81_FR_91834 81 FR 91592 - Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA § 6(a)

81 FR 91592 - Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA § 6(a)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 242 (December 16, 2016)

Page Range91592-91624
FR Document2016-30063

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile organic compound widely used in industrial and commercial processes and has some limited uses in consumer and commercial products. EPA identified significant health risks associated with TCE use in aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. EPA has preliminarily determined that these risks are unreasonable risks. To address these unreasonable risks, EPA is proposing under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for use in spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to prohibit commercial use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, except for retailers of TCE for any use, to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to require limited recordkeeping.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 91592-91624]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30063]



[[Page 91591]]

Vol. 81

Friday,

No. 242

December 16, 2016

Part VIII





Environmental Protection Agency





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





40 CFR Part 751





Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA Sec.  6(a); 
Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 91592]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 751

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0163; FRL-9949-86]
RIN 2070-AK03


Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA Sec.  
6(a)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile organic compound widely 
used in industrial and commercial processes and has some limited uses 
in consumer and commercial products. EPA identified significant health 
risks associated with TCE use in aerosol degreasing and for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. EPA has preliminarily determined 
that these risks are unreasonable risks. To address these unreasonable 
risks, EPA is proposing under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control 
Act (TSCA) to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in 
commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for use in spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to prohibit commercial use of TCE 
for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities; to require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, 
except for retailers of TCE for any use, to provide downstream 
notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to 
require limited recordkeeping.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0163, at http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, 
comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods (e.g., mail or hand 
delivery), the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or 
multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective 
comments, please visit http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
    Docket. Docket number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0163 contains supporting 
information used in developing the proposed rule, comments on the 
proposed rule, and additional supporting information. A public version 
of the docket is available for inspection and copying between 8:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, at 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center Reading 
Room, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20004. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Toni Krasnic, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention 
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 
NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-0984; email 
address: [email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may potentially be affected by this proposed action if you 
manufacture (defined under TSCA to include import), process, or 
distribute in commerce TCE or commercially use TCE in aerosol 
degreasers or for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. The 
following list of North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them. 
Potentially affected entities may include:
     All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills (NAICS code 
314999).
     Petroleum Refineries (NAICS code 324110).
     Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (NAICS 
code 324191).
     Petrochemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 325110).
     Industrial Gas Manufacturing (NAICS code 325120).
     Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325180).
     All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325199).
     Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325211).
     Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (NAICS code 325212).
     Paint and Coating Manufacturing (NAICS code 325510).
     Adhesive Manufacturing (NAICS code 325520).
     Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325611).
     Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (NAICS code 
325612).
     All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 325998).
     Unlaminated Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 326113).
     All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (NAICS code 
326199).
     Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing (NAICS 
code 326220).
     All Other Rubber Product Manufacturing (NAICS code 
326299).
     Cement Manufacturing (NAICS code 327310).
     Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (NAICS 
code 327992).
     Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased 
Steel (NAICS code 331210).
     Steel Wire Drawing (NAICS code 331222).
     Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying (NAICS 
code 331420)
     Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, 
Drawing, and Extruding (NAICS code 331491).
     Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting Foundries (NAICS code 
331523).
     Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing (NAICS code 332117).
     Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except 
Automotive) (NAICS code 332119).
     Saw Blade and Hand Tool Manufacturing (NAICS code 332216).
     Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (NAICS code 332321).
     Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (NAICS code 
332410).
     Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing (NAICS code 
332618).
     Machine Shops (NAICS code 332710).
     Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (NAICS code 
332721).
     Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing (NAICS 
code 332722).
     Metal Heat Treating (NAICS code 332811).
     Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), 
and Allied Services to Manufacturers (NAICS code 332812).

[[Page 91593]]

     Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and 
Coloring (NAICS code 332813).
     Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 333132).
     Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 333515).
     Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 332994).
     Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (NAICS code 
333996).
     All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product 
Manufacturing (NAICS code 332999).
     Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 333132).
     Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air 
Purification Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS code 333413).
     Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 333515).
     Pump and Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS code 
333911).
     Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (NAICS code 
333996).
     Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and 
Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (NAICS code 334511).
     Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for 
Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (NAICS code 334512).
     Motor and Generator Manufacturing (NAICS code 335312).
     Primary Battery Manufacturing (NAICS code 335912).
     Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (NAICS code 
335991).
     Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (NAICS code 
336340).
     Aircraft Manufacturing (NAICS code 336411).
     Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 336413).
     Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (NAICS code 
336414).
     Ship Building and Repairing (NAICS code 336611).
     Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (NAICS code 
339114).
     Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers 
(NAICS code 424690).
     Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (NAICS code 424710).
     Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (NAICS code 
562211).
     Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators (NAICS code 
562213).
    This action may also affect certain entities through pre-existing 
import certification and export notification rules under TSCA. Persons 
who import any chemical substance governed by a final section 6(a) rule 
are subject to the TSCA section 13 (15 U.S.C. 2612) import 
certification requirements and the corresponding regulations at 19 CFR 
12.118 through 12.127; see also 19 CFR 127.28. Those persons must 
certify that the shipment of the chemical substance complies with all 
applicable rules and orders under TSCA. The EPA policy in support of 
import certification appears at 40 CFR part 707, subpart B. In 
addition, any persons who export or intend to export a chemical 
substance that is the subject of this proposed rule are subject to the 
export notification provisions of TSCA section 12(b) (15 U.S.C. 
2611(b)), and must comply with the export notification requirements in 
40 CFR part 707, subpart D.
    If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this 
proposed action to a particular entity, consult the technical 
information contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?

    Under section 6(a) of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2605(a)), if EPA determines 
after risk evaluation that a chemical substance presents an 
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, EPA must by 
rule apply one or more requirements to the extent necessary so that the 
chemical substance or mixture no longer presents such risk. Section 
6(b)(4) (15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)) specifies that risk evaluations must be 
conducted without consideration of costs or other non-risk factors, 
including an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible 
subpopulation identified as relevant to the risk evaluation, under the 
conditions of use.
    Since the original enactment of TSCA in 1976, EPA has addressed 
exposure to workers. For example, EPA routinely places restrictions on 
conditions of manufacturing, processing, distribution and use under the 
TSCA section 5 (15 U.S.C. 2604) new chemicals program. Further, as 
defined in TSCA, the term ``potentially exposed or susceptible 
subpopulation'' specifically includes workers. (15 U.S.C. 2602(12)). 
Thus, TSCA unambiguously provides EPA with the authority to address 
chemical risks to workers.
    When issuing a rule under TSCA section 6(a), EPA must consider and 
publish a statement based on reasonably available information on the:
     Health effects of the chemical substance in question, TCE 
in this case, and the magnitude of human exposure to TCE;
     Environmental effects of TCE and the magnitude of exposure 
of the environment to TCE;
     Benefits of TCE for various uses; and the
     Reasonably ascertainable economic consequences of the 
rule, including: The likely effect of the rule on the national economy, 
small business, technological innovation, the environment, and public 
health; the costs and benefits of the proposed and final rule and of 
the one or more primary alternatives that EPA considered; and the cost-
effectiveness of the proposed rule and of the one or more primary 
alternatives that EPA considered.
    EPA must also consider, to the extent practicable, whether 
technically and economically feasible alternatives that benefit health 
or the environment will be reasonably available as a substitute when 
the proposed prohibition or other restriction takes effect.
    For a chemical substance listed in the 2014 update to the TSCA Work 
Plan for Chemical Assessments for which a completed risk assessment was 
published prior to the date of enactment of the Frank R. Lautenberg 
Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, TSCA section 26(l)(4) 
expressly recognizes that EPA may issue rules under TSCA section 6(a) 
that are consistent with the scope of the completed risk assessment and 
consistent with the other applicable requirements of TSCA section 6. 
TCE is such a chemical substance. It is listed in the 2014 update to 
the TSCA Work Plan and the completed risk assessment was published on 
June 25, 2014. The scope of the completed risk assessment includes 
aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning. The completed risk assessment 
also evaluated vapor degreasing, which EPA plans to address in a 
separate proposed rule.

C. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA has preliminarily determined that the use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities presents an 
unreasonable risk of injury to health. Accordingly, EPA is proposing 
under section 6 of TSCA to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and 
distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for 
use in spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to prohibit commercial 
use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities; and to require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, 
except for retailers, to provide downstream notification of these 
prohibitions throughout the supply chain (e.g., via a Safety Data Sheet 
(SDS)) and to keep limited records. The application of this supply

[[Page 91594]]

chain approach is necessary so that the chemical substance no longer 
presents the identified unreasonable risks. EPA is requesting public 
comment on this proposal.
    EPA's analysis of worker and consumer populations' exposures to TCE 
also preliminarily indicates that the use of TCE in vapor degreasing 
presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health. EPA intends to issue 
a separate proposed rule for TCE use in vapor degreasing, but plans to 
issue one final rule covering both today's proposal and the vapor 
degreasing proposal.

D. Why is the Agency taking this action?

    Based on EPA's analysis of worker and consumer populations' 
exposures to TCE, EPA has preliminarily determined that the use of TCE 
in aerosol degreasing and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities 
presents an unreasonable risk to human health. More specifically, these 
uses result in significant non-cancer risks (acute and chronic exposure 
scenarios) and cancer risks. These adverse health effects include 
developmental toxicity (e.g., cardiac malformations, developmental 
immunotoxicity, developmental neurotoxicity, fetal death), toxicity to 
the kidney (kidney damage and kidney cancer), immunotoxicity (such as 
systemic autoimmune diseases, e.g., scleroderma, and severe 
hypersensitivity skin disorder), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, reproductive 
and endocrine effects (e.g., decreased libido and potency), 
neurotoxicity (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia), and toxicity to the liver 
(impaired functioning and liver cancer) (Ref. 1). TCE may cause fetal 
cardiac malformations that begin in utero. In addition, fetal death, 
possibly resulting from cardiac malformation, can be caused by exposure 
to TCE. Cardiac malformations can be irreversible and impact a person's 
health for a lifetime. In utero exposure to TCE may cause other 
effects, such as damage to the developing immune system, which manifest 
later in adult life and can have long-lasting health impacts. Certain 
effects that follow adult exposures, such as kidney and liver cancer, 
may develop many years after initial exposure.
    As discussed in Unit I.C, EPA is not proposing to prohibit all 
manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of TCE. 
The application of this supply chain approach tailored to specific uses 
that present unreasonable risk to human health is necessary so that the 
chemical substance no longer presents the identified unreasonable 
risks.

E. What are the estimated incremental impacts of this action?

    EPA has evaluated the potential costs of multiple regulatory 
options, including the proposed approach of 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. This analysis, which is available in the docket, is 
discussed in Units VI and VII, and is briefly summarized here.
    Costs of the proposed approach are discussed in Units VI.C.1 and 
VII.C.1. Alternatives to TCE are readily available at similar cost and 
performance. Blenders of TCE aerosol degreasers and spot cleaners are 
expected to reformulate their products. Reformulation costs are 
expected to be incurred during the first year and total $286,000 for 
reformulation of dry cleaning spot remover products and total $416,000 
for aerosol degreasing products. Annualized costs of reformulation are 
approximately $32,000 per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and 
$41,000 (annualized at 7% over 15 years) for aerosol degreasing, and 
$22,000 per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $28,000 
(annualized at 7% over 15 years) for dry cleaning spot removers. Costs 
to users of aerosol degreasers and dry cleaning spotters are negligible 
as substitute products of similar performance are currently available 
on the market and are similarly priced (Ref. 2). Costs of downstream 
notification and recordkeeping are estimated to cost a total of $51,000 
in the first year. On an annualized basis over 15 years are estimated 
to be approximately $3,900 and $5,000 using 3% and 7% discount rates 
respectively. Agency costs for enforcement are estimated to be 
approximately $112,000 and $109,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and 
7% respectively. Total costs of the proposed approach to prohibit 
manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce for use of TCE in 
aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; 
commercial use of TCE in aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities; and require downstream notification and 
recordkeeping are estimated to be approximately $170,000 and $183,000 
annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7% respectively. Total first-year 
costs to industry are estimated to be approximately $874,000 (Ref. 2).
    Although TCE causes a wide range of non-cancer adverse effects and 
cancer, monetized benefits included only benefits associated with 
reducing cancer risks. The Agency does not have sufficient information 
to include a quantification or valuation estimate in the overall 
benefits at this time. The monetized benefits for the proposed approach 
range from approximately $9.3 million to $25.0 million on an annualized 
basis over 15 years at 3% and $4.5 million to $12.8 million at 7% (Ref. 
2). There are also non-monetized benefits resulting from the prevention 
of the non-cancer adverse effects associated with TCE exposure from use 
in aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning for dry cleaning. These include 
developmental toxicity, toxicity to the kidney, immunotoxicity, 
reproductive and endocrine effects, neurotoxicity, and toxicity to the 
liver (Ref. 1). The adverse effects of TCE exposure as identified in 
the risk assessment include fetal cardiac malformations that begin in 
utero and fetal death. Cardiac malformations can be irreversible and 
impact a person's health for a lifetime. Other effects, such as damage 
to the developing immune system, may first manifest when a person is an 
adult and can have long-lasting health impacts. Certain effects that 
follow adult exposures, such as kidney and liver cancer, may develop 
many years after initial exposure. Also see Unit VIII.
    Another alternative regulatory option considered was a respiratory 
protection program requiring an air-supplied respirator with an APF of 
10,000. The costs of implementing a respiratory protection program, 
including a supplied-air respirator and related equipment, training, 
fit testing, monitoring, medical surveillance, and related 
requirements, would far exceed the costs of switching to alternatives, 
on a per facility basis. The estimated annualized costs of switching to 
a respiratory protection program requiring personal protective 
equipment (PPE) of 10,000 are $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at 7% per dry 
cleaning facility and $8,300 at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol 
degreasing facility over 15 years. In addition, there would be higher 
EPA administration and enforcement costs with a respiratory protection 
program than there would be with an enforcement program under the 
proposed approach. The higher costs of this option render this option a 
less cost effective option than the proposed

[[Page 91595]]

approach at addressing the identified unreasonable risks so TCE no 
longer presents such risks.

F. Children's Environmental Health

    This action is consistent with the 1995 EPA Policy on Evaluating 
Health Risks to Children (http://www.epa.gov/children/epas-policy-evaluating-risk-children). EPA has identified women of childbearing age 
and the developing fetus as a susceptible subpopulation relevant to its 
risk assessment for TCE. After evaluating the developmental toxicity 
literature for TCE, the TCE Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) 
assessment concluded that fetal heart malformations are the most 
sensitive developmental toxicity endpoint associated with TCE 
inhalation exposure (Ref. 3). In its TSCA Chemical Work Plan Risk 
Assessment for TCE, EPA identified developmental toxicity as the most 
sensitive endpoint for TCE inhalation exposure (i.e., fetal heart 
malformations; Ref. 1) for the most sensitive human life stage (i.e., 
women of childbearing age between the ages of 16 and 49 years and the 
developing fetus) (Ref. 1). EPA used developmental toxicity endpoints 
for both the acute and chronic non-cancer risk assessments based on its 
developmental toxicity risk assessment policy that a single exposure of 
a chemical within a critical window of fetal development may produce 
adverse developmental effects (Ref. 33). While the proposed regulatory 
action is protective of the fetal heart malformation endpoint and is 
also protective of cancer risk from chronic exposure, the supporting 
non-cancer risk analysis of children and women of childbearing age 
conducted in the TSCA Chemical Work Plan Risk Assessment for TCE (Ref. 
1) also meets the 1995 EPA Policy on Evaluating Health Risks to 
Children. Supporting information on TCE exposures and the health 
effects of TCE exposure on children are available in the Toxicological 
Review of Trichloroethylene (Ref. 3) and the TSCA Chemical Work Plan 
Risk Assessment on Trichloroethylene (Ref. 1), as well as Units 
VI.B.1.c and VII.B.1.c of this preamble.

II. Overview of TCE and Uses Subject to This Proposed Rule

A. What chemical is included in the proposed rule?

    This proposed rule would apply to TCE (Chemical Abstract Services 
Registry Number 79-01-6) for use in aerosol degreasing and for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.

B. What are the uses of TCE and how can people be exposed?

    In 2011, global consumption of TCE was 945 million pounds and 
consumption in the United States was 255 million pounds. TCE is 
produced within and imported into the United States. Nine companies, 
including domestic manufacturers and importers, reported a total 
production and import of 225 million pounds of TCE in 2011 to EPA 
pursuant to the Chemical Data Reporting CDR rule (Ref. 1).
    Individuals, including workers, consumers and the general 
population, are exposed to TCE from industrial/commercial, consumer, 
and environmental sources, in different settings such as homes and 
workplaces, and through multiple exposure pathways (air, water, soil) 
and routes (inhalation, ingestion, dermal).
    The majority (about 83.6%) of TCE is used as an intermediate 
chemical for manufacturing refrigerant HFC-134a. This use occurs in a 
closed system that has low potential for human exposure (Ref. 1). EPA 
did not assess this use and is not proposing to regulate this use of 
TCE under TSCA. Much of the remainder, about 14.7 percent, is used as a 
solvent for degreasing of metals. A relatively small percentage, about 
1.7 percent, accounts for all other uses, including TCE use in 
products, such as aerosol degreasers and spot cleaners.
    Based on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2012, 38 
companies used TCE as a formulation component, 33 companies processed 
TCE by repackaging the chemical, 28 companies used TCE as a 
manufacturing aid, and 1,113 companies used TCE for ancillary uses, 
such as degreasing (Ref. 1). Based on the latest TRI data from 2014, 
the number of users of TCE has significantly decreased since 2012: 24 
companies use TCE as a formulation component, 20 companies process TCE 
by repackaging the chemical, 20 companies use TCE as a manufacturing 
aid, and 97 companies use TCE for ancillary uses, such as degreasing.
    The uses assessed by EPA that are the subject of this proposal, the 
use of TCE in aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities, are estimated to represent up to 1.7 percent of total use 
of TCE. Aerosol degreasing is the use of TCE in aerosol spray products 
applied from a pressurized can to remove residual contaminants from 
fabricated parts. Spot cleaning is the use of TCE in dry cleaning 
facilities to clean stained areas on textiles or clothing. These uses 
are discussed in detail in Units VI and VII.

C. What are the potential health effects of TCE?

    A broad set of relevant studies including epidemiologic studies, 
animal bioassays, metabolism studies, and mechanistic studies show that 
TCE exposure is associated with an array of adverse health effects. TCE 
has the potential to induce developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, 
kidney toxicity, reproductive and endocrine effects, neurotoxicity, 
liver toxicity, and several forms of cancer (Ref. 1).
    TCE is fat soluble (lipophilic) and easily crosses biological 
membranes. TCE has been found in human maternal and fetal blood and in 
the breast milk of lactating women (Ref. 1). EPA's Integrated Risk 
Information System (IRIS) assessment (Ref. 3) concluded that TCE poses 
a potential health hazard for non-cancer toxicity including fetal heart 
malformations and other developmental effects, immunotoxicity, kidney 
toxicity, reproductive and endocrine effects, neurotoxicity, and liver 
effects. The IRIS assessment also evaluated TCE and its metabolites. 
Based on the results of in vitro and in vivo tests, TCE metabolites 
have the potential to bind or induce damage to the structure of 
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes (Ref. 3).
    An evaluation of the overall weight of the evidence of the human 
and animal developmental toxicity data suggests an association between 
pre- and/or post-natal TCE exposures and potential adverse 
developmental outcomes. TCE-induced heart malformations and 
immunotoxicity in animals have been identified as the most sensitive 
developmental toxicity endpoints for TCE. Human studies examined the 
possible association of TCE with various prenatal effects. These 
adverse effects of developmental TCE exposure may include: Fetal death 
(spontaneous abortion, perinatal death, pre- or post-implantation loss, 
resorptions); decreased growth (low birth weight, small for gestational 
age); congenital malformations, in particular heart defects; and 
postnatal effects such as growth, survival, developmental 
neurotoxicity, developmental immunotoxicity, and childhood cancers. 
Some epidemiological studies reported an increased incidence of birth 
defects in TCE-exposed populations from exposure to contaminated water. 
As for human developmental neurotoxicity, studies collectively suggest 
that the developing brain is susceptible to TCE toxicity. These studies 
have reported an association with TCE exposure and central nervous 
system birth defects and postnatal effects such as delayed

