On October 14, 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, intending to further extend certain compliance deadlines for trichloroethylene (TCE). The public comment period is open until November 13, 2026.
Background
On December 17, 2024, the EPA issued the 2024 TCE Final Rule. Under Section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), it prohibited the manufacture, processing, and distribution (including import) of TCE, while establishing phased compliance transition periods for certain processing and industrial and commercial uses. Subsequently, in September 2025, the EPA issued the 2025 TCE Interim Final Rule, extending some compliance dates from September 15, 2025, to December 18, 2026.
Proposed Compliance Date Extensions
1. Prohibition on processing of TCE as a reactant/intermediate + Prohibition on industrial and commercial use as a processing aid + Related wastewater discharge prohibitions
- Original Compliance Date: December 18, 2026
- Proposed Extension To: December 31, 2027
- Scope of Application:
- Use as a process solvent in battery manufacturing
- Use as a process solvent in polymer fiber spinning
- Fluoroelastomer manufacturing
- Alcantara (synthetic leather) manufacturing
- Use as an extraction solvent in caprolactam manufacturing
- Use as a precipitating agent in \betaβ -cyclodextrin manufacturing
- Discharge of TCE resulting from the above processing or uses into industrial pretreatment, industrial treatment, or publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).
2. Phase-out of TCE processing as an intermediate in HFC-134a manufacturing (Phase 1)
- Original Compliance Date: June 7, 2027 (Reduce TCE feedstock usage to 75% of the baseline)
- Proposed Extension To: December 31, 2027
- Substance Involved: HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, CASRN 811-97-2)
3. Downstream Notification and SDS (Safety Data Sheet) Updates
The SDS update deadlines set by the previous 2024 Final Rule and 2025 Interim Final Rule (June 16, 2025, and December 16, 2025) have already passed. The new proposal stipulates that SDS updates must be completed within 30 days after the publication of the final rule.
EPA Requests for Public Comment
- Comments on the proposed changes, including whether stakeholders have significant reliance interests that may be affected.
- Whether the alternative compliance deadline of December 18, 2028, requested by stakeholders, better meets the requirements of "as soon as feasible" and provides a "reasonable transition period" compared to the proposed date of December 31, 2027.
- Given the approaching compliance deadline of December 18, 2026, whether an expedited (e.g., 14-day) or immediate effective date should be adopted.
