DeWine
AKRON, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a settlement on Monday with an Akron dry cleaning business that allegedly violated Ohio's air pollution control laws.
The settlement is between the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, DeWine's office and David Klein, the owner of Belle-Aire Cleaners. Klein agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty as part of the consent order.
Between 2006 and 2011, Klein allegedly operated dry cleaning equipment utilizing the solvent perchloroethylene without obtaining a required permit renewal from the Ohio EPA. An inspector for the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District allegedly discovered the violation in 2009. The ARAQM is the Ohio EPA's contractual representative responsible for administering the air pollution control program in Summit County.
Dry cleaning machines that utilize perchloroethylene release hazardous air pollutants and are regulated under U.S. EPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Ohio EPA's permit places limits on these emissions and requires that companies keep routine records and reporting to ensure compliance with federal clean air standards. These standards are upheld to protect the health of the public.
The civil penalty will support local and state air pollution control programs, including the Ohio EPA's clean diesel school bus fund and the Ohio Environmental Education Fund.
The complaint and consent order that detail the violation and settlement were filed with the Summit County Court of Common Pleas.