[[Page 91596]]

newborn reflexes, impaired learning or memory, aggressive behavior, 
hearing impairment, speech impairment, encephalopathy, impaired 
executive and motor function and attention deficit disorder (Ref. 1).
    Immune-related effects following TCE exposures have been observed 
in adult animal and human studies. In general, these effects were 
associated with inducing enhanced immune responses as opposed to 
immunosuppressive effects. Human studies have reported a relationship 
between systemic autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma, with 
occupational exposure to TCE. There have also been a large number of 
case reports in TCE-exposed workers developing a severe 
hypersensitivity skin disorder, often accompanied by systemic effects 
to the lymph nodes and other organs, such as hepatitis (Ref. 1).
    Studies in both humans and animals have shown changes in the 
proximal tubules of the kidney following exposure to TCE (Ref. 1). The 
TCE IRIS assessment concluded that TCE is carcinogenic to humans based 
on convincing evidence of a causal relationship between TCE exposure in 
humans and kidney cancer (Ref. 3). A recent review of TCE by the 
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also supported this 
conclusion (Ref. 4). The 13th report on carcinogens (RoC) by the 
National Toxicology Program also concluded that TCE is reasonably 
anticipated to be a human carcinogen 2015 (Ref. 5). These additional 
recent peer reviews are consistent with EPA's classification that TCE 
is carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure based upon strong 
epidemiological and animal evidence (Refs. 1 and 3).
    TCE metabolites appear to be the causative agents that induce renal 
toxicity, including cancer. S-dichlorovinyl-L-cysteine (DCVC), and to a 
lesser extent other metabolites, appears to be responsible for kidney 
damage and kidney cancer following TCE exposure. Toxicokinetic data 
suggest that the TCE metabolites derived from glutathione conjugation 
(in particular DCVC) can be systemically delivered or formed in the 
kidney. Moreover, DCVC-treated animals showed the same type of kidney 
damage as those treated with TCE (Ref. 1). The toxicokinetic data and 
the genotoxicity of DCVC further suggest that a mutagenic mode of 
action is involved in TCE-induced kidney tumors, although cytotoxicity 
followed by compensatory cellular proliferation cannot be ruled out. As 
for the mutagenic mode of action, both genetic polymorphisms 
(Glutathione transferase (GST) pathway) and mutations to tumor 
suppressor genes have been hypothesized as possible mechanistic key 
events in the formation of kidney cancers in humans (Ref. 1).
    The toxicological literature provides support for male and female 
reproductive effects following TCE exposure. Both the epidemiological 
and animal studies provide evidence of adverse effects to female 
reproductive outcomes. However, more extensive evidence exists in 
support of an association between TCE exposures and male reproductive 
toxicity. There is evidence that metabolism of TCE in male reproductive 
tract tissues is associated with adverse effects on sperm measures in 
both humans and animals. Furthermore, human studies support an 
association between TCE exposure and alterations in sperm density and 
quality, as well as changes in sexual drive or function and altered 
serum endocrine levels (Ref. 1).
    Neurotoxicity has been demonstrated in animal and human studies 
under both acute and chronic exposure conditions. Evaluation of 
multiple human studies revealed TCE-induced neurotoxic effects 
including alterations in trigeminal nerve and vestibular function, 
auditory effects, changes in vision, alterations in cognitive function, 
changes in psychomotor effects, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. These 
studies in different populations have consistently reported vestibular 
system-related symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea 
following TCE exposure (Ref. 1).
    Animals and humans exposed to TCE consistently experience liver 
toxicity. Specific effects include the following structural changes: 
Increased liver weight, increase in DNA synthesis (transient), enlarged 
hepatocytes, enlarged nuclei, and peroxisome proliferation. Several 
human studies reported an association between TCE exposure and 
significant changes in serum liver function tests used in diagnosing 
liver disease, or changes in plasma or serum bile acids. There was also 
human evidence for hepatitis accompanying immune-related generalized 
skin diseases, jaundice, hepatomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and liver 
failure in TCE-exposed workers (Ref. 1).
    TCE is characterized as carcinogenic to humans by all routes of 
exposure as documented in EPA's TCE IRIS assessment (Ref. 3). This 
conclusion is based on strong cancer epidemiological data that reported 
an association between TCE exposure and the onset of various cancers, 
primarily in the kidney, liver, and the immune system, i.e., non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Further support for TCE's characterization as 
a carcinogen comes from positive results in multiple rodent cancer 
bioassays in rats and mice of both sexes, similar toxicokinetics 
between rodents and humans, mechanistic data supporting a mutagenic 
mode of action for kidney tumors, and the lack of mechanistic data 
supporting the conclusion that any of the mode(s) of action for TCE-
induced rodent tumors are irrelevant to humans. Additional support 
comes from the 2014 evaluation of TCE's carcinogenic effects by IARC, 
which classifies TCE as carcinogenic to humans (Ref. 4). The 13th 
Report on Carcinogens (RoC) by the National Toxicology Program also 
concluded that TCE exposure is reasonably anticipated to be a human 
carcinogen (Ref. 5). These additional recent peer reviewed documents 
are consistent with EPA's classification that TCE is carcinogenic to 
humans by all routes of exposure based upon strong epidemiological and 
animal evidence (Refs. 1 and 3).

D. What are the environmental impacts of TCE?

    Pursuant to Section 6(c) of TSCA, EPA in this section describes the 
effects of TCE on the environment and the magnitude of the exposure of 
the environment to TCE. The unreasonable risk preliminary determination 
of this proposal, however, is based solely on risks to human health 
since these risks are the most serious consequence of use of TCE and 
are sufficient to support this proposed action.
    1. Environmental effects and impacts. TCE enters the environment as 
a result of emissions from metal degreasing facilities, and spills or 
accidental releases, and historic waste disposal activities. Because of 
its high vapor pressure and low affinity for organic matter in soil, 
TCE evaporates fairly rapidly when released to soil; however, where it 
is released onto land surface or directly into the subsurface, TCE can 
migrate from soil to groundwater (Ref. 1). Based on TCE's moderate 
persistence, low bioaccumulation, and low hazard for aquatic toxicity, 
the magnitude of potential environmental impacts on ecological 
receptors is judged to be low for the environmental releases associated 
with the use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and in 
aerosol degreasers. This should not be misinterpreted to mean that the 
fate and transport properties of TCE suggest that water and soil 
contamination is likely low or does not pose an environmental concern. 
EPA is addressing TCE contamination in

[[Page 91597]]

groundwater, drinking water, and contaminated soils at a large number 
of sites. While the primary concern with this contamination has been 
human health, there is potential for TCE exposures to ecological 
receptors in some cases (Ref. 1).
    2. What is the global warming potential of TCE? Global warming 
potential (GWP) measures the potency of a greenhouse gas over a 
specific period of time, relative to carbon dioxide, which has a high 
GWP of 1 regardless of the time period used. Due to high variability in 
the atmospheric lifetime of greenhouse gases, the 100-year scale 
(GWP100) is typically used. TCE has relatively low global warming 
potential at a GWP100 of 140 and thus the impact is low (Ref. 1).
    3. What is the ozone depletion potential of TCE? TCE is not an 
ozone-depleting substance and is listed as acceptable under the 
Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program for degreasing and 
aerosols. In 2007, TCE was identified as a substitute for two ozone 
depleting chemicals, methyl chloroform and CFC-113, for metals, 
electronics, and precision cleaning (72 FR 30142, May 30, 2007) (FRL-
8316-8) (Ref. 6).
    4. Is TCE a volatile organic compound (VOC)? TCE is a VOC as 
defined at 40 CFR 51.100(c). A VOC is any compound of carbon, excluding 
carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or 
carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric 
photochemical reactions.
    5. Does TCE persist in the environment and bioaccumulate? TCE may 
be persistent, but it is not bioaccumulative. TCE is slowly degraded by 
sunlight and reactants when released to the atmosphere. Volatilization 
and microbial biodegradation influence the fate of TCE when released to 
water, sediment or soil. The biodegradation of TCE in the environment 
is dependent on a variety of factors and so a wide range of degradation 
rates have been reported (ranging from days to years). TCE is not 
expected to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms based on measured 
bioconcentration factors of less than 1000 (Ref. 1).

III. Regulatory Actions Pertaining to TCE

    Because of its potential health effects, TCE is subject to state, 
federal, and international regulations restricting and regulating its 
use, which are summarized in this section. None of these actions 
addresses the unreasonable risks under TSCA that EPA is seeking to 
address in this proposed rule.

A. Federal Actions Pertaining to TCE

    Since 1979, EPA has issued numerous final rules and notices 
pertaining to TCE under its various authorities.
     Safe Drinking Water Act: EPA issued drinking water 
standards for TCE pursuant to section 1412 of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act. EPA promulgated the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation 
(NPDWR) for TCE in 1987 (52 FR 25690, July 8, 1987). The NPDWR 
established a non-enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) goal of 
zero mg/L based on classification as a probable human carcinogen. The 
NPDWR also established an enforceable MCL of 0.005 mg/L based on 
analytical feasibility. EPA is evaluating revising the TCE drinking 
water standard as part of a group of carcinogenic volatile organic 
compounds.
     Clean Water Act: EPA identified TCE as a toxic pollutant 
under section 307(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1317(a)(1)) 
in 1979 (44 FR 44502, July 30, 1979) (FRL-1260-5). In addition, EPA 
developed recommended TCE ambient water quality criteria for the 
protection of human health pursuant to section 304(a) of the Clean 
Water Act.
     Clean Air Act: TCE is designated a hazardous air pollutant 
(HAP) under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(b)(1)). EPA promulgated 
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for 
TCE for several industrial source categories, including halogenated 
solvent cleaning, fabric printing, coating, and dyeing, and synthetic 
organic chemical manufacturing.
     Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): EPA 
classifies certain wastes containing TCE as hazardous waste subject to 
Subtitle C of RCRA pursuant to the toxicity characteristics or as a 
listed waste. RCRA also provides authority to require cleanup of 
hazardous wastes containing TCE at RCRA facilities.
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act (CERCLA): EPA designated TCE as a hazardous substance 
with a reportable quantity pursuant to section 102(a) of CERCLA and EPA 
is actively overseeing cleanup of sites contaminated with TCE pursuant 
to the National Contingency Plan (NCP).
    While many of the statutes that EPA is charged with administering 
provide statutory authority to address specific sources and routes of 
TCE exposure, none of these can address the serious human health risks 
from TCE exposure that EPA is proposing to address under TSCA section 
6(a) today.
    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
established a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for TCE in 1971. The PEL 
is an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) TCE concentration of 100 ppm. 
In addition, the TCE PEL requires that exposures to TCE not exceed 200 
ppm (ceiling) at any time during an eight hour work shift with the 
following exception: Exposures may exceed 200 ppm, but not more than 
300 ppm (peak), for a single time period up to 5 minutes in any 2 hours 
(Refs. 7 and 8). OSHA acknowledges that many of its PELs are not 
protective of worker health. OSHA has noted that ``with few exceptions, 
OSHA's PELs, which specify the amount of a particular chemical 
substance allowed in workplace air, have not been updated since they 
were established in 1971 under expedited procedures available in the 
short period after the OSH Act's adoption . . . Yet, in many instances, 
scientific evidence has accumulated suggesting that the current limits 
are not sufficiently protective.'' (Ref. 9 at p. 61386), including the 
PEL for TCE (Ref. 65).
    To provide employers, workers, and other interested parties with a 
list of alternate occupational exposure limits that may serve to better 
protect workers, OSHA's Web page highlights selected occupational 
exposure limits derived by other organizations. For example, the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health considers TCE a 
potential occupational carcinogen and recommended an exposure limit of 
25 ppm as a 10-hour TWA in 2003 (Ref. 10). The American Conference of 
Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommended an 8-hour TWA of 10 ppm 
and acute, or short-term, exposure limit of 25 ppm in 2004 (Ref. 11).

B. State Actions Pertaining to TCE

    Many states have taken actions to reduce risks from TCE use. TCE is 
listed on California's Safer Consumer Products regulations candidate 
list of chemicals that exhibit a hazard trait and are on an 
authoritative list, and is also listed on California's Proposition 65 
list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. In addition, the California Code of Regulations, 
Title 17, Section 94509(a) lists standards for VOCs for consumer 
products sold, supplied, offered for sale, or manufactured for use in 
California (Ref. 12). As part of that regulation, use of consumer 
general purpose degreaser products that contain TCE are banned in 
California and safer substitutes are in use.

[[Page 91598]]

    In Massachusetts, TCE is a designated high hazard substance, with 
an annual reporting threshold of 1,000 pounds (Ref. 13). Minnesota 
classifies TCE as a chemical of high concern. Many other states have 
considered TCE for similar chemical listings (Ref. 14). Several 
additional states have various TCE regulations that range from 
reporting requirements to product contamination limits to use reduction 
efforts aimed at limiting or prohibiting TCE content in products.
    Most states have set PELs identical to the OSHA 100 ppm 8-hour TWA 
PEL (Ref. 15). Nine states have PELs of 50 ppm (Ref. 15). California's 
PEL of 25 ppm is the most stringent (Ref. 12). All of these PELs are 
significantly higher than the exposures at which EPA identified 
unreasonable risks for TCE use in aerosol degreasers and for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and would not be protective.

C. International Actions Pertaining to TCE

    TCE is also regulated internationally and the international 
industrial and commercial sectors have moved to alternatives. TCE is 
prohibited for use in the European Union (EU) as an aerosol degreaser 
and spotting agent at dry cleaning facilities based on its 
classification as a carcinogenic substance (Ref. 16). TCE was added to 
the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of 
Chemicals (REACH) restriction of substances classified as a carcinogen 
category 1B under the EU Classification and Labeling regulation in 2009 
(Ref. 16). The restriction prohibits the placing on the market or use 
of TCE as a substance, as a constituent of other substances, or in 
mixtures for supply to the general public when the individual 
concentration of TCE in the substance or mixture is equal to or greater 
than 0.1% by weight (Ref. 16). In 2010, TCE was added to the Candidate 
List of substances for inclusion in Annex XIV of REACH, or the 
Authorisation List. Annex XIV includes Substances of Very High Concern 
that are subject to use authorization due to their hazardous 
properties. TCE meets the criteria for classification as a carcinogen. 
In 2011, TCE was recommended for inclusion in Annex XIV of REACH due to 
the very high volumes allocated to uses in the scope of authorization 
and because at least some of the described uses appeared to result in 
significant exposure of workers and professionals, and could be 
considered widely dispersive uses. In 2013, the Commission added TCE to 
Annex XIV of REACH, making it subject to authorization. As such, 
entities that wanted to use TCE were required to apply for 
authorization by October 2014, and those entities without an 
authorization were required to stop using TCE by April 2016. The 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) received 19 applications for 
authorization from entities interested in using TCE beyond April 2016. 
None of the applications were for use of TCE in aerosol degreasers or 
for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities (Ref. 16).
    Canada conducted a hazard assessment of TCE in 1993 and concluded 
that ``trichloroethylene occurs at concentrations that may be harmful 
to the environment, and that may constitute a danger in Canada to human 
life or health. It has been concluded that trichloroethylene occurs at 
concentrations that do not constitute a danger to the environment on 
which human life depends'' (Ref. 17). In 2003, Canada issued the 
Solvent Degreasing Regulations (SOR/2003-283) to reduce releases of TCE 
into the environment from solvent degreasing facilities using more than 
1,000 kilograms of TCE per year (Ref. 17). In 2013, Canada added TCE to 
the Toxic Substances List--Schedule 1 because TCE was found to be toxic 
under conditions (a) and (c) of Section 64(a) of the Canadian 
Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) because it ``is entering or may 
enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under 
conditions that: (a) Have or may have an immediate or chronic harmful 
effect on the environment or its biological diversity, and (c) 
constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or 
health.'' (Ref. 18).
    In Japan, the Chemical Substances Control Law considers TCE a Class 
II substance (substances that may pose a risk of long-term toxicity to 
humans or to flora and fauna in the human living environment, and that 
have been, or in the near future are reasonably likely to be, found in 
considerable amounts over a substantially extensive area of the 
environment) (Ref. 19). Japan also controls air emissions and water 
discharges containing TCE, as well as aerosol products for household 
use and household cleaners containing TCE.
    TCE is listed in the Australian National Pollutant Inventory, a 
program run cooperatively by the Australian, State and Territory 
governments to monitor common pollutants and their levels of release to 
the environment. Australia classifies TCE as a health, physicochemical 
and/or ecotoxicological hazard, according to the Australian National 
Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Ref. 20).

IV. TCE Risk Assessment

    In 2013, EPA identified TCE use as a solvent degreaser (aerosol 
degreasing and vapor degreasing) and spot remover in dry cleaning 
operations as a priority for risk assessment under the TSCA Work Plan. 
This Unit describes the development of the TCE risk assessment and 
supporting analysis and expert input on the uses that are the subject 
of this proposed rule. A more detailed discussion of the risks 
associated with each use subject to today's proposed rule can be found 
in Units VI and VII.

A. TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments

    In 2012, EPA released the TSCA Work Plan Chemicals: Methods 
Document in which EPA described the process the Agency intended to use 
to identify potential candidate chemicals for near-term review and 
assessment under TSCA (Ref. 21). EPA also released the initial list of 
TSCA Work Plan chemicals identified for further assessment under TSCA 
as part of its chemical safety program (Ref. 22).
    The process for identifying these chemicals for further assessment 
under TSCA was based on a combination of hazard, exposure, and 
persistence and bioaccumulation characteristics, and is described in 
the TSCA Work Plan Chemicals Methods Document (Ref. 21). Using the TSCA 
Work Plan chemical prioritization criteria, TCE ranked high for health 
hazards and exposure potential and was included on the initial list of 
TSCA Work Plan chemicals for assessment.

B. TCE Risk Assessment

    EPA finalized a TSCA Work Plan Chemical Risk Assessment for TCE 
(TCE risk assessment) in June 2014, following the July 2013 peer review 
of the December 2012 draft TCE risk assessment. All documents from the 
July 2013 peer review of the draft TCE risk assessment are available in 
EPA Docket Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0723. TCE appears in the 2014 update 
of the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments and the completed risk 
assessment is noted therein. The draft TCE risk assessment evaluated 
commercial and consumer use of TCE as a solvent degreaser (aerosol 
degreasing and vapor degreasing) and consumer use of TCE as a spray-
applied protective coating for arts and crafts (Ref. 1). In response to 
specific comments and information provided by the peer reviewers, the 
commercial use of TCE as a spotting agent at dry cleaning facilities 
was evaluated, using the near-field/far-field mass balance approach, 
for the

[[Page 91599]]

final risk assessment. The use of TCE in commercial/industrial vapor 
degreasing, and in arts and crafts, is not addressed in today's 
proposal. EPA intends to issue a separate proposed rule on TCE use in 
vapor degreasers at commercial/industrial facilities soon. EPA also 
published a final Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) that would require 
manufacturers (including importers) and processors of TCE to notify the 
Agency before starting or resuming any significant new uses of TCE in 
certain consumer products, including in spray fixatives used to finish 
arts and crafts (81 FR 20535; April 8, 2016).
    The TCE risk assessment evaluated health risks to consumers and 
workers, including occupational bystanders, from inhalation exposures 
to TCE. A summary of the peer review and public comments, along with 
EPA's response, is available in the docket for the risk assessment and 
can be accessed electronically at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0723-0039. While solvent degreasing (both 
aerosol and vapor) is within the scope of the TCE risk assessment, with 
respect to aerosol degreasing, the assessment targeted consumer use of 
specific products. Therefore, using the peer reviewed near-field/far-
field mass balance approach that was used in the risk assessment, EPA 
performed supplemental analyses of worker and bystander inhalation risk 
from TCE aerosol degreaser use in occupational settings. The TCE risk 
assessment identified primary uses of TCE and selected uses including 
aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities as 
those that were expected to involve frequent or routine use of TCE in 
high concentrations and/or have high potential for human exposure 
(Refs. 1, 23, 24, and 25) and therefore were included in the scope of 
the risk assessment. However, this does not mean that EPA determined 
that other uses not included in the TCE risk assessments present low 
risk.
    The TCE risk assessment identified acute non-cancer risks (i.e., 
developmental effects) for most occupational and consumer exposure 
scenarios, including commercial vapor degreasing, spot cleaning, and 
consumer aerosol degreasing exposure scenarios (Ref. 1). For chronic 
non-cancer risks there is a range of human health effects in both the 
occupational vapor degreasing and spot cleaning exposure scenarios with 
the greatest concern for developmental effects (i.e., fetal cardiac 
defects), as well as kidney effects and immunotoxicity. In addition, 
there are chronic non-cancer risks for adverse reproductive effects, 
neurotoxicity, and liver toxicity (Ref. 1).
    Margins of exposure (MOEs) were used in this assessment to estimate 
non-cancer risks for acute and chronic exposures. The MOE is the health 
point of departure (an approximation of the no-observed adverse effect 
level (NOAEL) for a specific endpoint divided by the exposure 
concentration for the specific scenario of concern. The benchmark MOE 
accounts for the total uncertainty factor based on the following 
uncertainty factors: Intraspecies, interspecies, subchronic to chronic, 
and lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) to NOAEL. Uncertainty 
factors are intended to account for (1) the variation in sensitivity 
among the members of the human population (i.e., interhuman or 
intraspecies variability); (2) the uncertainty in extrapolating animal 
data to humans (i.e., interspecies variability); (3) the uncertainty in 
extrapolating from data obtained in a study with less-than-lifetime 
exposure to lifetime exposure (i.e., extrapolating from subchronic to 
chronic exposure); and (4) the uncertainty in extrapolating from a 
LOAEL rather than from a NOAEL (Ref. 26). MOEs provide a non-cancer 
risk profile by presenting a range of estimates for different non-
cancer health effects for different exposure scenarios, and are a 
widely recognized method for evaluating a range of potential non-cancer 
health risks from exposure to a chemical.
    The TCE risk assessment estimated acute non-cancer risks for 
consumers and residential bystanders from the use of TCE-containing 
aerosol degreasers and spray-applied protective coatings. Exposure 
scenarios with MOEs below the benchmark MOE have significant risks of 
concern and typically, non-cancer adverse effects are more likely to 
result from exposure scenarios with MOEs below the benchmark MOE. For 
non-cancer effects EPA estimated exposures that are significantly 
larger than the point of departure. The TCE risk assessment also 
estimated acute non-cancer risk for workers and occupational bystanders 
for uses including spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
    The TCE risk assessment also estimated chronic non-cancer risk for 
workers and occupational bystanders for uses including spot cleaning in 
dry cleaning facilities. These include developmental toxicity, toxicity 
to the kidney, immunotoxicity, reproductive and endocrine effects, 
neurotoxicity, and toxicity to the liver.
    There are also cancer risks for persons occupationally exposed to 
TCE when using TCE-containing spot cleaners in dry cleaning facilities. 
For users of TCE-containing spot cleaning products, these cancer risks 
are 1.35 x 10 -2 for spot cleaning. In the supplemental 
analysis following the TCE risk assessment, EPA also identified acute 
and chronic non-cancer and cancer risks for the commercial aerosol 
degreasing use scenario for workers and occupational bystanders using 
aerosol degreasers (Ref. 23).
    The levels of acute and chronic exposures estimated to present low 
risk for non-cancer effects also result in low risk for cancer.
    Given the risks identified in the TCE risk assessment, the agency 
undertook further analysis to help determine whether the use of TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and in aerosol degreasers 
poses an unreasonable risk.

