EPA Proposes Ban on Certain Uses of Trichloroethylene (TCE)

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

As the first major regulatory action under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) chemical reform law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposal to ban certain uses of the chemical trichloroethylene, TCE. This rule was proposed only a week after the EPA announced the first ten chemicals to be evaluated under the TSCA reform, which included TCE. Under section 6 of the TSCA, the EPA is proposing to:

• Prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for use in spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities;
• Prohibit the commercial use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities;
• Require manufacturers, processors, and distributors to notify retailers and others in their supply chains of the prohibitions. (EPA)

For more information on this proposed rule, visit the EPA's webpage on TCE.

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