The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the agency is releasing a proposal to extend certain compliance dates in the final risk management rules for perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The extension would be in place while the EPA works to revise these rules to ensure they are practical and implementable to protect human health and the environment and maintain uses. According to the EPA, the proposed timeline adjustment does not weaken any existing protections and does not change the ultimate level of protection required.

PCE is a solvent used in applications such as metal degreasing, and certain manufacturing processes. CTC is a solvent used in commercial settings as a raw material for producing other chemicals like refrigerants, chlorinated compounds, and agricultural products.

In an announcement about the proposed extension of compliance dates, EPA stated that the underlying finding that these chemicals present unreasonable risk is not being revisited. The agency stated that it remains committed to fully implementing TSCA’s mandate to reduce those risks as quickly as it can in a way that will last. This proposal would extend some Workplace Chemical Protection Program compliance dates for non-federal entities that use PCE and CTC to match the compliance dates for federal agencies and their contractors. This action does not impact or diminish any current worker protections that are already in place for these chemicals.

The action responds to stakeholder feedback that these compliance dates are unworkable and helps ensure that companies can implement strong protections effectively without disrupting operations, economic activity, or innovation. EPA stated that its goal is to set deadlines that ensure protective controls are installed correctly, maintained, and actually used. Additionally, by aligning compliance timelines where appropriate, EPA claims that it is helping to create a level playing field for both federal and non-federal entities subject to the rules’ requirements, ensuring that all facilities operate under comparable expectations as they transition to the new worker protection standards.

To learn more, visit EPA’s announcement at epa.gov.