C. Supplemental Analysis Using the Methodology of the TCE Risk 
Assessment

    Because the TCE risk assessment concentrated on consumer use of 
aerosol degreasers and because the aerosol degreaser products available 
to consumers are also available to commercial users, following release 
of the TCE risk assessment, EPA analyzed the risk to workers and 
occupational bystanders from commercial use of TCE-containing aerosol 
degreasers and identified short-term and long-term non-cancer and 
cancer risks for the commercial aerosol degreasing use scenario (Ref. 
23). This analysis is consistent with the scope of the TCE risk 
assessment and was based on the peer-reviewed near-field/far-field mass 
balance approach that was used in the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1). EPA 
also conducted supplemental analyses of various parameters of exposure 
scenarios, consistent with the methodology used in the risk assessment, 
on the use of TCE-containing aerosol degreasers by consumers and use of 
TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. Prior to promulgation 
of the final rule, EPA will peer review the ``Supplemental Occupational 
Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical Report in Support of Risk 
Management Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Aerosol 
Degreasing'' (Ref. 25) and the exposure assessment for TCE use in spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities in the ``TSCA Work Plan Chemical 
Risk Assessment. Trichloroethylene: Degreasing, Spot Cleaning and Arts 
& Crafts Uses'' (Ref. 1).

[[Page 91600]]

D. Expert Meeting on TCE

    On July 29, 2014, EPA held a 2-day public workshop on TCE 
degreasing (Ref. 27). The purpose of the workshop was to collect 
information from users, academics, and other stakeholders on the use of 
TCE as a degreaser in various applications, e.g., in degreasing metal 
parts, availability and efficacy of safer alternatives, safer 
engineering practices and technologies to reduce exposure to TCE, and 
to discuss possible risk reduction approaches. The workshop included 
presentations by experts, breakout sessions with case studies, and 
public comment opportunities (Ref. 27) and informed EPA's assessment of 
the alternatives to TCE considered in this proposed rule. All documents 
from the public workshop are available in EPA Docket Number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2014-0327. Informed in part by the workshop and other analysis, 
including discussion with Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the 
University of Massachusetts Lowell, EPA has concluded that TCE 
alternatives are available for all applications subject to this 
proposed rule (Ref. 2). The discussions of the meeting demonstrated 
that alternatives are available for aerosol uses that are being 
addressed in this proposed rulemaking.

V. Regulatory Approach

A. TSCA Section 6 Unreasonable Risk Analysis

    Under section 6(a) of TSCA, if the Administrator determines that a 
chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or 
the environment, without consideration of costs or other non-risk 
factors, including an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or 
susceptible subpopulation identified as relevant to the Agency's risk 
evaluation, under the conditions of use, EPA must by rule apply one or 
more requirements to the extent necessary so that the chemical 
substance no longer presents such risk.
    The section 6(a) requirements can include one or more, or a 
combination of, the following actions:
     Prohibit or otherwise restrict the manufacturing, 
processing, or distribution in commerce of such substances (Sec.  
6(a)(1)).
     Prohibit or otherwise restrict manufacturing, processing, 
or distribution in commerce of such substances for particular uses or 
for uses in excess of a specified concentration (Sec.  6(a)(2)).
     Require minimum warning labels and instructions (Sec.  
6(a)(3)).
     Require record keeping or testing (Sec.  6(a)(4)).
     Prohibit or regulate any manner or method of commercial 
use (Sec.  6(a)(5)).
     Prohibit or otherwise regulate any manner or method of 
disposal (Sec.  6(a)(6)).
     Direct manufacturers and processors to give notice of the 
determination to distributors and the public and replace or repurchase 
substances (Sec.  6(a)(7)).
    EPA analyzed a wide range of regulatory options under section 6(a) 
for each use in order to determine the proposed regulatory approach 
(Refs. 28 and 29). For each use, EPA considered whether a regulatory 
option (or combination of options) would address the identified 
unreasonable risks so that it no longer presents such risks. To do so, 
EPA initially analyzed whether the regulatory options could reduce 
risks (non-cancer and cancer) so that TCE no longer presents 
unreasonable risks, based on EPA's technical analysis of exposure 
scenarios. For the non-cancer risks, EPA determined an option could be 
protective against the risk if it could achieve the benchmark MOE for 
the most sensitive non-cancer endpoint. EPA's assessments for these 
uses indicate that when exposures meet the benchmark MOE for the most 
sensitive endpoint, they also result in low risk for cancer.
    After the technical analysis, which represents EPA's assessment of 
the potential for the regulatory options to achieve risk benchmarks 
based on analysis of exposure scenarios, EPA then considered how 
reliably the regulatory options would actually reach these benchmarks. 
In determining whether a regulatory option would impose requirements to 
the extent necessary so that TCE no longer presents the identified 
unreasonable risks, the Agency considered whether the option could be 
realistically implemented or whether there were practical limitations 
on how well the option would mitigate the risks in relation to the 
benchmarks, as well as whether the option's protectiveness was impacted 
by environmental justice or children's health concerns.
    B. Section 6(c)(2) considerations. As noted previously, TSCA 
section 6(c)(2) requires EPA to factor in, to the extent practicable, 
the following considerations in selecting regulatory requirements:
     Health effects of TCE and the magnitude of human exposure 
to TCE;
     Environmental effects of TCE and the magnitude of exposure 
of the environment to TCE;
     Benefits of TCE for various uses;
     Reasonably ascertainable economic consequences of the 
rule, including: The likely effect of the rule on the national economy, 
small business, technological innovation, the environment, and public 
health; the costs and benefits of the proposed and final rule and of 
the one or more primary alternatives that EPA considered; and the cost-
effectiveness of the proposed rule and of the one or more primary 
alternatives that EPA considered.
    In deciding whether to prohibit or restrict in a manner that 
substantially prevents a specific condition of use of a chemical 
substance or mixture, and in setting an appropriate transition period 
for such action, EPA must also consider, to the extent practicable, 
whether technically and economically feasible alternatives that benefit 
health or the environment will be reasonably available as a substitute 
when the proposed prohibition or other restriction takes effect.
    EPA's analysis of the regulatory options and consideration of the 
TSCA section 6(c)(2) factors are discussed in more detail in Unit VI 
for aerosol degreasing and in Unit VII for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities.
    To the extent information was available, EPA considered the 
benefits realized from risk reductions (including monetized benefits, 
non-monetized quantified benefits, and qualitative benefits), offsets 
to benefits from countervailing risks (e.g., residual risk risks from 
chemical substitutions and alternative practices), the relative risk 
for environmental justice populations and children or other susceptible 
subpopulations (as compared to the general population), and the cost of 
regulatory requirements for the various options.
    EPA considered the estimated costs to regulated entities as well as 
the cost to administer and enforce the options. For example, an option 
that includes use of a respirator would include inspections to evaluate 
compliance with all elements of a respiratory protection program (Ref. 
30). EPA took into account the available information about the 
functionality and performance efficacy of the regulatory options and 
the ability to implement the use of chemical substitutes or other 
alternatives (e.g., PPE). Available information included the existence 
of other Federal, state, or international regulatory requirements 
associated with each of the regulatory options as well as the 
commercial history for the options.

C. Regulatory Options Receiving Limited Evaluation

    As discussed previously, EPA analyzed a wide range of regulatory 
options under TSCA section 6(a). Early in the process, EPA identified 
two

[[Page 91601]]

regulatory options under section 6(a) that do not pertain to this 
action and were therefore not evaluated for this proposed rulemaking. 
First, EPA determined that the TSCA section 6(a)(1) regulatory option 
to prohibit the manufacture, processing or distribution in commerce of 
TCE or limit the amount of TCE which may be manufactured, processed or 
distributed in commerce is not applicable because the Agency is not 
proposing to ban or limit the manufacture, processing or distribution 
in commerce of TCE for uses other than in aerosol degreasing or for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities at this time. In addition, EPA 
determined that the TSCA section 6(a)(6) regulatory option to prohibit 
or otherwise regulate any manner or method of disposal of the chemical 
is not applicable since EPA did not assess risks associated with TCE 
disposal.
    Another option EPA evaluated would require warning labels and 
instructions on TCE-containing aerosol degreasers and for spot cleaning 
in dry cleaning facilities pursuant to section 6(a)(3) (Refs. 28 and 
29). The Agency determined that warning labels and instructions alone 
could not mitigate the risks to the extent necessary so that TCE no 
longer presents the identified unreasonable risks to users. The Agency 
based this determination on an analysis of 48 relevant studies or meta-
analyses, which found that consumers and professionals do not 
consistently pay attention to labels; consumers and professional users 
often do not understand label information; consumers and professional 
users often base a decision to follow label information on previous 
experience and perceptions of risk; even if consumers and professional 
users have noticed, read, understood, and believed the information on a 
hazardous chemical product label, they may not be motivated to follow 
the label information, instructions, or warnings; and consumers and 
professional users have varying behavioral responses to warning labels, 
as shown by mixed results in studies (Ref. 37).
    These conclusions are based on the weight-of-evidence analysis that 
EPA conducted of the available literature on the efficacy of labeling 
and warnings. This analysis indicates that a label's effectiveness at 
changing user behavior to comply with instructions and warnings depends 
not only on attributes of the label and the user, but also on the 
multiple steps required in the processes of attention, comprehension, 
judgment, and action (Ref. 37).
    Numerous studies have found that product labels and warnings are 
effective to some degree. However, the extent of the effectiveness has 
varied considerably across studies and some of the perceived 
effectiveness may not reflect real-world situations. This is because 
interactions among labels, users, the environment, and other factors 
greatly influence the degree of a label's effectiveness at changing 
user behavior (Ref. 37). In addition, while some studies have shown 
that different components of labels and warnings tend to have some 
influence, the evidence does not suggest that labels alone would be 
sufficient to ensure that users take the steps needed to protect 
themselves.
    The Agency further determined that presenting information about TCE 
on a label would not adequately address the identified unreasonable 
risks because the nature of the information the user would need to 
read, understand, and act upon is extremely complex. When the 
precaution or information is simple or uncomplicated (e.g., do not mix 
this cleaner with bleach or do not mix this cleaner with ammonia), it 
is more likely the user will successfully understand and follow the 
direction. In contrast, it would be challenging to most users to follow 
the complex product label instructions required to explain how to 
reduce exposures to the extremely low levels needed to minimize the 
risk from TCE. Rather than a simple message, the label would need to 
explain a variety of inter-related factors, including but not limited 
to the use of local exhaust ventilation, respirators and assigned 
protection factor, and window periods during pregnancy when the 
developing fetus is susceptible to adverse effects from acute 
exposures, as well as effects to bystanders. It is unlikely that label 
language changes will for this use result in widespread, consistent, 
and successful adoption of risk reduction measures by users.
    Additionally, any use of labels to promote or regulate safe product 
use should be considered in the context of other potential risk 
reduction techniques. As highlighted by a 2014 expert report for the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ``safety and warnings 
literature consistently identify warnings as a less effective hazard-
control measure than either designing out a hazard or guarding the 
consumer from a hazard. Warnings are less effective primarily because 
they do not prevent consumer exposure to the hazard. Instead, they rely 
on persuading consumers to alter their behavior in some way to avoid 
the hazard'' (Ref. 38).
    While this regulatory option alone does not address the risks, EPA 
recognizes that the section 6(a)(3) warnings and instruction 
requirement can be an important component to an approach for addressing 
unreasonable risks associated with TCE use in aerosol degreasers and 
for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and has included a very 
simple downstream notification requirement as part of the proposed 
rulemaking.

VI. Regulatory Assessment of TCE Use in Aerosol Degreasing

    This Unit describes the current use of TCE in aerosol degreasing, 
the unreasonable risks presented by this use, and how EPA preliminarily 
determined which regulatory options are necessary to address those 
unreasonable risks.

A. Description of the Current Use

    Aerosol degreasing is a process that uses aerosol spray products, 
typically applied from a pressurized can, to remove residual 
contaminants from parts. The aerosol droplets bead up on the fabricated 
part and then drip off, carrying away any contaminants and leaving 
behind a clean surface. Components of an item can be cleaned in place 
or removed from the item for more thorough cleaning. Aerosol degreasers 
can also be sprayed onto a rag that is used to wipe components clean.
    Aerosol degreasers are primarily used for niche industrial or 
manufacturing uses and some commercial service uses, such as degreasing 
of metals, degreasing of electrical motors, and electronic cleaners. 
One example of a commercial setting for the aerosol degreaser use is 
repair shops, where service items are cleaned to remove any 
contaminants that would otherwise compromise the item's operation. 
Internal components may be cleaned in place or removed from the item, 
cleaned, and then re-installed once dry. EPA identified 16 different 
aerosol spray degreaser products that contain TCE, blended by 6 
different firms. EPA estimates that about 2,200 commercial facilities 
use TCE aerosol spray degreasers (Ref. 2). EPA requests comment on uses 
of TCE aerosol degreasers and TCE aerosol degreasing products that the 
agency did not identify.
    Consumer use of TCE in aerosol degreasers is similar to commercial 
use but occurs in consumer settings. The aerosol products used in 
consumer settings are the same as those used in commercial settings. 
TCE use is very limited in products intended for consumers due to 
existing VOC regulations in California and in a number of northeast, 
mid-Atlantic, and Midwestern states. Consumer Specialty Products 
Association (CSPA) member

[[Page 91602]]

companies have consistently stated that they do not formulate TCE to be 
sold into consumer products, and the products are generally only sold 
in the commercial supply chains (Ref. 31). However, due to the wide 
availability of products available on the Internet and through various 
suppliers that serve commercial and consumer customers, consumers are 
able to purchase aerosol degreasing products containing TCE. As a 
result, EPA evaluated consumer exposures to aerosol degreasers 
containing TCE in its TCE risk assessment, and identified potential 
risks to consumers from aerosol degreasers.
    There are currently TCE alternatives available on the market for 
all of the existing uses of aerosol degreasing that are similar in 
efficacy and cost (Refs. 2, 32). The most likely substitute products 
would be products with hydrocarbon/mineral spirits, products that are 
acetone or terpene based, and some that contain perchloroethylene or 1-
bromopropane. All substitutes are expected to be less hazardous than 
TCE. Substitutes that are hazardous but at dose levels higher than the 
dose levels at which TCE causes adverse effects include 
perchloroethylene and 1-bromopropane. EPA does not advocate that 
perchloroethylene or 1-bromopropane be used as substitutes. EPA 
released a draft risk assessment for 1-bromopropane on March 3, 2016. 
The schedule for finalizing the assessment of 1-bromopropane and other 
chemicals is still under development. Many substitutes are expected to 
be significantly less hazardous than TCE, based on currently available 
information. These include formulations that may be categorized as 
acetone-, citrus terpene-, hydrocarbon-, and water-based degreasers. 
Several formulations are made with chemicals that are expected to have 
lower relative exposure potential, compared to TCE, based on currently 
available information. These include citrus terpenes and water-based 
degreasers. EPA has not developed risk estimates related to the use of 
substitutes, however, the benefits analysis incorporates the potential 
for certain alternatives to result in risks to users by assuming no 
benefits for TCE users that switch to perchloroethylene or 1-
bromopropane alternatives in its lower estimate for benefits. EPA 
estimates that 25% of TCE users will substitute perchloroethylene or 1-
bromopropane, 50% will substitute hydrocarbon/mineral spirits, and 25% 
will substitute acetone/terpene alternatives (Ref. 2). Although some 
substitutes, including perchloroethylene and 1-bromopropane, are 
hazardous, effects from these chemicals are generally seen at levels 
that are higher than the levels that are associated with TCE toxicity. 
Thus, considering similar exposure potentials for substitutes, the 
overall risk potential for the substitutes will be less than for TCE 
(Ref. 32).

B. Analysis of Regulatory Options

    In this section, EPA explains how it determined whether the 
regulatory options considered would address the unreasonable risks 
presented by this use. First, EPA characterizes the unreasonable risks 
associated with the current use of TCE in aerosol degreasing. Then, the 
Agency describes its initial analysis of which regulatory options have 
the potential to reach the protective non-cancer and cancer benchmarks. 
The levels of acute and chronic exposures estimated to present low risk 
for non-cancer effects also result in low risk for cancer. Lastly, this 
section evaluates how well those regulatory options would address the 
identified unreasonable risks in practice.
    1. Risks associated with the current use. a. General impacts. The 
TCE risk assessment identified acute non-cancer risks for consumers and 
residential bystanders from the use of TCE-containing aerosol 
degreasers (Ref. 1). EPA performed supplemental analysis consistent 
with the methodology used for the consumer use scenario included in the 
TCE risk assessment (Ref. 24), and identified acute and chronic non-
cancer risks and cancer risks for the commercial aerosol degreasing use 
scenario (Ref. 23). EPA estimates that there are approximately 10,800 
workers and occupational bystanders at commercial aerosol degreasing 
operations, and approximately 22,000 consumers and bystanders exposed 
to TCE during the consumer use of aerosol degreasers (Ref. 2).
    b. Impacts on minority populations. There is no known 
disproportionate representation of minority populations in occupations 
using aerosol degreasers. All employees and consumers using aerosol 
degreasers would benefit from risk reduction.
    c. Impacts on children. EPA has concerns for effects on the 
developing fetus from acute and chronic worker and consumer maternal 
exposures to TCE. The risk estimates are focused on pregnant women 
because one of the most sensitive health effects associated with TCE 
exposure from the use of consumer and commercial aerosol degreasers is 
adverse effects on the developing fetus. The potential for exposure is 
significant because approximately half of all pregnancies are 
unintended. If a pregnancy is not planned before conception, a woman 
may not be in optimal health for childbearing (Ref. 33). The pregnancy 
estimate includes women who have live births, induced abortions, and 
fetal losses (Ref. 2).
    EPA also examined acute risks for consumer exposures in residential 
settings. EPA assumed that affected consumers would be individuals that 
intermittently use TCE aerosol degreasers in and around their homes, 
whereas bystanders would be individuals in close proximity to the use 
activity but not using the product. EPA assumed that consumer users 
would generally be adults of both sexes (16 years old and older, 
including women of childbearing age), although exposures to teenagers 
and even younger individuals may be possible in residential settings as 
bystanders. However, risk estimates focused on pregnant women. This is 
because one of the most sensitive health effects associated with TCE 
exposure is adverse effects on the developing fetus (Ref. 3).
    d. Exposures for this use. For consumer exposures, EPA used the 
Exposure and Fate Assessment Screening Tool Version 2/Consumer Exposure 
Module to estimate TCE exposures for the consumer use scenarios (Ref. 
1). This modeling approach was selected because emissions and 
monitoring data were not available for the aerosol degreasing TCE uses 
under consideration. The model used a two-zone representation of a 
house to calculate potential TCE exposure levels for consumers and 
bystanders. The modeling approach integrated assumptions and input 
parameters about exposure duration, the chemical emission rate over 
time, the volume of the house and the room of use, the air exchange 
rate and interzonal airflow rate. The model also considered the exposed 
individual's location as it relates to use, body weight, and inhalation 
rate during and after the product use (Ref. 1). No respirator scenarios 
were considered for use by consumers because EPA cannot require use of 
respirators by consumers under TSCA section 6(a). EPA used both an air 
exchange rate of 0.45 per hour based on the central tendency 
ventilation rate for a home in the United States and a higher 
ventilation rate (1.26 air exchanges per hour, representing the upper 
10% of U.S. homes) to represent use of the TCE aerosol degreaser in a 
well-ventilated space (Refs. 1, 24). EPA also considered a range of 
concentrations of TCE in the aerosol

