What: On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is reconsidering the way perchloroethylene (PCE) is regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Why: PCE is used in the production of fluorinated compounds, as a solvent for cleaning and degreasing, and in lubricants, adhesives, and sealants. A variety of consumer and commercial products use PCE, such as adhesives (arts and crafts, as well as light repairs), aerosol degreasers, brake cleaners, aerosol lubricants, sealants, stone polish, stainless steel polish, and wipe cleaners. PCE is also used in dry cleaning.
The EPA issued a final PCE rule on December 18, 2024, which is currently being litigated. In May 2025, the EPA informed a federal court that it was planning to reconsider the PCE rule and paused the litigation. In 2023, the Office of Advocacy submitted a comment letter to the EPA urging that the PCE rule be reconsidered because it did not properly consider small business feedback.
EPA is requesting comments on all aspects of the PCE final rule, including any existing or anticipated implementation issues associated with the final rule requirements, experiences with the PCE final rule since it went into effect, and whether the EPA should consider additional or alternative measures or approaches to address the unreasonable risk presented by PCE under the conditions of use.
Specifically, the EPA is also asking for information on the use of PCE in industrial dry-cleaning processes, including workplace controls that reduce exposure to PCE and the performance of alternatives to PCE in these operations.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE:
Perchloroethylene (PCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Request for Comment
2024 FINAL PCE RULE:
Perchloroethylene (PCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
2023 COMMENT LETTER:
CONTACT: Nick Goldstein
EMAIL: nick.goldstein@sba.gov
Is your small business or entity being impacted by a proposed rule? If yes, write a comment letter to the proposing agency.