EPA Extends Compliance Deadlines for Select TCE Uses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a temporary final rule modifying the compliance dates under its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk management program for trichloroethylene (TCE). While the EPA is continuing its ban on most industrial and commercial uses, the update is allowing additional time for critical infrastructure and national security applications, as well as for processors who dispose of TCE to wastewater.
When EPA issued its final rule in December 2024, the prohibition of most industrial and commercial uses of TCE was set for September 15, 2025. However, earlier this year, EPA received feedback from various industries and manufacturers who were concerned about meeting the deadline. A petition was filed for processors who dispose of TCE to wastewater, and a nuclear fuel manufacturer reached out to warn the EPA of potential impacts on national security contracts with the government.
What Are the Updates?
The EPA determined that additional transition time was necessary for a few specific circumstances, therefore proposing an interim final rule to make three changes:
- Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing has a new compliance deadline of September 15, 2028.
- Processors of TCE and industrial/commercial users who dispose of TCE to wastewater have a new compliance date of December 18, 2026.
- Manufacturers, processors, and distributors must update required downstream notifications within 90 days of the final rule publication (normally, these notifications are required as soon as the rule is published).
Enforcement and Comment Window
EPA emphasized that while the current deadlines remain effective until formally replaced, enforcement will be a low priority. The agency intends to focus its resources on ensuring compliance with the newly established dates once they are finalized.
Public comments on the proposed updates will be accepted for 30 days under docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0642, but only on the amended provisions. All other deadlines and requirements of the 2024 final rule remain unchanged.
How Walden Can Help
Most companies will still need to prepare for the September 2025 deadline. If your facility needs assistance with the phasing out of TCE use, Walden can help with finding safer alternatives, training employees, updating required notifications, and more.
Contact us today at 516-559-6976 or read Walden’s previous blogs about other updates related to the December 2024 TCE final rule (listed below) for more information.
- TCE Ban Update: EPA Postpones Deadlines Until August 2025
- EPA’s Final Rule on TCE: Regulatory Freeze and Further Delays
- Say Goodbye to Trichloroethylene in 2025
Photo by Mohamed Marey on Unsplash