EPA Announces Proposed Ban on Most Uses of PCE to Protect Public Health

EPA has announced a proposed risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ban most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE) in an effort to protect public health. PCE is a solvent that is widely used for consumer and industrial uses and commercial applications such as dry cleaning. PCE has contaminated (and has the potential to contaminate) drinking water sources throughout the US and has led to costly treatment, investigations, and remediation and mitigation efforts. The proposed risk management rule would protect people (and potentially drinking water sources) from PCE neurotoxicity and cancer risks by banning all consumer uses and implementing strict workplace controls for many industrial/commercial and aerospace uses. The proposal includes a 10-year phaseout for the use of PCE in dry cleaning, with time and potential new grant funding for small businesses to transition to an alternative process.

EPA will also announce a public webinar about the proposal in the coming weeks and comments on the proposed PCE rule will be due 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. For more information, visit EPA’s website.