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EPA/OCSPP RIN: 2070-AK83 Publication ID: Fall 2024 
Title: Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
Abstract:

On October 31, 2023, EPA issued a proposed rule to address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by trichloroethylene (TCE) under its conditions of use as documented in EPA's November 2020 Risk Evaluation for TCE and January 2023 revised risk determination for TCE pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TCE is widely used as a solvent in a variety of industrial, commercial and consumer applications including for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production, vapor and aerosol degreasing, and in lubricants, greases, adhesives, and sealants. TSCA requires that when EPA determines a chemical substance presents unreasonable risk that EPA address by rule the unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment and apply requirements to the extent necessary so the chemical no longer presents unreasonable risk. EPA determined that TCE presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to the significant adverse health effects associated with exposure to TCE, including non-cancer effects (liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and developmental toxicity) as well as cancer (liver, kidney, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) from chronic inhalation and dermal exposures to TCE. TCE is a neurotoxicant and is carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure. The most sensitive adverse effects of TCE exposure are non-cancer effects (developmental toxicity and immunosuppression) for acute exposures and developmental toxicity and autoimmunity for chronic exposures. To address the identified unreasonable risk, EPA proposed to: prohibit all manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE and industrial and commercial use of TCE for all uses, with longer compliance timeframes and workplace controls for certain processing and industrial and commercial uses (including proposed phaseouts and time-limited exemptions); prohibit the disposal of TCE to industrial pre-treatment, industrial treatment, or publicly owned treatment works, with a time-limited exemption for cleanup projects; and establish recordkeeping and downstream notification requirements.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 751   
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2605 Toxic Substances Control Act   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
NPRM  Statutory  TSCA section 6(c)  11/30/2021 
Final  Statutory  TSCA section 6(c)  11/30/2022 
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  10/31/2023  88 FR 74712   
Final Rule  12/00/2024 
Additional Information: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0642.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: YES  Government Levels Affected: Federal, State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: Yes 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
International Impacts: This regulatory action will be likely to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise be of international interest.
RIN Information URL: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-trichloroethylene-tce  
Sectors Affected: 325 Chemical Manufacturing 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Gabriela Rossner
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7404M,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 564-2426
Email: rossner.gabriela@epa.gov

Joel Wolf
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7404M,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 564-0432
Email: wolf.joel@epa.gov