[[Page 91603]]

degreasers that the consumers used (5% to 90%) (Refs. 1, 24). In the 
modeling, TCE in the aerosol degreaser entered the room air through 
overspray of the product and evaporation from a thin film. The 
inhalation acute dose rates were computed iteratively by calculating 
the peak concentrations for each simulated 1-second interval and then 
summing the doses over 24 hours to form a 24-hour dose (Ref. 1).
    The high-end inhalation exposure estimates for the consumer 
scenarios were 2 ppm for users of TCE-containing aerosol degreasers and 
0.8 ppm for bystanders of TCE-containing solvent degreasers (Ref. 1).
    For exposures in commercial settings, EPA determined baseline 
exposures using a near-field/far-field modeling approach to estimate 
airborne concentrations of TCE and Monte Carlo simulation to establish 
the range and likelihood of exposures (Ref. 23). The near-field/far-
field model estimates airborne concentrations in a near field (a zone 
close to the source of exposure) and a far field (a zone farther from 
the source of exposure but within the occupational building). EPA used 
these estimated airborne concentrations to estimate 8-hour time 
weighted average exposures for workers (i.e., in the near field) and 
occupational bystanders (i.e., in the far field). A worker is defined 
as the person performing the task in which TCE is used. Occupational 
bystanders are defined as other people within the building who are not 
performing the TCE-based task. Details of the modeling and estimation 
method for calculating exposure levels during aerosol degreasing are 
available in the analysis document, Supplemental Occupational Exposure 
and Risk Reduction Technical Report in Support of Risk Management 
Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Aerosol Degreasing (Ref. 
23). As discussed in Unit IV.C, this analysis is based on the 
methodology used in the peer reviewed TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1).
    EPA assumed that a worker applies aerosol degreasers 260 days a 
year, once per hour, and that no applications occur during the first 
hour of the 8-hour work day. EPA also assumed that aerosol degreasing 
facilities use 192.2 grams of degreaser per day and for 100% TCE 
degreaser this would be 27.5 grams of TCE per application. For 
degreasers with differing concentrations of TCE, the per-application 
quantity was adjusted accordingly (Refs. 1 and 23).
    e. Risks for this use. As discussed in Unit IV.B, TCE is associated 
with a range of non-cancer adverse health effects in humans and animals 
and is carcinogenic to humans. MOEs were used in this assessment to 
estimate non-cancer risks for acute and chronic exposures. Exposure 
scenarios with MOEs below the benchmark MOE for the individual toxicity 
endpoints have risks of concern, as explained in detail in the TCE risk 
assessment (Ref. 1). Cancer risks express the incremental probability 
of an individual developing cancer over a lifetime as a result of 
exposure to TCE under specified use scenarios.
    The acute inhalation risk assessment used developmental toxicity 
data to evaluate the acute risks for the TCE use scenarios. As 
indicated in the TSCA Work Plan Risk Assessment on TCE, EPA's policy 
supports the use of developmental studies to evaluate the risks of 
acute exposures. This science-based policy is based on the presumption 
that a single exposure of a chemical at a critical window of fetal 
development, as in the case of cardiac malformation, may produce 
adverse developmental effects (Ref. 34 and 35). EPA reviewed multiple 
studies for suitability for acute risk estimation including a number of 
developmental studies of TCE exposure and additional studies of TCE 
metabolites administered developmentally (Appendix N) (Ref. 1). EPA 
based its acute risk assessment on the most sensitive health endpoint 
(i.e., fetal heart malformations; Ref. 1) representing the most 
sensitive human life stage (i.e., the developing fetus). The acute risk 
assessment used the physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK)-
derived hazard values (HEC50, HEC95, or HEC99; HECXX is the Human 
Equivalent Concentration at a particular percentile) from the Johnson 
et al. (2003) (Ref. 36) developmental toxicity study for each aerosol 
degreaser use scenario. Note that the differences among these hazard 
values is small and no greater than 3-fold (i.e., 2-fold for HEC50/
HEC95 ratios; 3-fold for HEC50/HEC99 ratios; 1.4-fold for HEC95/HEC99 
ratios). The TCE IRIS assessment preferred the HEC99 for the non-cancer 
dose-response derivations because the HEC99 was interpreted to be 
protective for a sensitive individual in the population. While the 
HEC99 was used to determine the level of risk to be used in making the 
preliminary section 6(a) determination, the small variation among 
HEC50, HEC95 and HEC99 would not result in a different risk 
determination.
    Acute inhalation risks were estimated for all residential exposure 
scenarios of aerosol degreasing based on concerns for developmental 
effects. Risks of concern were identified for consumer users and 
bystanders, regardless of the type of exposure (typical vs. worst case 
scenario) and whether room ventilation was used. For acute consumer 
aerosol degreasing exposures, the high end MOE is 0.002 for fetal heart 
malformations. This means that exposures are estimated to be 5,000 
times greater than exposures used to calculate the benchmark MOE of 10. 
All of the residential use scenarios resulted in MOE values 
significantly below the benchmark MOE of 10 irrespective of the 
percentile HEC value used to estimate the MOEs (Refs. 1, 24). Given 
this significant difference between the benchmark MOEs and the MOEs 
from the residential use scenarios, EPA has preliminarily determined 
that the risks TCE present for the consumer aerosol degreasing use are 
unreasonable risks.
    For occupational aerosol degreasing exposures the MOE is 0.003 for 
fetal heart malformation and is also representative of MOEs for kidney 
toxicity and immunotoxicity. This equates to estimated exposures that 
are more than 3,000 times greater than those needed to achieve the 
benchmark MOE. For chronic occupational aerosol degreasing exposures 
the baseline cancer risk is 1.6 x 10 -2 exceeding standard 
cancer benchmarks of 10 -6 to 10 -4 (Refs. 1, 
23). EPA has preliminarily determined that TCE presents unreasonable 
risks for the occupational aerosol degreasing use.
    2. Initial analysis of potential regulatory options. Having 
identified unreasonable risks from the use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasing, EPA evaluated whether regulatory options under section 6(a) 
could reach the risk (non-cancer and cancer) benchmarks.
    EPA assessed a number of exposure scenarios associated with risk 
reduction options in order to determine variations in TCE exposure from 
aerosol degreasing, including: Material substitution, engineering 
controls, and use of PPE. EPA also assessed combinations of these 
options. The material substitution scenarios involved reducing the 
concentration of TCE in the degreasing formulation, with concentrations 
varying from 5 to 95 percent by weight in the product. For the 
engineering controls risk reduction option exposure scenarios, EPA 
evaluated using local exhaust ventilation to improve ventilation near 
the worker activity, with estimated 90% reduction in exposure levels. 
The PPE risk reduction option exposure scenarios evaluated workers and 
occupational bystanders wearing respirators with an assigned protection 
factor (APF) varying from 10 to 10,000. Additionally, EPA evaluated all 
combinations of the above three options: Material substitution plus 
PPE, material

[[Page 91604]]

substitution plus engineering controls such as local exhaust 
ventilation, PPE plus engineering controls such as local exhaust 
ventilation, and materials substitution plus PPE plus engineering 
controls such as local exhaust ventilation.
    EPA's inhalation exposure modeling estimated exposures to 
characterize the range of workplace scenarios. Inhalation exposure 
level estimate for facilities without local exhaust ventilation ranged 
from 1.00 ppm to 14.36 ppm as 8-hour TWAs for workers and 0.21 ppm to 
13.58 ppm for bystanders. For facilities with local exhaust ventilation 
which was estimated to have an effectiveness of 90%, EPA's inhalation 
exposure level estimates were 0.586 ppm for workers and 0.507 ppm for 
bystanders. This estimate was for the 99th percentile and assumed that 
the aerosol degreaser was 100% TCE and that no PPE was used. The 
exposure estimates for wearing PPE combined with facilities having 
local exhaust ventilation ranged from 0.0000586 ppm to 0.0586 ppm for 
workers and 0.0000507 ppm to 0.0507 ppm for bystanders. The range 
represents the 10 to 10,000 range of respirator APFs considered. The 
exposure estimates for material substitution plus local exhaust 
ventilation ranged from 0.0293 ppm to 0.556 ppm for workers and 0.0253 
ppm to 0.482 ppm for bystanders. The range represents the various TCE 
concentrations (5% to 95%) considered for material substitution. 
Additional exposure level estimates for various scenarios are available 
in the analysis document Supplemental Occupational Exposure and Risk 
Reduction Technical Report in Support of Risk Management Options for 
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Aerosol Degreasing (Ref. 23).
    Overall, EPA evaluated dozens of distinct exposure scenarios. The 
results indicate that regulatory options such as reducing the 
concentration of TCE in aerosol degreasers and using local exhaust 
ventilation to improve ventilation near worker activity, in the absence 
of PPE could not achieve the target MOE benchmarks for non-cancer 
endpoints for acute and chronic exposures and standard cancer risk 
benchmarks for chronic exposures (Refs. 23 and 24). The results also 
demonstrate that all risk reduction options meeting the benchmark MOEs 
and cancer benchmarks for TCE aerosol degreasers require the use of a 
respirator, whether used alone or in conjunction with additional levels 
of protection. Therefore, EPA found options setting a maximum 
concentration in products under section 6(a)(2) to not be protective 
because the options failed--by orders of magnitude--to meet the risk 
benchmarks. Options found not to meet the risk benchmarks and, 
therefore, found not to address the identified unreasonable risks are 
documented in EPA's supplemental technical reports on aerosol 
degreasing (Refs. 23 and 24).
    3. Assessment of regulatory options to determine whether they 
address the identified unreasonable risks to the extent necessary so 
that TCE no longer presents such risks. As discussed in Unit V, EPA 
considered a number of regulatory options under section 6(a) which are 
reflected in EPA's supporting analysis (Refs. 28 and 29). In assessing 
these options, EPA considered a wide range of exposure scenarios (Refs. 
23, 24, 25). These include both baseline and risk reduction scenarios 
involving varying factors such as exposure concentration percentiles, 
local exhaust ventilation use, respirator use, working lifetimes, etc. 
As part of this analysis, EPA considered the impacts of regulatory 
options on consumer users and commercial users separately. However, EPA 
is proposing to address the aerosol degreasing use as a whole rather 
than as separate consumer and commercial uses given that the 
differences in the use itself between workers and consumers differ only 
in the degree of repetition and duration and, furthermore, that not 
addressing them jointly would facilitate products intended for one 
segment being intentionally or unintentionally acquired and misused by 
the other.
    The options that had the potential to address the identified 
unreasonable risks for consumer use, commercial use, or both uses of 
TCE in aerosol degreasing included: (a) Prohibiting the manufacturing, 
processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol 
degreasing under section 6(a)(2) plus prohibiting the use of TCE in 
commercial aerosol degreasing under section 6(a)(5) and requiring 
downstream notification when distributing TCE for other uses under 
section 6(a)(3); (b) variations on such a supply-chain approach (such 
as just prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, and distribution in 
commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing products under section 
6(a)(2) or just prohibiting the commercial use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasing under section 6(a)(5)); (c) prohibiting the manufacturing, 
processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in consumer 
aerosol degreasing products under section 6(a)(2) and requiring 
downstream notification (e.g., via a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)) when 
distributing TCE for other uses under section 6(a)(3); and (d) 
requiring the use of PPE in commercial aerosol degreasing operations in 
which TCE is used under section 6(a)(5) or requiring the use of PPE and 
engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation) in commercial aerosol 
degreasing operations in which TCE is used under section 6(a)(5).
    The full range of regulatory options considered under section 6(a) 
is reflected in EPA's supporting analysis (Ref. 29). A discussion of 
those regulatory options that could reach the risk benchmarks for 
consumer use, commercial use, or both is provided in this Unit, along 
with the Agency's evaluation of how well those regulatory options would 
address the identified unreasonable risks in practice.
    a. Proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and 
require downstream notification. As noted previously, the proposed 
regulatory approach for TCE use in aerosol degreasing would prohibit 
the manufacturing, processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for 
aerosol degreasing under TSCA section 6(a)(2), prohibit the commercial 
use of TCE for aerosol degreasing under TSCA section 6(a)(5), and 
require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, except for 
retailers, to provide downstream notification, e.g., via a Safety Data 
Sheet (SDS), of the prohibitions under TSCA section 6(a)(3).
    As discussed in Unit VI.B.1, the baseline risk for exposure to 
workers and consumers for aerosol degreasing departs from non-cancer 
MOE benchmarks for all non-cancer effects (e.g., developmental effects, 
kidney toxicity, and immunotoxicity) and standard cancer benchmarks. 
Under this proposed approach, exposures to TCE from use in aerosol 
degreasing would be completely eliminated. As a result, both non-cancer 
and cancer risks would be eliminated (Refs. 23 and 24).
    The proposed approach would ensure that workers and consumers are 
no longer at risk from TCE exposure associated with this use. 
Prohibiting the manufacturing, processing and distribution in commerce 
of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing would minimize the availability of 
TCE for aerosol degreasing. The prohibition of the use of TCE in 
commercial aerosol degreasing would eliminate commercial demand for TCE 
aerosol degreasing products and significantly reduce the potential for 
consumer use of commercial products. These complementary provisions 
would protect both workers and consumers; workers would not be exposed 
to TCE and the risk to consumers would be

[[Page 91605]]

minimized because commercial aerosol degreasing products containing TCE 
would not be available, so consumers would not be able to divert 
commercial-use products from the supply chain. The downstream 
notification of these restrictions ensures that processors, 
distributors, and other purchasers are aware of the manufacturing, 
processing, distribution in commerce and use restrictions for TCE in 
aerosol degreasing, and helps to ensure that the rule is effectively 
implemented by avoiding off-label use as an aerosol degreaser of TCE 
manufactured for other uses. Downstream notification also streamlines 
and aids in compliance and enhances enforcement. Overall, downstream 
notification facilitates implementation of the rule. This integrated 
supply chain proposed approach minimizes the risk from TCE in aerosol 
degreasing. In addition, the proposed approach would provide staggered 
compliance dates for implementing the prohibition of manufacturing, 
processing, distribution in commerce, and commercial use in order to 
avoid undue impacts on the businesses involved.
    b. Options that are variations of the proposed approach to prohibit 
manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for 
aerosol degreasing and require downstream notification. One variation 
of the proposed approach would be to prohibit manufacture, processing, 
and distribution in commerce for the consumer and commercial aerosol 
degreasing uses alone. This option could reach the risk benchmarks for 
TCE. However, while this option could address the identified 
unreasonable risks, in practice given the continued availability of TCE 
for other uses, it would not do so. Without the accompanying 
prohibition on commercial use and downstream notification that is 
included in the proposed approach, this option would leave open the 
likelihood that commercial users or consumers could obtain off-label 
TCE for aerosol degreasing. For example, if only manufacturing, 
processing and distribution in commerce for the aerosol degreasing use 
were prohibited without also prohibiting the commercial use and 
providing the downstream notice, commercial users or consumers could 
more easily acquire TCE for degreasing from sources that make it 
available for other uses. This would be particularly easy for 
commercial users given that a company may buy a chemical substance for 
one use and also use it for another. Without downstream notification, 
unsophisticated purchasers, in particular, are likely to be unfamiliar 
with the prohibitions regarding this use and mistakenly use TCE for 
aerosol degreasing and thereby expose themselves and bystanders to 
unreasonable risks. Thus, under these variations, EPA anticipates that 
the risk benchmarks would not actually be realized by many users. 
Therefore, these variations fail to address the identified unreasonable 
risks, considering the practical limitations of the options.
    Another regulatory option that EPA considered was to prohibit only 
the commercial use of TCE for aerosol degreasing. This approach would 
eliminate both non-cancer and cancer risks for commercial settings 
only, but would not eliminate risks to consumers. By prohibiting 
commercial use alone, without a prohibition on the manufacture, 
processing, and distribution in commerce for consumer and commercial 
use, this would not address consumer risks as consumers would still be 
able to purchase aerosol degreasing products containing TCE, including 
those products labeled and marketed as ``professional strength'' or 
``commercial grade'' products. Consumers would continue to be exposed 
far above the health benchmarks and would not be protected from the 
unreasonable risks posed by TCE.
    c. Prohibit the manufacturing, processing, and distribution in 
commerce of TCE for use in consumer aerosol degreasing products under 
section 6(a)(2) or prohibit the manufacturing, processing, and 
distribution in commerce of TCE for use in consumer aerosol degreasing 
products under section 6(a)(2) and require downstream notification when 
distributing TCE for other uses section 6(a)(3). EPA considered 
prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, and distribution in commerce 
of TCE for use in consumer aerosol degreasing products including an 
option with a requirement for downstream notification of such 
prohibition. If such a prohibition were effective, this option would 
mitigate the risks to consumers from TCE use in aerosol degreasing. 
However, EPA has determined that consumers can easily obtain products 
labeled for commercial use. Indeed, for many consumers, identifying a 
product as being for commercial use may imply greater efficacy. Coupled 
with the fact that many products identified as commercial or 
professional are readily obtainable in a variety of venues (e.g., the 
Internet, general retailers, and specialty stores, such as automotive 
stores), EPA does not find that this option would protect consumers. In 
addition, this option alone would not address the risks to workers from 
commercial aerosol degreasing.
    d. Require the use of personal protective equipment in commercial 
aerosol degreasing operations in which TCE is used under section 
6(a)(5) or require the use of personal protective equipment and 
engineering controls in commercial aerosol degreasing operations in 
which TCE is used under section 6(a)(5). Another regulatory option that 
EPA considered was to require respiratory protection equipment at 
commercial aerosol degreasing operations in the form of a full face 
piece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in pressure demand mode 
or other positive pressure mode with an APF of 10,000. EPA's analysis 
determined that use of a SCBA with an APF of 10,000 for commercial 
aerosol degreasing uses could control TCE air concentration to levels 
that allow for meeting the benchmarks for non-cancer and cancer risks 
for the commercial uses addressed in this proposed rule.
    Although respirators could reduce exposures to levels that are 
protective of non-cancer and cancer risks, there are many documented 
limitations to successful implementation of respirators with an APF of 
10,000. Not all workers can wear respirators. Individuals with impaired 
lung function, due to asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease for example, may be physically unable to wear a 
respirator. Determination of adequate fit and annual fit testing is 
required for a tight fitting full-face piece respirators to provide the 
required protection. Also, difficulties associated with selection, fit, 
and use often render them ineffective in actual application, preventing 
the assurance of consistent and reliable protection, regardless of the 
assigned capabilities of the respirator. Individuals who cannot get a 
good face piece fit, including those individuals whose beards or 
sideburns interfere with the face piece seal, would be unable to wear 
tight fitting respirators. In addition, respirators may also present 
communication problems, vision problems, worker fatigue and reduced 
work efficiency (63 FR 1156, January 8, 1998). According to OSHA, 
``improperly selected respirators may afford no protection at all (for 
example, use of a dust mask against airborne vapors), may be so 
uncomfortable as to be intolerable to the wearer, or may hinder vision, 
communication, hearing, or movement and thus pose a risk to the 
wearer's safety or health.'' (63 FR 1189-1190). Nonetheless, it is 
sometimes necessary to use respiratory protection to control

[[Page 91606]]

exposure. The OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) 
requires employers to establish and implement a respiratory protection 
program to protect their respirator wearing employees. This OSHA 
standard contains several requirements, e.g., for program 
administration; worksite-specific procedures; respirator selection; 
employee training; fit testing; medical evaluation; respirator use; 
respirator cleaning, maintenance, and repair; and other provisions that 
would be difficult to fully implement in some small business settings 
where they are not already using respirators.
    In addition, OSHA has adopted a hierarchy of industrial hygiene 
controls established by the industrial hygiene community to be used to 
protect employees from hazardous airborne contaminants, such as TCE 
(see, e.g., 29 CFR 1910.134(a)(1); 29 CFR 1910.1000(e), and OSHA's 
substance-specific standards in 29 CFR 1910, subpart Z). According to 
the hierarchy, substitution of less toxic substances, engineering 
controls, administrative controls, and work practice controls are the 
preferred methods of compliance for protecting employees from airborne 
contaminants and are to be implemented first, before respiratory 
protection is used. OSHA permits respirators to be used only where 
engineering controls and effective work practices are not feasible or 
during an interim period while such controls are being implemented.
    Also for commercial aerosol degreasing uses, EPA considered 
requiring a combination of local exhaust ventilation and a supplied-air 
respirator with an APF of 1,000, with a performance based option using 
an air exposure limit. This option could also reduce risks to the 
health benchmarks for workers when used properly (Ref. 23). However, 
while this option has the benefit of incorporating engineering controls 
and use of a respirator with a lower APF, there are still the 
limitations to successful implementation of the use of supplied-air 
respirators in the workplace as discussed previously. Further, this 
option would also require the use of prescriptive and expensive 
engineering controls to reach the risk benchmarks, unless the optional 
use of an air exposure limit is implemented (Ref. 39). Even if the 
performance-based option of meeting an air concentration level as an 
exposure limit for TCE were used, this would depend upon the use of 
both engineering controls and a respirator to meet the exposure limit 
for TCE.
    Furthermore, neither of these variations of relying upon PPE for 
commercial aerosol degreasing use would do anything to reduce the risks 
to consumer users. Therefore, considering the practical limitations of 
PPE for this scenario as well as the unmitigated risks to consumers, 
this option would not address the unreasonable risks presented by these 
uses.
    Even if either of these approaches were coupled with a section 
6(a)(2) prohibition on the manufacture, processing and distribution in 
commerce of TCE for use in consumer aerosol degreasing products, this 
would not protect consumers because they would be able to buy and use 
commercial aerosol degreasing products, e.g., via the Internet.
    EPA could also require that TCE products be distributed with a 
respirator with an appropriate assigned protection factor to protect 
for the risks from TCE. EPA determined that this option would not 
address the identified unreasonable risks because simply packaging a 
respirator with a chemical (or any product) does not mean that a worker 
or consumer would actually use it properly or even understand how to 
use it (Refs. 28 and 29).

C. Availability of Substitutes and Impacts of the Proposed and 
Alternative Regulatory Options

    This Unit examines the availability of substitutes for TCE in 
aerosol degreasing and describes the estimated costs of the proposed 
and alternative regulatory actions that EPA considered. More 
information on the benefits and costs of this proposal as a whole can 
be found in Unit VIII.
    Overall, EPA notes that the cost of aerosol degreasing product 
reformulations are low. Total first-year reformulation costs are 
estimated to be $416,000 and annualized costs are estimated to be 
approximately $32,000 per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and 
$41,000 (annualized at 7% over 15 years). A wide variety of effective 
substitutes are available, as previously noted, and the current 
existence of non-TCE containing aerosol degreasers indicates that there 
are no specific aerosol degreasing uses for which TCE is critical. TCE 
use is limited in aerosol degreasing products intended for consumers 
due to existing VOC regulations in California and in a number of other 
states. New Hampshire and Virginia prohibit use of TCE in aerosol 
adhesives. Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, 
Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Rhode 
Island prohibit the use of TCE in aerosol adhesives, contact adhesives, 
electrical cleaners, footwear/leather care products, adhesive removers, 
general purpose degreasers, and graffiti removers (Ref. 15). New Jersey 
prohibits the use of TCE in all those products and also in brake 
cleaners, engine degreasers, and carburetor/fuel-injection air intake 
cleaners. In addition to prohibiting the use of TCE in all those 
products, California also prohibits the use of TCE in bathroom and tile 
cleaners, construction and panel/floor covering adhesives; carpet/
upholstery cleaner, general purpose cleaners, fabric protectant, multi-
purpose lubricant, penetrant, metal polish or cleanser, multi-purpose 
solvent, oven cleaners, paint thinner, pressurized gas duster, sealant 
or caulking compound, spot remover, and silicone-based multi-purpose 
lubricant (Ref. 12). The range of the State-mandated prohibitions 
demonstrate that other chemicals can be substituted for TCE for a wide 
range of uses because other chemicals or mixtures of chemicals can 
impart properties similar to those of TCE. Further, the fact that 10 
states and the District of Columbia have specifically prohibited the 
use of TCE in general purpose degreasers and general purpose degreasers 
continue to be sold in those jurisdictions, demonstrates that TCE is 
not critical to the degreasing use and there are efficacious 
substitutes.
    TCE is also prohibited in the European Union in aerosol degreasers 
(Ref. 16); TCE substitutes are used for aerosol degreasing. These 
regulations confirm that TCE is not a critical chemical for aerosol 
degreasing and that substituting alternate chemicals would not be 
overly difficult. Producers of aerosol degreasing products containing 
TCE also produce aerosol degreasing products with substitute chemicals. 
Thus, there is already precedent for producers reformulating products 
to meet demand in some states and countries. In addition, EPA expects 
that one effect of a ban on the use of TCE in aerosol degreasing 
products would be increased technological innovation, resulting in the 
development of additional alternatives.
    1. Proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and 
require downstream notification. The costs of the proposed approach are 
estimated to include product reformulation costs, downstream 
notification costs, recordkeeping costs, and Agency costs. The total 
first-year costs of aerosol degreasing product reformulations are 
estimated to be $416,000 and annualized costs are estimated to be

[[Page 91607]]

approximately $32,000 per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and 
$41,000 (annualized at 7% over 15 years). The cost for reformulation 
includes a variety of factors such as identifying the substitute for 
TCE, assessing the efficacy of the new formulation and determining 
shelf-life. The costs to users of aerosol degreasers are negligible as 
substitute products are currently available on the market and are 
similarly priced. The first-year costs of downstream notification and 
recordkeeping are estimated to be $51,000 and on an annualized basis 
over 15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using 3% and 7% discount rates 
respectively (Ref. 2). Agency costs for enforcement are estimated to be 
approximately $112,000 and $109,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and 
7%, respectively. Annual recurring costs to the Agency for enforcement 
are estimated to be $121,000 per year. The total cost of the proposed 
approach for aerosol degreasing use is estimated to be $37,000-$40,000 
and $46,000-$49,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7%, 
respectively.
    2. Options that require personal protective equipment. Given 
equipment costs and the requirements associated with establishing a 
respiratory protection program which involves training, respirator fit 
testing and the establishment and maintenance of a medical monitoring 
program, EPA anticipates that companies would choose to switch to 
substitute chemicals instead of adopting a program for PPE, including 
with a performance based option of meeting an air concentration level 
as an exposure limit for TCE. The estimated annualized costs of 
switching to a respiratory protection program requiring PPE of APF 
10,000 are $8,300 at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol degreasing 
facility over 15 years. The estimated annualized costs of switching to 
a respiratory protection program requiring PPE of APF 1,000 are $5,400 
at 3% and $5,500 at 7% per facility over 15 years. In addition, there 
would be higher EPA administration and enforcement costs with a 
respiratory protection program than there would be with an enforcement 
program under the proposed approach. Further, even if cost were not an 
impediment, in addition to cost, there are many limitations to the 
successful implementation of respirators with an APF of 10,000 in a 
workplace.
    3. Options that exclude downstream notification. EPA was unable to 
monetize the extent to which enforcement costs would vary by regulatory 
option so EPA assumed monetized enforcement costs to be the same under 
all options for the purpose of this proposed rulemaking. The proposed 
approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, distribution in 
commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and require downstream 
notification is relatively easy to enforce because key requirements are 
directly placed on a small number of suppliers and because the supply 
chain approach minimizes to the greatest extent the potential for TCE 
products to be intentionally or unintentionally misdirected into the 
prohibited uses. Enforcement under the other options would be much more 
difficult since the key requirements are directly placed on the large 
number of product users (Ref. 40). Under these other options, 
enforcement activities must target firms that might perform the 
activity where a TCE use is restricted or prohibited. Identifying which 
establishments might use aerosol degreasers is difficult because 
aerosol degreasing is not strictly specific to any industry (Ref. 2). 
Therefore, while EPA considers downstream notification to be a critical 
component of this proposal, EPA also finds that incorporating 
downstream notification reduces the burden on society by easing 
implementation, compliance, and enforcement (Ref. 41).

