EPA Proposes Ban on Trichloroethylene for Some Uses

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a ban on Trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile organic compound widely used in industrial and commercial processes and has some limited uses in consumer and commercial products," the EPA said in a notice (here). The rule would address "prohibiting the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; prohibiting the commercial use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; and requiring manufacturers, processors, and distributors, except for retailers, to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain as well as associated recordkeeping requirements," the agency said. Comments on the proposed rule are due Feb. 14.