What: On August 20th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced extending the compliance date for portions of the rule regulating trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) until November 17, 2025.
Why: TCE is used mostly in industrial and commercial processes. Consumer uses include cleaning and furniture care products, arts and crafts spray coatings, and automotive care products like brake cleaners.
The EPA issued a final TCE rule on December 17, 2024, which is currently being litigated. In 2023, the Office of Advocacy submitted a comment letter to the EPA urging that the TCE rule be reconsidered because it did not properly consider small business feedback, exceeded the agency’s statutory authority, and was duplicative of existing federal regulations.
The EPA had extended the effective date of the rule until August 19, 2025. The agency is now extending effective dates pertaining to TSCA §6(g) exemptions allowing several uses of TCE to continue under workplace restrictions.
Action: Effective dates for portions of the rule concerning TSCA §6(g) are postponed until November 17, 2025.
DECEMBER 2023 COMMENT LETTER:
Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act
NOTICE OF DEADLINE EXTENSION:
2024 FINAL CTE RULE;
Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
CONTACT: Nick Goldstein
EMAIL: nick.goldstein@sba.gov
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