D. Summary

    The proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and 
require downstream notification is necessary to ensure that TCE no 
longer presents unreasonable risks for all users. This option does not 
pose an undue burden on industry because comparably effective and 
priced substitutes to TCE for aerosol degreasing are readily available. 
The supply chain approach ensures protection of consumers from the 
identified unreasonable risks by precluding the off-label purchase of 
commercial products by consumers. The downstream notification (e.g., 
via SDS) component of the supply chain approach provides notice of the 
prohibition throughout the supply chain and, while slightly more costly 
to upstream entities, helps to ensure that the use no longer presents 
unreasonable risks because it streamlines and aids in compliance and 
enhances enforcement.

VII. Regulatory Assessment of TCE Use for Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning 
Facilities

    This Unit describes the current use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities, the unreasonable risks presented by this use, and 
how EPA preliminarily determined which regulatory options are necessary 
to address the identified unreasonable risks.

A. Description of the Current Use

    TCE was first introduced as a dry cleaning solvent in the United 
States in the 1930s (Ref. 2). It was never widely used as a primary dry 
cleaning solvent; however, TCE is still used for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities to remove oily-type stains, including fats, waxes, 
grease, cosmetics, and paints. Stained fabrics are typically ``pre-
spotted'' with spot treatment products, which are often solvent-based 
such as those containing TCE, prior to being placed in dry cleaning 
machines (Refs. 42, 43). TCE is one of many available spotting agents 
used in dry cleaning facilities. A range of alternative spotting agents 
are used in dry cleaning facilities including certain halogenated 
solvents, such as perchloroethylene, 1-bromopropane, and methylene 
chloride; water- and soy-based spotting agents; hydrocarbon/mineral 
spirits; glycol ethers; and others (Ref. 2). TCE is applied by a squirt 
bottle directly onto the stain on the garment (Ref. 1). Squirt bottles 
are hand filled from larger volume containers of the spotting agent. 
After application, the TCE-based spotting agent is patted with a brush 
to break up the stain without harming fabric and suction vacuumed from 
the garment, which is then placed in the dry cleaning machine. The TCE 
spotting agent from the vacuum is collected as hazardous waste. 
Concentrations of TCE in commercial spotting agents vary from 10% to 
100% (Refs. 42, 43).
    EPA estimates that there are approximately 61,000 dry cleaning 
facilities in the United States, with an estimated 210,000 workers. 
Approximately 32,000 to 52,000 of those dry cleaning facilities are 
estimated to be using TCE in spot cleaning, with an estimated 105,000 
to 168,000 workers and occupational bystanders (Ref. 2). Less than 1% 
of the total 225 million pounds of TCE used in the United States is for 
dry cleaning with approximately 50% to 80% of dry cleaners estimated to 
be using TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities (Ref. 2). A 
typical dry cleaning facility uses 0.84 to 8.4 gallons per year of TCE 
for spot cleaning operations (Ref. 1).
    There are currently a wide variety of comparably effective 
substitutes on the market and in use in dry cleaning operations that 
are similarly priced to TCE (Ref. 2), including substitute water-based 
cleaners (Ref. 44), methyl esters (soy) cleaners, hydrocarbon/mineral 
spirits, glycol ethers, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride, and 1-
bromopropane (Ref. 32). Chemical

[[Page 91608]]

substitutes that would most likely be used are water-based cleaners, 
methyl esters (soy) cleaners, hydrocarbon/mineral spirits, glycol 
ethers, perchloroethylene, 1-bromopropane, methylene chloride, and 
others. EPA estimates that 5% of users will switch to aqueous cleaners, 
25% will switch to perchloroethylene and 1-bromopropane, and 70% will 
switch to other alternatives (Ref. 2). In general, substitutes are less 
toxic than TCE (Refs. 32, 44). Thus, considering similar exposure 
potentials for substitutes, the overall risk potential for the 
substitutes will be less than for TCE (Ref. 32).

B. Analysis of Regulatory Options

    In this Unit, EPA explains how it determined whether the regulatory 
options considered would address the unreasonable risks presented by 
this use. First, EPA characterizes the unreasonable risks associated 
with the current use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities. Then, the Agency describes its initial analysis of which 
regulatory options have the potential to achieve non-cancer and cancer 
benchmarks. The levels of acute and chronic exposures estimated to 
present low risk for non-cancer effects also results in low risk for 
cancer. Lastly, this Unit evaluates how well those regulatory options 
would address the identified unreasonable risks in practice.
    1. Risks associated with the current use. a. General impacts. The 
TCE risk assessment identified non-cancer risks and cancer risks for 
chronic exposures of workers and occupational bystanders in dry 
cleaning facilities that use TCE for spot cleaning (Ref. 1). EPA also 
identified acute non-cancer risks for workers and occupational 
bystanders (Ref. 1). The size of the potentially exposed population is 
approximately 105,000-168,000 workers and occupational bystanders in 
dry cleaning operations (Ref. 2).
    b. Impacts on minority populations. In dry cleaning facilities, 
Asian and Hispanic populations are over-represented. 13% of dry 
cleaning workers are Asian, compared to 5% of the national population. 
Also, 30% of dry cleaning workers are Hispanic (of any race) compared 
to 16% of the national population (Ref. 2). Because minority 
populations are disproportionately over-represented in this industry 
they are disproportionately exposed; thus, there would be 
disproportionately positive benefits for these populations from the 
regulatory approach set forth in this proposal.
    c. Impacts on children. EPA has concern for effects on the 
developing fetus from acute and chronic maternal exposures to TCE in 
dry cleaning facilities. The risk estimates are focused on pregnant 
women because adverse effects on the developing fetus is one of the 
most sensitive health effects associated with TCE exposure. Of the up 
to 168,000 workers and occupational bystanders in dry cleaning 
operations who make up the exposed population, 3.2% are estimated to be 
pregnant women. Thus, up to approximately 5,400 pregnant women are 
estimated to be exposed to TCE in spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities each year. The pregnancy estimate includes women who have 
live births, induced abortions, and fetal losses (Ref. 2). The 
potential for exposure is significant because approximately half of all 
pregnancies are unintended. If a pregnancy is not planned before 
conception, a woman may not be in optimal health for childbearing (Ref. 
33).
    d. Exposures for this use. TCE exposures for this use are through 
the inhalation route. EPA used readily available information from a 
2007 study on spotting chemicals, prepared for the California EPA and 
EPA, to estimate releases of TCE and associated inhalation exposures to 
workers from spot cleaning operations in dry cleaning facilities (Ref. 
1). The near field/far field mass balance model, which has been 
extensively peer[hyphen]reviewed, was used for this estimation of 
workplace exposure levels during spot cleaning (Ref. 1). The near-
field/far-field model estimates airborne concentrations in a near field 
(a zone close to the source of exposure) and a far field (a zone 
farther from the source of exposure but within the occupational 
building). EPA used these estimated airborne concentrations to estimate 
exposures for the worker applying the spotting agent (i.e., in the near 
field) and the occupational bystanders (i.e., in the far field). A 
worker is defined as the person performing the task in which TCE is 
used. Occupational bystanders are defined as other persons within the 
dry cleaning facility who are not performing the TCE-based task. EPA 
assumed that dry cleaning facilities operated 260 days per year for 8 
hours a day; that the concentration in the spotting agent ranged from 
10 to 100% and that a typical dry cleaning facility used 0.84 to 8.4 
gallons of TCE per year for spotting operations. Details of the 
modeling and estimation method for calculating exposure levels during 
spot cleaning are available in the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1).
    e. Risks for this use. As discussed in Unit IV.B, TCE is associated 
with a range of non[hyphen]cancer health effects in humans and animals 
and is also carcinogenic to humans.
    As discussed in Unit IV.B, MOEs were used in this assessment to 
estimate non-cancer risks for acute and chronic exposures. Exposure 
scenarios with MOEs below the benchmark MOE have risks of concern and 
typically, non-cancer adverse effects are more likely to result from 
exposure scenarios with MOEs below the benchmark MOE. For the use of 
TCE as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities, the risk estimates 
for a range of non-cancer effects were below the benchmark MOE of 10 
for developmental effects. The MOE for acute developmental effects is 
0.002 for fetal heart malformation (Refs. 1, 25). For chronic 
occupational spot cleaning exposures, the MOE is 0.003 for fetal heart 
malformation and is similar to MOEs for kidney toxicity and 
immunotoxicity. In the baseline exposure scenarios, the MOEs are 3,000 
times less than the benchmark MOEs (Refs. 1, 25). EPA has preliminarily 
determined that TCE presents unreasonable non-cancer risks from spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
    Cancer risks determine the incremental probability of an individual 
developing cancer over a lifetime as a result of exposure to TCE. For 
chronic occupational spot cleaning exposures the baseline cancer risk 
is 1 x 10-\2\ which exceeds the standard cancer benchmarks 
of 10-\6\ to 10-\4\ (Refs. 1 and 25). 
Accordingly, EPA has preliminarily determined that TCE presents 
unreasonable cancer risks from spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities.
    2. Initial analysis of potential regulatory options. Having 
identified unreasonable risks from the use of TCE in spot cleaning in 
dry cleaning facilities, EPA evaluated whether regulatory options under 
section 6(a) could reach the risk (non-cancer and cancer) benchmarks.
    EPA assessed a number of exposure scenarios associated with risk 
reduction options in order to determine variations in TCE exposure when 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities: Material substitution, 
engineering controls, and use of PPE, as well as combinations. The 
materials substitution scenarios involved reducing the concentration of 
TCE in the spot cleaning formulation, with concentrations varying from 
5% to 95% total weight of the formulation. For the engineering control 
risk reduction option exposure scenarios, EPA evaluated using local 
exhaust ventilation to improve ventilation near the worker activity, 
with estimated 90% reduction in exposure levels. The PPE risk reduction 
option exposure scenarios evaluated workers and

[[Page 91609]]

occupational bystanders wearing respirators with APF varying from 10 to 
10,000. Additionally, EPA evaluated all combinations of the above three 
options: Material substitution plus PPE; material substitution plus 
local exhaust ventilation; PPE plus local exhaust ventilation; and 
material substitution plus PPE plus local exhaust ventilation.
    EPA's site[hyphen]specific inhalation exposure level estimate for 
facilities without local exhaust ventilation ranged from 0.08 to 19 ppm 
as 8-hour TWAs. Although relevant exposure monitoring data were 
limited, EPA identified a study specific to spot cleaning with TCE 
(Ref. 42). In this study, TWA levels for worker exposure to TCE during 
spot cleaning (with no local exhaust ventilation) ranged from 2.37 to 
3.11 ppm. This range of exposure levels falls within EPA's estimated 
exposure range of 0.08 to 19 ppm and is within a factor of 10 of EPA's 
high-end estimate of 19 ppm (Ref. 43).
    For facilities with local exhaust ventilation, EPA's inhalation 
exposure level estimates were 5.0 x 10-\1\ ppm for workers 
and 4.2 x 10-\1\ for bystanders. The exposure estimates for 
wearing PPE combined with facilities having local exhaust ventilation 
ranged from 5.0 x 10-\5\ ppm to 5.0 x 10-\2\ ppm 
for workers and 4.2 x 10-\5\ ppm to 4.2 x 10-\2\ 
ppm for bystanders. The exposure estimates for material substitution 
plus local exhaust ventilation ranged from 2.5 x 10-\2\ ppm 
to 4.7 x 10-\1\ ppm for workers and 2.1 x 10-\2\ 
ppm to 4.0 x 10-\1\ ppm for bystanders. All exposure level 
estimates for the various scenarios considered are available in the TCE 
risk assessment (Ref. 1) and Supplemental Occupational Exposure and 
Risk Reduction Technical Report in Support of Risk Management Options 
for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Spot Cleaning (Ref. 25).
    The results indicate that alternate regulatory options such as 
reducing the concentration of TCE in spot cleaners for dry cleaning 
facilities and using local exhaust ventilation to improve ventilation 
near worker activity could not achieve the target MOE benchmarks for 
non-cancer endpoints for acute and chronic exposures and standard 
cancer risk benchmarks for chronic exposures. The results also 
demonstrate that all risk reduction options require the use of a 
respirator, whether used alone or in conjunction with additional levels 
of protection, in order to meet the non-cancer and cancer risk 
benchmarks (Ref. 25). Therefore, EPA found that options setting a 
maximum concentration in products under section 6(a)(2) did not address 
the identified unreasonable risks because the options failed--by orders 
of magnitude--to meet the risk benchmarks. Options found not to meet 
the risk benchmarks and which, therefore, do not address the identified 
unreasonable risks are documented in EPA's supplemental technical 
report on spot cleaning (Ref. 25).
    3. Assessment of regulatory options to determine whether they 
address the identified unreasonable risks to the extent necessary so 
that TCE no longer presents such risks. As discussed in Unit V., EPA 
considered a number of regulatory options under section 6(a) to address 
TCE risks from spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities which are 
reflected in EPA's supporting analysis (Ref. 29). In assessing these 
options, EPA considered a wide range of exposure scenarios (Ref. 25). 
These include both baseline and risk reduction scenarios involving 
varying factors such as reduction of TCE content in spot cleaners, 
exposure concentration percentiles, local exhaust ventilation use, 
respirator use, working lifetimes, etc. The options that could reduce 
the risks of TCE use to the benchmark MOE and standard cancer 
benchmarks for spot cleaning in dry cleaning include (a) prohibiting 
the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for 
use as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities (section 6(a)(2)) plus 
prohibiting the use of TCE as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities 
(section 6(a)(5)) and requiring downstream notification when 
distributing TCE for other uses under section 6(a)(3); (b) variations 
on such a supply-chain approach (such as just prohibiting the 
manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce of TCE for use as a 
spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities under section 6(a)(2) or just 
prohibiting the commercial use of TCE as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning 
facilities under section 6(a)(5)); (c) requiring the use of personal 
protective equipment in dry cleaning facilities in which TCE is used as 
a spot cleaner under section 6(a)(5) or requiring the use of personal 
protective equipment and engineering controls in dry cleaning 
facilities in which TCE is used as a spotting agent under section 
6(a)(5).
    The full range of regulatory options considered under section 6(a) 
is reflected in EPA's supporting analysis (Ref. 29). A discussion of 
the regulatory options that were determined to have the potential to 
address the identified unreasonable risks is provided in this Unit, 
along with the Agency's evaluation of how well those regulatory options 
would address the unreasonable risks in practice.
    a. Proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities and require downstream notification. As noted 
previously, the proposed regulatory approach uses several elements of 
TSCA section 6(a) to address the risk of TCE use for spot cleaning in 
dry cleaning facilities throughout the supply chain. The proposed 
regulatory approach would prohibit the manufacturing, processing, and 
distribution in commerce of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities under TSCA Sec.  6(a)(2), prohibit the commercial use of TCE 
for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities under TSCA Sec.  6(a)(5), 
and require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, except for 
retailers, to provide downstream notification, e.g., via a SDS, of the 
prohibitions under TSCA Sec.  6(a)(3).
    As discussed in Unit VII.B.1, the MOEs for occupational exposure 
for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities are below the non-cancer 
MOE benchmarks for all non-cancer effects (e.g., developmental effects, 
kidney toxicity, and immunotoxicity) and standard cancer benchmarks. 
Under this proposed approach, exposures to TCE from this use would be 
completely eliminated. As a result, both non-cancer and cancer risks 
from exposure to TCE from this use would be eliminated (Ref. 39). All 
employees in dry cleaning facilities would benefit; and Asian and 
Hispanic populations, which are over-represented in dry cleaning 
facilities, would disproportionally benefit from the proposed approach.
    The proposed approach would ensure that workers and occupational 
bystanders are no longer at risk from TCE exposure associated with this 
use throughout the supply chain. By proposing to prohibit the 
manufacture, processing and distribution in commerce of TCE for use as 
a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities, EPA would ensure that 
manufacturers, processors and distributors would not sell TCE for a use 
that EPA has determined presents an unreasonable risk of injury to 
health, and the intentional or unintentional availability of TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities would be minimized. The 
proposal to prohibit commercial use of TCE as a spot cleaner in dry 
cleaning facilities would eliminate commercial demand for TCE-based 
spot cleaning products and would more effectively protect workers and 
bystanders than a prohibition only on manufacture, processing or 
distribution for this use under Section 6(a)(2). The prohibition on 
commercial use ensures that commercial users would not be able to 
divert TCE manufactured for other

[[Page 91610]]

allowable uses to this prohibited use without consequence. The 
downstream notification of these restrictions ensures that processors, 
distributors, and purchasers are aware of the manufacturing, 
processing, and distribution in commerce and use restrictions for TCE 
spot cleaner uses in dry cleaning facilities and helps to ensure that 
the rule is effectively implemented by avoiding off-label use as a spot 
cleaner of TCE manufactured for other uses. Downstream notification 
also streamlines and aids in compliance and enhances enforcement. 
Overall, downstream notification facilitates implementation of the 
rule. Collectively the proposed approach completely mitigates the risk 
from TCE in spot cleaners in dry cleaning facilities. In addition, the 
proposed approach would provide staggered compliance dates for 
implementing the prohibition of manufacturing, processing, distribution 
in commerce, and commercial use in order to avoid undue impacts on the 
businesses involved.
    b. Options that are variations of the proposed approach to prohibit 
manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and require downstream 
notification. Another regulatory option that EPA considered was to 
prohibit only the commercial use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities under TSCA Sec.  6(a)(5). This option could reach 
the risk benchmarks for TCE (Ref. 29). While this approach could 
eliminate non-cancer and cancer risks, in practice it would not address 
the identified unreasonable risks because users would easily be able to 
obtain TCE for use in dry cleaning facilities or would likely 
unknowingly purchase spot agents which contain TCE. If the Agency were 
to prohibit use alone, without the prohibition on manufacture, 
processing, and distribution in commerce for the use of TCE for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities, there is a greater likelihood that 
TCE manufactured for non-prohibited uses could be diverted to 
prohibited uses. Users would likely unknowingly purchase materials that 
they do not realize contain TCE because they would not be aware of the 
prohibition, which would result in unreasonable risks for those users. 
Taking the supply chain approach to addressing the risk of TCE in spot 
cleaning at commercial dry cleaning facilities helps to ensure that TCE 
manufactured for other allowed uses would not be used for this 
prohibited use.
    Due to the large number of dry cleaning facilities in the United 
States (approximately 61,000), EPA is concerned that without the 
section 6(a)(3) downstream notification requirement, these entities 
might not become aware of the prohibition on TCE in spot cleaning 
because they may be unaware that certain products actually contain TCE. 
Thus, without downstream notification, EPA anticipates that the risk 
benchmarks would not actually be realized by many users. Therefore, 
such an option fails to address the identified unreasonable risks, 
considering the practical limitations.
    Another regulatory option that EPA considered was to prohibit only 
the manufacturing, processing or distribution in commerce of TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities under TSCA section 6(a)(2) or, 
a variation of this option: A prohibition of manufacturing, processing, 
or distribution in commerce of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities and require downstream notification when distributing TCE 
for other uses under section 6(a)(3). This option could reach the risk 
benchmarks for TCE (Ref. 29). However, this option introduces 
weaknesses, such as likelihood for users to obtain TCE for spot 
cleaning through other means, and thereby fails to address the 
identified unreasonable risks. For example, if only manufacturing, 
processing and distribution in commerce for the spot cleaning use in 
dry cleaners were prohibited without also prohibiting the use, dry 
cleaning facilities could go to other sources to acquire TCE for non-
prohibited uses and divert those uses to the spot cleaning use without 
consequence. This would be the case even if the prohibition on 
manufacturing, processing and distribution in commerce were accompanied 
by the downstream notification requirement. A combined approach would 
ensure that the section 6(a) requirements address the identified 
unreasonable risks.
    c. Require the use of personal protective equipment in commercial 
dry cleaning facilities in which TCE is used as a spot cleaner under 
section 6(a)(5) or require the use of personal protective equipment and 
engineering controls in commercial dry cleaning facilities in which TCE 
is used as a spot cleaner under section 6(a)(5). Another regulatory 
option that EPA considered was to require the use of respirators in the 
form of a supplied-air respirator with an APF of 10,000 for workers at 
risk of exposure to TCE with a performance based option using an air 
exposure limit. See Unit VI.B.3.d for a discussion of issues and 
drawbacks of requiring the use of a supplied-air respirator. In 
addition, while this option could mitigate the risk for workers, dry 
cleaning facilities are generally small shops and many are co-located 
in commercial shopping centers where the work goes on in plain view of 
customers or are co-located with residential buildings. It is highly 
unlikely that dry cleaning operations would undertake fitting all of 
their workers with the full face piece SCBA apparatus with accompanying 
supplied air breathing device necessary to mitigate risk. This approach 
could have separate economic impacts because consumers may not wish to 
enter an establishment in which workers are wearing supplied-air 
respirators. In addition, many dry cleaning establishments are located 
near residential areas. Local residents may react adversely to an 
establishment using chemicals which require a supplied-air respirator.
    EPA also considered requiring the combination of the use of local 
exhaust ventilation which achieves 90% reduction in airborne 
concentrations to improve ventilation near the worker activity and a 
supplied-air respirator with an APF of 1,000 with a performance based 
option using an air exposure limit. EPA conducted a risk analysis for 
both baseline exposures and exposures after implementing risk 
management options, allowing for a direct comparison of the acute and 
chronic risks associated with the exposures following application of a 
risk reduction option. This option would also reduce risks to the 
health benchmarks for workers when used properly (Ref. 25). While this 
option has the benefit of incorporating engineering controls and use of 
a respirator with a lower APF, there are still the limitations to 
successful implementation of the use of supplied-air respirators in the 
workplace as discussed previously.

