this case that was not happening and, therefore, the DEQ has stepped in to ensure that this neighborhood is kept safe.”

The current operator of Armen Cleaners has updated the dry cleaning machinery and operations to reduce the risk of additional contamination, and the DEQ has installed air filters in a nearby residential building to protect tenants from exposure to the contamination through indoor air inhalation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has conducted extensive investigations to determine the nature and extent of indoor air risks. The DEQ will use this funding to begin clean up of the soil and groundwater contamination in order to significantly reduce risks to public health.

This money is part of a $3 million appropriation for work at this site.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised September 27, 2005 by Pat Watson