SG 76/23
US EPA publishes proposal to regulate perchloroethylene under TSCA. Comments will be accepted until August 15, 2023.
On June 16, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule (88 FR 39652) in the Federal Register to regulate the use of the solvent perchloroethylene (Perc, CAS No. 127–18–4) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The proposal seeks to address the unreasonable risk of Perc to human health by amending 40 CFR 751 ‘Regulation of certain chemical substances and mixtures’, under section 6 of TSCA.
This comes after the EPA proposed a ban on methylene chloride, another solvent, in early May of this year (SG 56/23).
Perc, also known by the name Tetrachloroethylene, is a colorless liquid used in consumer and industrial applications such as the dry cleaning of fabrics, production of fluorinated compounds and aerosol degreasing. The EPA has determined significant adverse health effects associated with the use of Perc.
This proposed rule would include a prohibition on the manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce and use of Perc for the following consumer and commercial uses:
Per the proposal, the prohibitions would go into effect through a staggered timeline. Starting from the rule’s publication date, manufacturers would have 12 months to comply, processors 15 months, retail distributors 18 months, all other distributors (incl. retailers) 21 months and industrial and commercial users 24 months. At the same time, the proposal suggests a phaseout period of ten years for dry cleaning applications.
The rule would set in place a workplace chemical protection program (WCPP), which would include requirements to meet an inhalation exposure concentration limit and prevent direct dermal contact with Perc for 16 occupational conditions of use not prohibited. It would establish recordkeeping and downstream notification requirements and provide a 10-year time limited exemption for emergency uses of Perc by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
According to the proposed rule, comments will be accepted until August 15, 2023.
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