C. Availability of Substitutes and Impacts of the Proposed and 
Alternative Regulatory Options

    This Unit examines the availability of substitutes for TCE as a 
spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities and describes the estimated 
costs of the proposal and the alternatives that EPA considered. More 
information on the benefits and costs of this proposal as a whole can 
be found in Unit VIII.
    Overall, EPA notes that the costs of dry cleaning spot cleaning 
product reformulation are low. Total first-year reformulation costs are 
estimated to be $286,000 and annualized costs are approximately $22,000 
per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $28,000 (annualized at 7% 
over 15 years). A wide variety of effective

[[Page 91611]]

substitutes for TCE in spot cleaning applications indicates that 
producers and users can readily shift from TCE to less hazardous 
chemical substitutes. Limitations on these or similar uses of TCE are 
already in place in many states in the United States and 
internationally. For example, TCE use is prohibited in California for 
aerosol and non-aerosol consumer spot removers. TCE is also prohibited 
in the European Union for spot cleaning use in dry cleaning facilities. 
In addition, according to the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, a 
trade association representing more than 4,000 dry cleaning operations 
in the United States, not all dry cleaning facilities use TCE, and many 
other alternatives are available and equally effective (Refs. 42, 43). 
Further, prohibitions in California and the European Union indicate 
that the transition can be made to substitutes, demonstrating that 
switching to alternatives would not be overly difficult for users. 
Producers of spot cleaning products containing TCE also produce spot 
cleaning products with substitute chemicals. Thus, there is already 
precedent for producers reformulating products to meet demand in some 
states and countries. In addition, EPA expects that one effect of a ban 
on the use of TCE for spot cleaning at dry cleaning facilities would be 
increased technological innovation, resulting in the development of 
additional alternatives.
    1. Proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities and require downstream notification. The costs of 
the proposed approach are estimated to include product reformulation 
costs, downstream notification and recordkeeping costs, and Agency 
costs. The total first-year costs of dry cleaning spot cleaning product 
reformulation are approximately $286,000 and annualized are estimated 
to be $22,000 per year (at 3% over 15 years) and $28,000 (at 7% over 15 
years). The costs to users of dry cleaning spot cleaning products are 
negligible as substitute products are currently available on the market 
and are similarly priced. The costs of downstream notification and 
recordkeeping are estimated to be $51,000 and on an annualized basis 
over 15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using 3% and 7% discount rates 
respectively. Agency costs for enforcement are estimated to be 
approximately $112,000 and $109,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and 
7%, respectively. Annual recurring costs to the Agency for enforcement 
are estimated to be $121,000 per year. The total cost of the proposed 
approach for the dry cleaning spot cleaning use is estimated to be 
$130,000 to $133,000 and $135,000 to $137,000 annualized at 3% and 7%, 
respectively, over 15 years.
    2. Options that require personal protective equipment. The costs of 
implementing a respiratory protection program, including a supplied-air 
respirator and related equipment, training, fit testing, monitoring, 
medical surveillance, and related requirements, would far exceed the 
costs of switching to alternatives, on a per facility basis. The 
estimated annualized costs of switching to a respiratory protection 
program requiring PPE of 10,000 are $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at 7% per 
dry cleaning facility over 15 years. The estimated annualized costs of 
switching to a respiratory protection program requiring PPE of 1,000 
are $5,800 at 3% and $5,800 at 7% per dry cleaning facility over 15 
years. In addition, there would be higher EPA administration and 
enforcement costs with respiratory protection program than there would 
be with an enforcement program under the proposed approach.
    3. Options that exclude downstream notification. EPA was unable to 
monetize the extent to which enforcement costs would vary by regulatory 
option so EPA assumed monetized enforcement costs to be the same under 
all options for the purpose of this proposed rulemaking. The proposed 
approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, distribution in 
commerce, and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities 
and require downstream notification is relatively easy to enforce 
because key requirements are directly placed on a small number of 
suppliers and because the supply chain approach minimizes to the 
greatest extent the potential for TCE products to be intentionally or 
unintentionally misdirected into the prohibited uses. Enforcement under 
the other options would be much more difficult since the key 
requirements are directly placed on the large number of product users. 
Under these other options, enforcement activities must target firms 
that might perform the activity where a TCE use is restricted or 
prohibited. For the prohibition on TCE in dry cleaning spot removers, 
this would include all dry cleaning establishments. (Ref. 2). 
Therefore, while EPA considers downstream notification to be a critical 
component of this proposal, EPA also finds that incorporating 
downstream notification reduces the burden on society by easing 
implementation, compliance, and enforcement.

D. Summary

    The proposed approach to prohibit manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry 
cleaning facilities and require downstream notification is necessary to 
ensure that TCE no longer presents unreasonable risks for this use. 
This option does not pose an undue burden on industry because 
comparable substitutes to TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities are readily available. This approach also protects workers 
and occupational bystanders from the identified unreasonable risks by 
providing downstream notification of the prohibition throughout the 
supply chain and avoiding off-label purchase and use of TCE for the 
prohibited use. Downstream notification streamlines compliance and aids 
in compliance and enhances enforcement.

VIII. Other Factors Considered

    When issuing a rule under TSCA section 6(a), EPA must consider and 
publish a statement based on reasonably available information on the:
     Health effects of the chemical substance in question, TCE 
in this case, and the magnitude of human exposure to TCE;
     Environmental effects of TCE and the magnitude of exposure 
of the environment to TCE;
     Benefits of TCE for various uses; and the
     Reasonably ascertainable economic consequences of the 
rule, including the likely effect of the rule on the national economy, 
small business, technological innovation, the environment, and public 
health, the costs, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of the rule and of 
the one or more primary alternatives that EPA considered.
    TSCA section 6(c)(2)(B) instructs EPA, when selecting among 
prohibitions and other restrictions under 6(a) to factor in, to the 
extent practicable, these considerations. This Unit provides more 
information on the benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of this 
proposal and the alternatives that EPA considered.
    As discussed in Unit IV.B, TCE exposure is associated with a wide 
array of adverse health effects. These health effects include 
developmental toxicity (e.g., cardiac malformations, developmental 
immunotoxicity, developmental neurotoxicity, fetal death), toxicity to 
the kidney (kidney damage and kidney cancer), immunotoxicity (such as 
systemic autoimmune diseases e.g., scleroderma) and severe 
hypersensitivity skin

[[Page 91612]]

disorder, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endocrine and reproductive effects 
(e.g., decreased libido and potency), neurotoxicity (e.g., trigeminal 
neuralgia), and toxicity to the liver (impaired functioning and liver 
cancer) (Ref. 1). TCE may cause fetal cardiac malformations that begin 
in utero. In addition, fetal death, possibly resulting from cardiac 
malformation, can be caused by exposure to TCE. Cardiac malformations 
can be irreversible and impact a person's health for a lifetime. Other 
effects, such as damage to the developing immune system, may first 
manifest when a person is an adult and can have long-lasting health 
impacts. Certain effects that follow adult exposures, such as kidney 
and liver cancer, may develop many years after initial exposure. The 
point during a lifetime when the effect manifests itself and the 
expected impacts to a person during her/his lifetime are important 
factors in determining the benefits of mitigating and preventing TCE 
exposure.
    Based on EPA's analysis of worker and consumer populations' 
exposure to TCE, EPA has determined that there are significant cancer 
and non-cancer risks (acute and chronic) from TCE exposure, which can 
result in developmental effects, kidney toxicity, immunotoxicity, 
reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and liver toxicity. These risks 
are unreasonable risks because the chemical exposures predicted for the 
various scenarios assessed are above what would be necessary to achieve 
the MOE benchmarks for cardiac defects, kidney toxicity, 
immunotoxicity, liver toxicity, neurotoxicity and endocrine and 
reproductive toxicity. For commercial use scenarios of aerosol 
degreasing and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities, 
as well as for all the residential use scenarios, exposures are far 
beyond what would be necessary to achieve the MOE benchmark for cardiac 
defects. For example, the 99th percentile of the upper end exposure use 
scenario for aerosol degreasing has a MOE of 0.003 for chronic 
exposures and 0.002 for acute exposures. Thus, for this aerosol 
degreasing use scenario, people are exposed at a level that is 3,000 
times higher than what EPA determines is protective for the non-cancer 
health effect.
    The number of people at risk for the developmental effects is 
estimated to be up to approximately 5,400 pregnant women in dry 
cleaning operations and approximately 900 pregnant women exposed to TCE 
during the use of aerosol degreasers. The potential for exposure is 
significant because approximately half of all pregnancies are 
unintended. If a pregnancy is not planned before conception, a woman 
may not be in optimal health for childbearing (Ref. 33).
    Given the large differential between the benchmark MOE and the MOEs 
resulting from EPA's estimates of exposures, people exposed to TCE in 
aerosol degreasing and during dry cleaning operations are at 
significant risk for the multiple adverse non-cancer health effects 
caused by TCE and the impacts discussed below on many facets of their 
life that these adverse health effects cause. These risks are 
significant even when considered alone. However, workers may be also be 
impacted by the significant risks for several types of cancer. The 
cancer risks to workers using TCE in aerosol degreasing and for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities are 1.6 x 10-2 or more 
than one and one-half cases in one hundred for aerosol degreasing and 
1.4 x 10-2 or more than one case in one hundred for use of 
TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
    The risk reduction from preventing TCE exposure cannot be 
comprehensively quantified or monetized even though the adverse effects 
are well-documented, the TCE risk assessment estimating these risks has 
been peer-reviewed, and the benefits of reducing the risk of these 
health endpoints can be described. It is relatively straightforward to 
monetize the benefits of reducing the risk of cancer (kidney cancer, 
liver cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) due to TCE exposure. The 
estimated value of the annualized benefit is estimated to be $9.3 
million to $25.0 million at 3% and $4.5 million to $12.8 million at 7% 
over 15 years. It is currently not possible to monetize the benefits of 
reducing the risks of the costs of non-cancer effects (all 
developmental toxicity, kidney toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive 
toxicity, neurotoxicity, and liver toxicity) of TCE exposure. There are 
two reasons for this. First, dose response information and 
concentration response functions in humans are not available, which 
would allow EPA to estimate the number of population-level non-cancer 
cases that would be avoided by reducing exposures to levels 
corresponding with MOE benchmarks. Second, even it were possible to 
calculate the number of cases avoided, EPA may not be able to monetize 
the benefits of these avoided cases due to limitations in data needed 
to apply established economic methodologies. However, being unable to 
quantitatively assess individual risk and population-level non-cancer 
cases avoided from TCE exposure does not negate the impact of these 
effects. Similarly, the inability to monetize an adverse effect does 
not reflect the severity of the effect, the lifetime nature of the 
impact, or the magnitude of the benefit in preventing the adverse 
impact from TCE exposure, such as a cardiac malformation, on a person. 
In considering the benefits of preventing TCE exposure, EPA considered 
the type of effect, the severity of the effect, the duration of the 
effect, and costs and other monetary impacts of the health endpoint.
    The health endpoints associated with TCE exposure are serious. The 
following is a discussion of the impacts of the most significant cancer 
and non-cancer effects associated with TCE exposure, including the 
severity of the effect, the manifestation of the effect, and how the 
effect impacts a person during their lifetime. While TCE can cause a 
variety of adverse health effects, the general population incidences of 
these adverse health outcomes are not due solely to TCE.

A. Benefits of the Proposed Rule and the Alternatives That EPA 
Considered

    1. Developmental effects. The TCE risk assessment (and EPA's 2011 
IRIS Assessment) identified developmental effects as the critical 
effect of greatest concern for both acute and chronic non-cancer risks. 
There are increased health risks for developmental effects to the 
approximately 900 pregnant women exposed to TCE during the use of 
aerosol degreasers and approximately 5,400 pregnant women working in 
dry cleaning operations (Ref. 2). Specifically, these assessments 
identified fetal cardiac malformations in the offspring of mothers 
exposed to TCE during gestation as the critical effect. Although fetal 
cardiac defects is the most sensitive endpoint and is the focus of the 
discussion in this Unit, TCE exposures can result in other adverse 
developmental outcomes, including prenatal (e.g., spontaneous abortion 
and perinatal death, decreased birth weight, and congenital 
malformations) and postnatal (e.g., growth, survival, developmental 
neurotoxicity, developmental immunotoxicity, and childhood cancers) 
effects. Developmental TCE exposure results in qualitatively different 
immunotoxicity effects than adult exposure. These effects influence the 
development of the immune system and result in impairment of the immune 
system to respond to infection whereas adult exposures result in more 
pronounced immune response related to autoimmune responses.
    Cardiac defects, which can result from very low level exposure to 
TCE, affect

[[Page 91613]]

the structural development of a baby's heart and how it works. The 
defects impact how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of 
the body. The impact can be mild (such as a small hole in the heart) or 
severe (such as missing or poorly formed septal wall and valves of the 
heart). While diagnosis for some cardiac defects can occur during 
pregnancy, for other cardiac defects, detection may not occur until 
after birth or later in life, during childhood or adulthood. These 
cardiac defects can be occult or life- threatening with the most severe 
cases causing early mortality and morbidity. While the incidences in 
the following paragraphs reflect adverse health outcomes beyond just 
exposure to TCE, the general population numbers provide a context for 
understanding the impact of the adverse health effects that TCE can 
cause.
    Nearly 1% or about 40,000 births per year in the United States are 
affected by cardiac defects (Ref. 46). About 25% of those infants with 
a cardiac defect have a critical defect. Infants with critical cardiac 
defects generally need surgery or other procedures in their first year 
of life. Some estimates put the total number of individuals (infants, 
children, adolescents, and adults) living with cardiac defects at 2 
million (Ref. 46). Cardiac defects can be caused by genetics, 
environmental exposure, or an unknown cause.
    Infant deaths resulting from cardiac defects often occur during the 
neonatal period. One study indicated that cardiac defects accounted for 
4.2% of all neonatal deaths. Of infants born with a non-critical 
cardiac defect, 97% are expected to survive to the age of one, with 95% 
expected to survive to 18 years of age. Of infants born with a critical 
cardiac defect, 75% are expected to survive to one year of age, with 
69% expected to survive to 18 years of age (Ref. 47). A child with a 
cardiac defect is 50% more likely to receive special education services 
compared to a child without birth defects (Ref. 46).
    Treatments for cardiac defects vary. Some affected infants and 
children might need one or more surgeries to repair the heart or blood 
vessels. In other instances, a heart defect cannot be fully repaired, 
although treatments have advanced such that infants are living longer 
and healthier lives. Many children are living into adulthood and lead 
independent lives with little or no difficulty. Others, however, may 
develop disability over time which is hard to predict and for which it 
is difficult to quantify impacts.
    Even though a person's heart defect may be repaired, for many 
people this is not a cure. They can still develop other health problems 
over time, depending on their specific heart defect, the number of 
heart defects they have, and the severity of their heart defect. For 
example, some related health problems that might develop include 
irregular heart beat (arrhythmias), increased risk of infection in the 
heart muscle (infective endocarditis), or weakness in the heart 
(cardiomyopathy). In order to stay healthy, a person needs regular 
checkups with a cardiologist. They also might need further operations 
after initial childhood surgeries (Ref. 46).
    Depending upon the severity of the defect, the costs for surgeries, 
hospital stays, and doctor's appointments to address a baby's cardiac 
defect can be significant. The costs for the defects may also continue 
throughout a person's lifetime. In 2004, hospital costs in the United 
States for individuals with a cardiac defect were approximately $1.4 
billion (Ref. 46).
    Beyond the monetary cost, the emotional and mental toll on parents 
who discover that their child has a heart defect while in utero or 
after birth will be high (Ref. 47). They may experience anxiety and 
worry over whether their child will have a normal life of playing with 
friends and participating in sports and other physical activities, or 
whether their child may be more susceptible to illness and be limited 
in the type of work and experiences they can have. In addition, parents 
can be expected to experience concerns over potential unknown medical 
costs that may be looming in the future, lifestyle changes, and being 
unable to return to work in order to care for their child.
    The emotional and mental toll on a person throughout childhood and 
into adolescence with a heart defect also should be considered (Ref. 
47). Cardiac patients who are children may feel excluded from 
activities and feel limited in making friends if they have to miss 
school due to additional surgeries, or may not be able to fully 
participate in sports or other physical exercise. Children may feel 
self-conscious of the scars left by multiple surgeries. This, in turn, 
adds emotional and mental stress to the parents as they observe their 
child's struggles.
    As a person with a heart defect enters adulthood, the emotional or 
mental toll of a cardiac defect may continue or in other instances the 
problem may only surface as the person becomes an adult. If a cardiac 
defect impacts a person's ability to enter certain careers, this could 
take a monetary as well as emotional toll on that person and on their 
parents or families who may need to provide some form of financial 
support. The monetary, emotional, and mental costs of heart defects can 
be considerable, and even though neither the precise reduction in 
individual risk of developing a cardiac defect from reducing TCE 
exposure or the total number of cases avoided can be estimated, their 
impact should be considered.
    2. Kidney toxicity. The TCE risk assessment identified kidney 
toxicity as a significant concern for non-cancer risk from TCE exposure 
with the risk being from chronic exposure. There are increased health 
risks for kidney toxicity to the approximately 10,800 workers and 
occupational bystanders at commercial aerosol degreasing operations and 
the up to approximately 168,000 workers and occupational bystanders in 
dry cleaning operations (Ref. 2).
    Exposure to TCE can lead to changes in the proximate tubules of the 
kidney. This damage may result in signs and symptoms of acute kidney 
failure that include: Decreased urine output, although occasionally 
urine output remains normal; fluid retention, causing swelling in the 
legs, ankles or feet; drowsiness, shortness of breath, fatigue, 
confusion, nausea, seizures or coma in severe cases; and chest pain or 
pressure. Sometimes acute kidney failure causes no signs or symptoms 
and is detected through lab tests done for another reason.
    Kidney toxicity means the kidney(s) has suffered damage that can 
result in a person being unable to rid their body of excess urine and 
wastes. In extreme cases where the kidney(s) is impaired over a long 
period of time, the kidney(s) could be damaged to the point that it no 
longer functions. When a kidney(s) no longer functions, a person needs 
dialysis and ideally a kidney transplant. In some cases, a non-
functioning kidney(s) can result in death. Kidney dialysis and kidney 
transplantation are expensive and incur long-term health costs if 
kidney function fails (Ref. 48).
    Approximately 31 million people, or 10% of the adult population, in 
the United States have chronic kidney disease. In the United States, it 
is the ninth leading cause of death. About 93% of chronic kidney 
disease is from known causes, including 44% from diabetes and 28.4% 
from high blood pressure. Unknown or missing causes account for about 
6.5% of cases, or about 2 million people (Ref. 49).
    The monetary cost of kidney toxicity varies depending on the 
severity of the damage to the kidney. In less severe cases, doctor 
visits may be limited and hospital stays unnecessary. In more

[[Page 91614]]

severe cases, a person may need serious medical interventions, such as 
dialysis or a kidney transplant if a donor is available, which can 
result in high medical expenses due to numerous hospital and doctor 
visits for regular dialysis and surgery if a transplant occurs. The 
costs for hemodialysis, as charged by hospitals, can be upwards of 
$100,000 per month (Ref. 50).
    Depending on the severity of the kidney damage, kidney disease can 
impact a person's ability to work and live a normal life, which in turn 
takes a mental and emotional toll on the patient. In less severe cases, 
the impact on a person's quality of life may be limited while in 
instances where kidney damage is severe, a person's quality of life and 
ability to work would be affected. While neither the precise reduction 
in individual risk of developing kidney toxicity from reducing TCE 
exposure or the total number of cases avoided can be estimated, these 
costs must still be considered because they can significantly impact 
those exposed to TCE.
    Chronic exposure to TCE can also lead to kidney cancer. The 
estimated value of the annualized benefit is $276,000 to $661,000 for 
aerosol degreasing and $1.4 million to $5.5 million for spot cleaning 
in dry cleaning facilities at 3% over 15 years; and $135,000 to 
$349,000 for aerosol degreasing and $677,000 to $2.9 million for spot 
cleaning in dry cleaning facilities at 7% over 15 years. Kidney cancer 
rarely shows signs or symptoms in its early stages. As kidney cancer 
progresses, the cancer may grow beyond the kidney spreading to lymph 
nodes or distant sites like the liver, lung or bladder increasing the 
impacts on a person and the costs to treat it. This metastasis is 
highly correlated with fatal outcomes. Impacts of kidney cancer that 
are not monetized include the emotional, psychological impacts and the 
impacts of treatment for the cancer on the well-being of the person.
    3. Immunotoxicity. a. Non-cancer chronic effects. The TCE risk 
assessment identified immunotoxicity as a chronic non-cancer risk from 
TCE exposure. There are increased health risks for immunotoxicity to 
the approximately 10,800 workers and occupational bystanders at 
commercial aerosol degreasing operations and the up to approximately 
168,000 workers and occupational bystanders in dry cleaning operations 
(Ref. 1).
    Human studies have demonstrated that TCE exposed workers can suffer 
from systemic autoimmune diseases (e.g., scleroderma) and severe 
hypersensitivity skin disorder. Scleroderma is a chronic connective 
tissue disease with autoimmune origins. The annual incidence is 
estimated to be 10 to 20 cases per 1 million persons (Ref. 51), and the 
prevalence is four to 253 cases per 1 million persons (Ref. 52). About 
300,000 Americans are estimated to have scleroderma. About one third of 
those people have the systemic form of scleroderma. Since scleroderma 
presents with symptoms similar to other autoimmune diseases, diagnosis 
is difficult. There may be many misdiagnosed or undiagnosed cases (Ref. 
52).
    Localized scleroderma is more common in children, whereas systemic 
scleroderma is more common in adults. Overall, female patients 
outnumber male patients about 4-to-1. Factors other than a person's 
gender, such as race and ethnic background, may influence the risk of 
getting scleroderma, the age of onset, and the pattern or severity of 
internal organ involvement. The reasons for this susceptibility are not 
clear. Although scleroderma is not directly inherited, some scientists 
believe there is a slight predisposition to it in families with a 
history of rheumatic diseases (Ref. 53).
    The symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly from person-to-person with 
the effects ranging from very mild to life threatening. If not properly 
treated, a mild case can become much more serious. Relatively mild 
symptoms are localized scleroderma, which results in hardened waxy 
patches on the skin of varying sizes, shapes and color. The more life 
threatening symptoms are from systemic scleroderma, which can involve 
the skin, esophagus, gastrointestinal tract (stomach and bowels), 
lungs, kidneys, heart and other internal organs. It can also affect 
blood vessels, muscles and joints. The tissues of involved organs 
become hard and fibrous, causing them to function less efficiently.
    Severe hypersensitivity skin disorder includes exfoliative 
dermatitis, mucous membrane erosions, eosinophilia, and hepatitis. 
Exfoliative dermatitis is a scaly dermatitis involving most, if not 
all, of the skin. Eosinophilia on the other hand is a chronic disorder 
resulting from excessive production of a particular type of white blood 
cells. If diagnosed and treated early a person can lead a relatively 
normal life (Ref. 51).
    The monetary costs for treating these various immunotoxicity 
disorders will vary depending upon whether the symptoms lead to early 
diagnosis and early diagnosis can influence whether symptoms progress 
to mild or life threatening outcomes. For mild symptoms, doctors' 
visits and outpatient treatment could be appropriate while more severe 
immunotoxicity disorders, may require hospital visits. Treatments for 
these conditions with immune modulating drugs also have countervailing 
risks.
    These disorders also take an emotional and mental toll on the 
person as well as on their families. Their quality of life may be 
impacted because they no longer have the ability to do certain 
activities that may affect or highlight their skin disorder, such as 
swimming. Concerns over doctor and hospital bills, particularly if a 
person's ability to work is impacted, may further contribute to a 
person's emotional and mental stress. While neither the precise 
reduction in individual risk of developing this disorder from TCE 
exposure or the total number of cases avoided can be estimated, this 
should be considered.
    b. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. EPA's 2011 IRIS assessment for TCE found 
that TCE is carcinogenic. Chronic exposure to TCE, by all routes of 
exposure, can result in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), one of the three 
cancers for which the EPA TCE IRIS assessment based its cancer 
findings. There are increased health risks for NHL for the 
approximately 10,800 workers and occupational bystanders at commercial 
aerosol degreasing operations and the up to approximately 168,000 
workers and occupational bystanders in dry cleaning operations (Ref. 
2).
    NHL is a form of cancer that originates in a person's lymphatic 
system. For NHL, there are approximately 19.7 new cases per 100,000 men 
and women per year with 6.2 deaths per 100,000 men and women per year. 
NHL is the seventh most common form of cancer (Ref. 53). Some studies 
suggest that exposure to chemicals may be linked to an increased risk 
of NHL. Other factors that may increase the risk of NHL are medications 
that suppress a person's immune system, infection with certain viruses 
and bacteria, or older age (Ref. 54).
    Symptoms are painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or 
groin, abdominal pain or swelling, chest pain, coughing or trouble 
breathing, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Depending on 
the rate at which the NHL is advancing, the approach may be to monitor 
the condition, while more aggressive NHL could require chemotherapy, 
radiation, stem cell transplant, medications that enhance a person's 
immune system's ability to fight cancer, or medications that deliver 
radiation directly to cancer cells.

[[Page 91615]]

    Treatment for NHL will result in substantial costs for hospital and 
doctors' visits in order to treat the cancer. The treatments for NHL 
can also have countervailing risks and can lead to higher 
susceptibility of patients for secondary malignancies (Ref. 55). The 
emotional and mental toll from wondering whether a treatment will be 
successful, going through the actual treatment, and inability to do 
normal activities or work will most likely be high. This emotional and 
mental toll will extend to the person's family and friends as they 
struggle with the diagnosis and success and failure of a treatment 
regime. If a person has children, this could affect their mental and 
emotional well-being and may impact their success in school. A 
discussion of the monetized benefits associated with reducing risk of 
NHL is located in Unit VIII.B. The estimated value of the annualized 
benefit is $759,000 to $1.2 million for aerosol degreasing and $3.9 
million to $10.1 million for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities 
at 3% over 15 years; and $355,000 to $601,000 for aerosol degreasing 
and $1.8 million to $5.0 million for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities at 7% over 15 years.
    4. Reproductive and endocrine effects. The TCE risk assessment 
identified chronic non-cancer risks for reproductive effects for 
workers and bystanders exposed to TCE. There are increased health risks 
for reproductive effects for the approximately 10,800 workers and 
occupational bystanders at commercial aerosol degreasing operations and 
the up to approximately 168,000 workers and occupational bystanders in 
dry cleaning operations (Ref. 2).
    The reproductive effect for both females and males can be altered 
libido. The prevalence of infertility is estimated at about 10-15% of 
couples with a decreased libido among the factors of infertility (Ref. 
56). For females, there can be reduced incidence of fecundability (6.7 
million women ages 15 to 44 or 10.9% affected) (Ref. 57), increase in 
abnormal menstrual cycle, and amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation). 
Reproductive effects on males can be decreased potency, gynaecomastia, 
impotence, and decreased testosterone levels, or low T levels. 
Approximately 2.4 million men age 40 to 49 have low T levels, with a 
new diagnosis of about 481,000 androgen deficiency cases a year. Other 
estimates propose a hypogonadism prevalence of about 13 million 
American men (Ref. 58). Low T levels are associated with aging; an 
estimated 39% of men 45 or older have hypogonadism, resulting in low T 
levels (Ref. 59). Hormone therapy and endocrine monitoring may be 
required in the most severe cases. Low T levels are associated with 
aging; an estimated 39% of men 45 or older have hypogonadism, resulting 
in low T levels (Ref. 59). Hormone therapy and endocrine monitoring may 
be required in the most severe cases.
    The monetary costs of these potential reproductive effects involve 
doctor's visits in order to try to determine why there is a change. In 
some instances, a person or couple may need to visit a fertility 
doctor.
    The impact of a reduced sex drive can take an emotional and mental 
toll on single people as well as couples. For people trying to get 
pregnant, decreased fertility can add stress to a relationship as the 
cause is determined and avenues explored to try to resolve the 
difficulties in conceiving. A person or couples' quality of life can 
also be affected as they struggle with a reduced sex drive. Similar to 
effects discussed previously, while neither the precise reduction in 
individual risk of developing this disorder from reducing TCE exposure 
or the total number of cases avoided can be estimated, the Agency still 
considers their impact.
    5. Neurotoxicity. The TCE risk assessment identified chronic risks 
for neurotoxicity for workers and bystanders. There are increased 
health risks for neurotoxicity to the approximately 10,800 workers and 
bystanders at commercial aerosol degreasing operations and the up to 
approximately 168,000 workers and bystanders in dry cleaning operations 
(Ref. 2).
    Studies have also demonstrated neurotoxicity for acute exposure. 
Neurotoxic effects observed are alterations in trigeminal nerve and 
vestibular function, auditory effects, changes in vision, alterations 
in cognitive function, changes in psychomotor effects, and 
neurodevelopmental outcomes. Developmental neurotoxicity effects are 
delayed newborn reflexes, impaired learning or memory, aggressive 
behavior, hearing impairment, speech impairment, encephalopathy, 
impaired executive and motor function and attention deficit (Ref. 3).
    The impacts of neurotoxic effects due to TCE exposure can last a 
person's entire lifetime. Changes in vision may impact a person's 
ability to drive, which can create difficulties for daily life. 
Impaired learning or memory, aggressive behavior, hearing impairment, 
speech impairment, encephalopathy, impaired executive and motor 
function and attention deficit can impact a child's educational 
progression and adolescent's schooling and ability to make friends, 
which in turn can impact the type of work or ability get work later in 
life.
    Neurotoxicity in adults can affect the trigeminal nerve, the 
largest and most complex of the 12 cranial nerves, which supplies 
sensations to the face, mucous membranes, and other structures of the 
head. Onset of trigeminal neuralgia generally occurs in mid-life and 
known causes include multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis and Lyme disease. 
There is also a co-morbidity with scleroderma and systemic lupus. Some 
data show that the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia could be between 
0.01% and 0.3% (Ref. 60). Alterations to this nerve function might 
cause sporadic and sudden burning or shock-like facial pain to a 
person. One way to relieve the burning or shock-like facial pain is to 
undergo a procedure where the nerve fibers are damaged in order to 
block the pain. This treatment can have lasting impact on sensation 
which may also be deleterious for normal pain sensation. The potential 
side effects of this procedure includes facial numbness and some 
sensory loss.
    The monetary health costs can range from doctor's visits and 
medication to surgeries and hospital stays. Depending upon when the 
neurotoxic effect occurred, the monetary costs may encompass a person's 
entire lifetime or just a portion.
    The personal costs (emotional, mental, and impacts to a person's 
quality of life) cannot be discounted. Parents of a child with impaired 
learning, memory, or some other developmental neurotoxic effect may 
suffer emotional and mental stress related to worries about the child's 
performance in school, ability to make friends, and quality of the 
child's life because early disabilities can have compounding effects as 
they grow into adulthood. The parent may need to take off work 
unexpectedly and have the additional cost of doctor visits and/or 
medication.
    For a person whose trigeminal nerve is affected there is an 
emotional and mental toll as they wonder what is wrong and visit 
doctors in order to determine what is wrong. Depending on the severity 
of the impact to the nerve they may be unable to work. Doctor visits 
and any inability to work will have a monetary impact to the person. 
There are varying costs (emotional, monetary, and impacts to a person's 
quality of life) from the neurotoxicity effects due to TCE exposure. 
However, while neither the precise reduction in

[[Page 91616]]

individual risk of developing this disorder from reducing TCE exposure 
or the total number of cases avoided can be estimated, this is not a 
reason to disregard their impact.
    6. Liver toxicity. The TCE risk assessment identified liver 
toxicity as an adverse effect of chronic TCE exposure. There are 
increased health risks for liver toxicity to the approximately 10,800 
workers occupational bystanders at commercial aerosol degreasing 
operations and the up to approximately 168,000 workers and occupational 
bystanders in dry cleaning operations (Ref. 1).
    Specific effects to the liver can include increased liver weight, 
increase in DNA synthesis (transient), enlarged hepatocytes, enlarged 
nuclei, and peroxisome proliferation (Ref. 1). In addition, workers 
exposed to TCE have shown hepatitis accompanying immune-related 
generalized skin diseases, jaundice, hepatomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, 
and liver failure (Ref. 1).
    Some form of liver disease impacts at least 30 million people, or 1 
in 10 Americans (Ref. 61). Included in this number is at least 20% of 
those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (Ref. 61). NAFLD 
tends to impact people who are overweight/obese or have diabetes. 
However, an estimated 25% do not have any risk factors (Ref. 61). The 
danger of NAFLD is that it can cause the liver to swell, which may 
result in cirrhosis over time and could even lead to liver cancer or 
failure (Ref. 61). The most common known causes to this disease burden 
are attributable to alcoholism and viral infections, such as hepatitis 
A, B, and C. In 2013, there were 1,781 reported acute cases of viral 
hepatitis A and the estimated actual cases were 3,500 (Ref. 62). For 
hepatitis B in 2013 there were 3,050 reported acute cases, while the 
estimated actual incidence was 19,800, and the estimated chronic cases 
in the United States is between 700,000 to 1.4 million (Ref. 62). For 
hepatitis C, in 2013 there were 2,138 reported cases; however, the 
estimated incidence was 29,700 and the estimated number of chronic 
cases is between 2.7 to 3.9 million (Ref. 62). These known 
environmental risk factors of hepatitis infection may result in 
increased susceptibility of individuals exposed to organic chemicals.
    Effects from TCE exposure to the liver can occur quickly. Liver 
weight increase has occurred in mice after as little as 2 days of 
inhalation exposure (Ref. 3). Human case reports from eight countries 
indicated symptoms of hepatitis, hepatomegaly and elevated liver 
function enzymes, and in rare cases, acute liver failure developed 
within as little as 2-5 weeks of initial exposure to TCE (Ref. 3).
    Chronic exposure to TCE can also lead to liver cancer. There is 
strong epidemiological data that reported an association between TCE 
exposure and the onset of various cancers, including liver cancer. The 
estimated value of the annualized benefit is $493,000 to $811,000 for 
aerosol degreasing and $2.5 million to $6.7 million for spot cleaning 
in dry cleaning facilities at 3% over 15 years; and $252,000 to 
$436,000 for aerosol degreasing and $1.3 million to $3.6 million for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities at 7% over 15 years.
    Additional medical and emotional costs are associated with non-
cancer liver toxicity from TCE exposure, although they cannot be 
quantified. These costs include doctor and hospital visits and 
medication costs. In some cases, the ability to work can be affected, 
which in turn impacts the ability to get proper ongoing medical care. 
Liver toxicity can lead to jaundice, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, 
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, impaired metabolism, and liver 
disease. Symptoms of jaundice include yellow or itchy skin and a 
yellowing of the whites of the eye, and a pale stool and dark urine. 
These symptoms can create a heightened emotional state as a person 
tries to determine what is wrong with them.
    Depending upon the severity of the jaundice, treatments can range 
significantly. Simple treatment may involve avoiding exposure to the 
TCE; however, this may impact a person's ability to continue to work. 
In severe cases, the liver toxicity can lead to liver failure, which 
can result in the need for a liver transplant, if a donor is available. 
Liver transplantation is expensive (with an estimated cost of $575,000) 
and there are countervailing risks for this type of treatment (Ref. 
63). The mental and emotional toll on an individual and their family as 
they try to determine the cause of sickness and possibly experience an 
inability to work, as well as the potential monetary cost of medical 
treatment required to regain health are significant.
    7. Disproportionate impacts on environmental justice communities. 
An additional factor that cannot be monetized is the disproportionate 
impact on environmental justice communities. Asian and Hispanic 
populations are disproportionately represented in dry cleaning 
facilities. 13% of dry cleaning workers are Asian, compared to 5% of 
the national population, and 30% of dry cleaning workers are Hispanic 
(of any race), compared to 16% of the national population, indicating 
that these two populations are over-represented. Because they are 
disproportionately over-represented in the dry cleaning industry, these 
populations are disproportionately exposed to TCE during spot cleaning 
in dry cleaning facilities and disproportionately at risk to the range 
of adverse non-cancer effects and cancer.

B. Monetized Benefits of the Proposed Rule and the Alternatives That 
EPA Considered

    The benefits that can be monetized from risk reductions due to the 
proposed prohibitions on manufacture, processing, and distribution in 
commerce of TCE for aerosol degreasing, and the prohibition on 
commercial use of TCE in aerosol degreasing are estimated to be $1.5 
million to $2.7 million (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $700,000 
to $1.4 million (annualized at 7% over 15 years). The monetized 
benefits from similar prohibitions to mitigate the risks from TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities are estimated to be $7.8 
million to $22.3 million (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $3.7 
million to $11.4 million (annualized at 7% over 15 years). The total 
monetized benefits for the proposed rule range from approximately $9.2 
million to $24.8 million on an annualized basis over 15 years at 3% and 
$4.4 million to $12.6 million at 7%. The alternatives considered are 
unlikely to result in the same health benefits as the proposed rule for 
the reasons discussed in Units VI and VII. However, EPA was unable to 
quantify the differences in benefits that would result from the 
alternatives.

C. Costs of the Proposed Rule and the Alternatives That EPA Considered

    The details of the costs of the proposed approach for use of TCE in 
aerosol degreasing are discussed in Unit VI.C.1 and the details of the 
costs of the proposed approach for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities are discussed in Unit VII.C.1. Under the proposed option, 
costs to users of aerosol degreasers are negligible as substitute 
products are currently available on the market and are similarly 
priced. Total costs of aerosol degreasing product reformulations are 
estimated to be approximately $416,000 in the first year and $32,000 
per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $41,000 (annualized at 7% 
over 15 years). Costs of downstream notification and recordkeeping are 
estimated to be $51,000 in the first year and on an

[[Page 91617]]

annualized basis over 15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using 3% and 7% 
discount rates respectively. Agency costs for enforcement are estimated 
to be approximately $112,000 and $109,000 annualized over 15 years at 
3% and 7%, respectively. The total cost of the proposed approach for 
the aerosol degreasing use is estimated to be $37,000 to $40,000 and 
$46,000 to $49,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7%, respectively. 
Annual recurring costs to the Agency for enforcement are estimated to 
be $121,000 per year.
    Under the proposed approach, dry cleaners are expected to switch to 
alternatives because they are readily available at similar cost and 
performance. Blenders of TCE spot cleaners are expected to reformulate 
their products. Total costs of reformulation are estimated to be 
$286,000 in the first year and annualized costs are approximately 
$22,000 per year (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and $28,000 
(annualized at 7% over 15 years). Costs of downstream notification and 
recordkeeping are estimated to be $51,000 in the first-year and on an 
annualized basis over 15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using 3 and 7 
percent discount rates respectively. Agency costs for enforcement are 
estimated to be approximately $112,000 to $109,000 annualized over 15 
years at 3% and 7%. Annual recurring costs to the Agency for 
enforcement are estimated to be $121,000 per year. The total cost of 
the proposed approach for the dry cleaning spotting use is estimated to 
be $130,000-$133,000 and $135,000-$137,000 annualized over 15 years at 
3% and 7%, respectively.
    Total costs of the proposed rule for both uses are estimated to be 
$170,000 annualized over 15 years at 3% and $183,000 annualized over 15 
years at 7%.
    Alternatives that EPA considered include the use of PPE as well as 
an option that would prohibit the use of TCE in aerosol degreasing and 
as a spot cleaner at dry cleaning facilities, without the companion 
prohibition on manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce for 
these uses or the downstream notification requirements. As discussed in 
Unit VI., EPA assumed that no users would adopt PPE because the per-
facility costs were prohibitively expensive. The estimated annualized 
costs of switching to a respiratory protection program requiring PPE of 
10,000 are $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at 7% per dry cleaning facility and 
$8,300 at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol degreasing facility over 15 
years. EPA also found that a use prohibition alone without downstream 
notification requirements would not address the identified unreasonable 
risks. EPA estimated the costs of this option to be $166,000 annualized 
over 15 years at 3% and $178,000 annualized over 15 years at 7%.

D. Comparison of Benefits and Costs

    The monetized benefits for preventing the risks resulting from TCE 
exposure from both these uses significantly outweigh the estimated 
costs. Even though simply comparing the costs and monetized benefits of 
prohibiting the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce 
of TCE as an aerosol degreaser; prohibiting its use as an aerosol 
degreaser; and requiring downstream notification demonstrates that the 
monetized benefits of this proposed action outweigh the costs, EPA 
believes that the balance of costs and benefits cannot be fairly 
described without considering the additional, non-monetized benefits of 
mitigating the non-cancer adverse effects as well as cancer. As 
discussed previously, the multitude of potential adverse effects 
associated with TCE exposure can profoundly impact an individual's 
quality of life. Some of the adverse effects associated with TCE 
exposure can be immediately experienced and can affect a person from 
childhood throughout a lifetime (e.g., cardiac malformations, 
developmental neurotoxicity, and developmental immunotoxicity). Others 
(e.g., adult immunotoxicity, kidney and liver failure or cancers) can 
have impacts that are experienced for a shorter portion of life, but 
are nevertheless significant in nature.
    While the risk of non-cancer health effects associated with TCE 
exposure cannot be quantitatively estimated, the qualitative discussion 
highlights how some of these non-cancer effects occurring much earlier 
in life from TCE exposure may be as severe as cancer's mortality and 
morbidity and thus just as life-altering. These effects include not 
only medical costs but also personal costs such as emotional and mental 
stress that are impossible to accurately measure.
    While the impacts of non-cancer effects cannot be monetized, EPA 
considered the impacts of these effects in making its determination 
about how best to address the unreasonable risks presented by TCE use 
in aerosol degreasing and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities. 
Considering only monetized benefits would significantly underestimate 
the impacts of TCE-induced non-cancer adverse outcomes on a person's 
quality of life to perform basic skills of daily living, including the 
ability to earn a living, the ability to participate in sports and 
other activities, and the impacts on a person's family and 
relationships.
    Thus, considering costs, benefits that can be monetized (risk of 
cancer), and benefits that cannot be quantified and subsequently 
monetized (risk of developmental toxicity, kidney toxicity, 
immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and liver 
toxicity), including benefits related to the severity of the effects 
and the impacts on a person throughout her/his lifetime in terms of 
medical costs, effects on earning power and personal costs, emotional 
and psychological costs, and the disproportionate impacts on Asian and 
Hispanic communities, the benefits of preventing TCE exposure outweigh 
the costs. Further, if EPA were to consider only the benefits that can 
be monetized in comparison to the cost, the monetized benefits from 
preventing kidney and liver cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from the 
use of TCE in aerosol degreasing (the annualized monetized benefits on 
a 15 year basis range from approximately $1.5 million to $2.7 million 
at 3% and $700,000 to $1.4 million at 7%) and the use of TCE in spot 
cleaners in dry cleaning facilities (the annualized monetized benefits 
on a 15 year basis range from approximately $7.8 million to $22.3 
million at 7% and $3.7 million to $11.4 million at 3%) far outweigh the 
costs of the proposed approaches for use of TCE in aerosol degreasing 
(the annualized costs on a 15 year basis range from approximately 
$37,000 to $40,000 at 3% and $46,000 to $49,000 at 7%) and for use of 
TCE in spot cleaners in dry cleaning facilities (the annualized costs 
on a 15 year basis range from approximately $130,000 to $133,000 at 3% 
and $135,000 to $137,000 at 7%).

IX. Overview of Uncertainties

    A discussion of the uncertainties associated with this proposed 
rule can be found in the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1) and in the 
supplemental analysis (Refs. 23, 24, 25) for use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasing and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. 
A summary of these uncertainties follows.
    EPA used a number of assumptions in the TCE risk assessment and 
supporting analysis to develop estimates for occupational and consumer 
exposure scenarios and to develop the hazard/dose[hyphen]response and 
risk characterization. EPA recognizes that the uncertainties may 
underestimate or overestimate actual risks. These uncertainties 
include: (1) Releases of and exposures to

[[Page 91618]]

TCE can vary from one aerosol degreasing activity to the next. EPA 
attempted to quantify this uncertainty by evaluating multiple scenarios 
to establish a range of releases and exposures. In estimating the risk 
from aerosol degreasing, there are uncertainties in the number of 
workers exposed to TCE and in the inputs to the models used to estimate 
exposures. (2) Although EPA found information about TCE products 
intended for consumer use, there is some general uncertainty regarding 
the nature and extent of the consumer use of aerosol products 
containing TCE. (3) Releases of and exposures to TCE can vary from one 
dry cleaning facility to the next. EPA attempted to quantify this 
uncertainty by evaluating multiple scenarios to establish a range of 
releases and exposures. There is also uncertainty in the number of 
workers exposed to TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. 
There are uncertainties in the model and inputs used to model the 
exposures to TCE from these uses.
    In addition to the uncertainties in the risks, there are 
uncertainties in the cost and benefits. The uncertainties in the 
benefits are most pronounced in estimating the benefits from preventing 
the non-cancer adverse effects because these benefits generally cannot 
be monetized due to the lack of concentration response functions in 
humans leading to the ability to estimate the number of population-
level non-cancer cases and limitations in established economic 
methodologies. Additional uncertainties in benefit calculations include 
the reliance on professional judgment to estimate the alternatives that 
users might choose to adopt and the potential risks for adverse health 
effects that the alternatives may pose. While there are some products 
that have comparable risks, there are a number of alternatives that are 
likely to be of lower risk, although EPA is unable to estimate the 
incremental change in the risk. To account for this uncertainty, EPA 
includes a lower and a higher estimate for the benefits from 
eliminating exposure to TCE. The lower benefits estimate does not 
include any benefits for firms that switch to anything other than 
water-based, methyl ester (soy-based) cleaners, or acetone degreasers. 
The higher benefits estimate includes the benefit from entirely 
eliminating TCE exposure for all alternative compliance strategies and 
assumes that no risks are introduced by alternatives. This inability to 
adequately account for adverse health effects of alternatives in the 
benefits analysis is expected to contribute most to the uncertainty in 
the estimates.
    There are also uncertainties in the estimates of the number of 
affected facilities, particularly those for the aerosol degreasing use 
and for numbers of processors and distributors of TCE-containing 
products not prohibited by the proposed rule who are required to 
provide downstream notification and/or maintain records. The estimate 
for number of facilities using TCE-containing aerosol degreasers is 
based on EPA calculations using data derived from the California Air 
Resources Board Initial Statement of Reasons for the Proposed Airborne 
Toxic Control Measure for Emissions of Chlorinated Toxic Air 
Contaminants from Automotive Maintenance and Repair Activities (Ref. 
2). To estimate the number of processors, EPA relied on public 2012 CDR 
data. The number of sites is reported in the CDR data as a range. The 
midpoint of the reported ranges was used to estimate the total number 
of sites using the chemical. Furthermore, the CDR data only include 
processors immediately downstream of those reporting to CDR. Finally, 
EPA estimated the number of wholesaler firms distributing products 
containing TCE by taking a ratio of the number of Chemical and Allied 
Products Merchant Wholesaler firms to Basic Chemical Manufacturing 
firms and applying it to the estimated number of manufacturers and 
processors of TCE (Ref. 2).
    Another uncertainty concerns the estimate for the cost of 
reblending products and the time required to reblend those products. 
EPA used a study on the automotive aftermarket parts products industry 
that provided a range of costs for product reformulation and used the 
mean value of $26,000 from that study. EPA contacted both dry cleaners 
and blenders of aerosol degreasing products for additional information 
and received a few estimates from the aerosol degreasing product 
blenders which ranged from $15,000 to $30,000. However, EPA received no 
information from dry cleaning spot cleaning product blenders, so there 
is some uncertainty as to how representative the estimate is for that 
industry.
    EPA also assumes that companies are generally able to reblend 
products within 6 months following publication of the final rule; 
however, it is not certain whether they may experience additional costs 
if they are not able have a product available to market at that time.
    EPA will consider additional information received during the public 
comment period, including comments on implementation timeframes. This 
includes public comments, scientific publications, and other input 
submitted to EPA during the comment period.

X. Analysis Under Section 9 of TSCA (Other Authorities) for Aerosol 
Degreasing and Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning Facilities and TSCA 
Section 26(h) Considerations

A. Section 9 Analysis

    1. Section 9(a) analysis. Section 9(a) of TSCA provides that, if 
the Administrator determines in her discretion that unreasonable risks 
may be prevented or reduced to a sufficient extent by action taken 
under a Federal law not administered by EPA, the Administrator must 
submit a report to the agency administering that other law that 
describes the risk and the activities that present such risk. If the 
other agency responds by declaring that the activities described do not 
present unreasonable risks or if that agency initiates action under its 
own law to protect against the risk, EPA is precluded from acting 
against the risk under sections 6 or 7 of TSCA.
    Section 9(d) of TSCA instructs the Administrator to consult and 
coordinate TSCA activities with other Federal agencies for the purpose 
of achieving the maximum enforcement of TSCA while imposing the least 
burden of duplicative requirements. For today's proposed rule, EPA has 
consulted with CPSC and OSHA.
    CPSC protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death 
associated with the use of consumer products under the agency's 
jurisdiction. There are no CPSC regulations on use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasers and for spot cleaning at dry cleaning facilities (Ref. 64).
    OSHA assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men 
and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, 
outreach, education and assistance. OSHA adopted an eight-hour time 
weighted average PEL of 100 ppm along with a ceiling limit in 1971 
shortly after the agency was formed. It was based on the American 
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommended 
occupational exposure limit that was in place at that time. OSHA 
recognizes that the TCE PEL and many other PELs issued shortly after 
adoption of the OSHA Act in 1970 are outdated and inadequate for 
ensuring protection of worker health. OSHA recently published a Request 
for Information on approaches to updating PELs and other strategies to 
managing chemicals in the workplace (Ref. 9).

[[Page 91619]]

OSHA's current regulatory agenda does not include revision to the TCE 
PEL or other regulations addressing the risks EPA has identified when 
TCE is used in aerosol degreasing or for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities (Ref. 9).
    EPA has determined that risks from the use of TCE in aerosol spray 
degreasers and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning facilities are best 
managed by regulation under TSCA rather than by referral to other 
agencies. Today's proposed rule addresses risk from TCE exposure to 
populations in both workplaces and consumer settings. With the 
exception of TSCA, there is no Federal law that provides authority to 
prevent or sufficiently reduce these cross-cutting exposures. No other 
Federal regulatory authority, when considering the exposures to the 
populations and within the situations in its purview, can evaluate and 
address the totality of the risk that EPA is addressing in this 
proposed rulemaking under TSCA. For example, OSHA may set exposure 
limits for workers but its authority is limited to the workplace and 
does not extend to consumer uses of hazardous chemicals. Further, OSHA 
does not have direct authority over state and local employees, and it 
has no authority at all over the working conditions of state and local 
employees in states that have no OSHA-approved State Plan under 29 
U.S.C. 667. Other Federal regulatory authorities, such as CPSC, have 
the authority to only regulate pieces of the TCE risk, such as consumer 
products. And neither agency has authority to bar the manufacture, 
processing or distribution for these uses and require downstream 
notification of restrictions like EPA proposes to do.
    Moreover, recent amendments to TSCA, Public Law 114-182, alter both 
the manner of identifying unreasonable risk under TSCA and EPA's 
authority to address unreasonable risk under TSCA, such that risk 
management under TSCA is increasingly distinct from analogous 
provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), the Federal 
Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), or the OSH Act. These changes to TSCA 
reduce the likelihood that an action under the CPSA, FHSA, or the OSH 
Act would reduce the risk of these uses of TCE so that the risks are no 
longer unreasonable under TSCA. Whereas (in a TSCA section 6 rule) an 
unreasonable risk determination sets the objective of the rule in a 
manner that excludes cost considerations, 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(A), 
subject to time-limited conditional exemptions for critical chemical 
uses and the like, 15 U.S.C. 2605(g), a consumer product safety rule 
under the CPSA must include a finding that ``the benefits expected from 
the rule bear a reasonable relationship to its costs.'' 15 U.S.C. 
2058(f)(3)(E). Additionally, recent amendments to TSCA reflect 
Congressional intent to ``delete the paralyzing `least burdensome' 
requirement,'' 162 Cong. Rec. S3517 (June 7, 2016). However, a consumer 
product safety rule under the CPSA must impose ``the least burdensome 
requirement which prevents or adequately reduces the risk of injury for 
which the rule is being promulgated.'' 15 U.S.C. 2058(f)(3)(F). 
Analogous requirements, also at variance with recent revisions to TSCA, 
affect the availability of action under the FHSA relative to action 
under TSCA. 15 U.S.C. 1262. Gaps also exist between OSHA's authority to 
set workplace standards under the OSH Act and EPA's amended obligations 
to sufficiently address chemical risks under TSCA. To set PELs for 
chemical exposure, OSHA must first establish that the new standards are 
economically feasible and technologically feasible. (79 FR 61387, 
October 10, 2014). But under TSCA, EPA's substantive burden under TSCA 
section 6(a) is to demonstrate that, as regulated, the chemical 
substance no longer presents an unreasonable risk, with unreasonable 
risk being determined without consideration of cost or other non-risk 
factors.
    TSCA is the only regulatory authority able to prevent or reduce 
risk from these uses of TCE to a sufficient extent across the range of 
uses and exposures of concern. In addition, these risks can be 
addressed in a more coordinated, efficient and effective manner under 
TSCA than under two or more different laws implemented by different 
agencies. Accordingly, EPA determines that referral to other Federal 
authorities for risk management would not necessarily address the 
unreasonable risk. As noted previously, there are key differences 
between the newly amended finding requirements of TSCA and those of the 
OSH Act, CPSA, and the FHSA. For these reasons, in her discretion, the 
Administrator does not determine that unreasonable risks from these 
uses of TCE may be prevented or reduced to a sufficient extent by an 
action taken under a Federal law not administered by EPA.
    2. Section 9(b) analysis. If EPA determines that actions under 
other Federal authorities administered in whole or in part by EPA may 
eliminate or sufficiently reduce unreasonable risks, section 9(b) of 
TSCA instructs EPA to use these other statutes unless the Administrator 
determines in the Administrator's discretion that it is in the public 
interest to protect against such risk under TSCA. In making such a 
public interest determination, section 9(b)(2) of TSCA states: ``the 
Administrator shall consider, based on information reasonably available 
to the Administrator, all relevant aspects of the risk . . . and a 
comparison of the estimated costs and efficiencies of the action to be 
taken under this title and an action to be taken under such other law 
to protect against such risk.''
    Although several EPA statutes have been used to limit TCE exposure, 
as discussed in Unit III.A, regulations under these EPA statutes have 
limitations because they largely regulate releases to the environment, 
rather than direct human exposure. SDWA only applies to drinking water. 
CAA does not apply directly to worker exposures or consumer settings 
where TCE is used. Under RCRA, TCE that is discarded may be considered 
a hazardous waste and subject to requirements designed to reduce 
exposure from the disposal of TCE to air, land and water. RCRA does not 
address exposures during use of products containing TCE. Only TSCA 
provides EPA the authority to regulate the manufacture (including 
import), processing, and distribution in commerce, and use of chemicals 
substances.

B. Section 26(h) Considerations

    In proposing this rule under section 6 of TSCA, the EPA has made a 
decision based on science. EPA has used scientific information, 
technical procedures, measures, methods, protocols, methodologies, and 
models consistent with the best available science. Specifically, EPA 
based its preliminary determination of unreasonable risk presented by 
the use of TCE in aerosol degreasing products and as a spot cleaner in 
dry cleaning facilities on the completed risk assessment, which 
followed a peer review and public comment process, as well as using 
best available science and methods (Ref. 1). Additional information on 
the peer review and public comment process, such as the peer review 
plan, the peer review report, and the Agency's response to comments, 
can be found on EPA's Assessments for TSCA Work Plan Chemicals Web page 
at https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/assessments-tsca-work-plan-chemicals.
    The scientific information and technical measures and models used 
in the risk assessment and supplemental analyses are consistent with 
the intended use for risk reduction by regulation under section 6 of 
TSCA. The degree of clarity and completeness of

[[Page 91620]]

the science used in the risk assessment and supplemental analyses are 
described in the risk assessment (Ref. 1) and Unit IX. Similarly, the 
variability and uncertainty in the information or models and methods 
used are described in the risk assessment (Ref. 1) and Unit IX.

XI. Major Provisions of the Proposed Rule

A. Prohibitions on TCE Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in 
Commerce, and Commercial Use

    The rule would prohibit (1) the manufacture, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and commercial use of TCE in aerosol 
degreasers; and (2) the manufacture, processing, distribution in 
commerce, and use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.

B. Downstream Notification

    EPA has authority under section 6 of TSCA to require that a 
substance or mixture or any article containing such substance or 
mixture be marked with or accompanied by clear and adequate minimum 
warnings and instructions with respect to its use, distribution in 
commerce, or disposal or with respect to any combination of such 
activities. Many TCE manufacturers and processors are likely to 
manufacture or process TCE or TCE containing products for other uses 
that would not be regulated under this proposed rule. Other companies 
may be strictly engaged in distribution in commerce of TCE, without any 
manufacturing or processing activities, to customers for uses that are 
not regulated. EPA is proposing a requirement for downstream 
notification by manufacturers, processors, and distributors of TCE for 
any use to ensure compliance with the prohibition on manufacture, 
processing, distribution in commerce, and commercial use of TCE for 
spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and in aerosol degreasers. 
Downstream notification is necessary for effective enforcement of the 
rule because it provides a record, in writing, of notification on use 
restrictions throughout the supply chain, likely via modifications to 
the Safety Data Sheet. Downstream notification also increases awareness 
of restrictions on the use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning 
facilities and in aerosol degreasers, which is likely to decrease 
unintentional uses of TCE by these entities. Downstream notification 
represents minimal burden and is necessary for effective enforcement of 
the rule. The estimated cost of downstream notification is $51,000 in 
the first year and $3,900 and $5,000 on an annualized basis over 15 
years using 3 and 7 percent discount rates respectively.

C. Enforcement

    Section 15 of TSCA makes it unlawful to fail or refuse to comply 
with any provision of a rule promulgated under section 6 of TSCA. 
Therefore, any failure to comply with this proposed rule when it 
becomes effective would be a violation of section 15 of TSCA. In 
addition, section 15 of TSCA makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) 
Fail or refuse to establish and maintain records as required by this 
rule; (2) fail or refuse to permit access to or copying of records, as 
required by TSCA; or (3) fail or refuse to permit entry or inspection 
as required by section 11 of TSCA.
    Violators may be subject to both civil and criminal liability. 
Under the penalty provision of section 16 of TSCA, any person who 
violates section 15 could be subject to a civil penalty for each 
violation. Each day of operation in violation of this proposed rule 
when it becomes effective could constitute a separate violation. 
Knowing or willful violations of this proposed rule when it becomes 
effective could lead to the imposition of criminal penalties for each 
day of violation and imprisonment. In addition, other remedies are 
available to EPA under TSCA.
    Individuals, as well as corporations, could be subject to 
enforcement actions. Sections 15 and 16 of TSCA apply to ``any person'' 
who violates various provisions of TSCA. EPA may, at its discretion, 
proceed against individuals as well as companies. In particular, EPA 
may proceed against individuals who report false information or cause 
it to be reported.

XII. References

    The following is a listing of the documents that are specifically 
referenced in this document. The docket includes these documents and 
other information considered by EPA, including documents referenced 
within the documents that are included in the docket, even if the 
referenced document is not physically located in the docket. For 
assistance in locating these other documents, please consult the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

1. EPA. 2014. TSCA Work Plan Chemical Risk Assessment. 
Trichloroethylene: Degreasing, Spot Cleaning and Arts & Crafts Uses. 
CASRN: 79-01-6. EPA/740/R1/4002. Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention, Washington, DC. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/tsca-work-plan-chemical-risk-assessment-0
2. EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 2016. Economic 
Assessment for Trichloroethylene (TCE) under TSCA Section 6. Office 
of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Washington, DC.
3. EPA. Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene (CAS No. 79-01-6). 
EPA/635/R-09/011F. Integrated Risk Information System, Washington, 
DC. 2011.
4. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Monographs on the 
Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Cadmium, 
Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, and Some Chlorinated Agents. 
Volume 106. World Health Organization, Lyon, France.
5. National Toxicology Program. 13th Report on Carcinogens. 2014. 
Available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/annualreport/2015/glance/roc/index.html.
6. EPA. Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Ozone-
Depleting Substances-n-Propyl Bromide in Solvent Cleaning. Final 
Rule. Federal Register (72 FR 30142, May 30, 2007) (FRL-8316-8).
7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 
Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Toxic and Hazardous 
Substances. Code of Federal Regulations 29 CFR 1910.1000. 1998.
8. OSHA. Permissible Exposure Limits--Annotated Tables. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
9. OSHA. Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs). 
Federal Register 79 FR 61384 (October 10, 2014). http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=OSHA-2012-0023-0001
10. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. Cincinnati, OH. 1997.
11. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists 
(ACGIH), Threshold Limit Values & Biological Exposure Indices for 
2003, ACGIH, Cincinnati, OH, 2003.
12. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17, Sec.  94509 (2013).
13. Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI). http://www.turi.org/TURI_Publications/TURI_Chemical_Fact_Sheets/Trichloroethylene_TCE_Fact_Sheet. 2013.
14. Minnesota Department of Health. Chemicals of High Concern List. 
July 1, 2013. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/toxfreekids/chclist/mdhchc2013.pdf.
15. LawAtlas: The Policy Surveillance Portal. http://lawatlas.org/. 
Retrieved April 4, 2016.
16. European Chemicals Agency. Substance Information: 
Trichloroethylene. http://echa.europa.eu/da/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.001.062. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
17. Environment Canada. Priority Substances List Assessment Report-

[[Page 91621]]

Trichloroethylene. Canada Environmental Protection Act. 1993. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/contaminants/psl1-lsp1/trichloroethylene/index-eng.php. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
18. Environment Canada. Solvent Degreasing Regulations (SOR/2003-
283) http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailreg.cfm?intReg=76. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
19. Incorporated Administrative Agency National Institute of 
Technology and Evaluation. Chemical Risk Information Platform 
(CHRIP). http://www.safe.nite.go.jp/english/sougou/view/ComprehensiveInfoDisplay_en.faces. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
20. Australian Government Department of Health National Industrial 
Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme. AICS Listing. http://www.nicnas.gov.au/regulation-and-compliance/aics/aics-search-page/chemical?id=1092. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
21. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals: Methods Document. Environmental 
Protection Agency Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. 
Washington, DC February 2012. http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/work_plan_methods_document_web_final.pdf. 
Retrieved February 25, 2016.
22. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals. Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention. June 2012. http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-02/documents/work_plan_chemicals_web_final.pdf. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
23. EPA. Supplemental Occupational Exposure and Risk Reduction 
Technical Report in Support of Risk Management Options for 
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Aerosol Degreasing. Office of 
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
24. EPA. Supplemental Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical Report 
in Support of Risk Management Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) 
Use in Consumer Aerosol Degreasing. Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
25. EPA. Supplemental Occupational Exposure and Risk Reduction 
Technical Report in Support of Risk Management Options for 
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Spot Cleaning. Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC February 29, 2016.
26. EPA. A Review of the Reference Dose and Reference Concentration 
Processes. EPA/630/P-02/002F. December 2002.
27. EPA. Expert Public Workshop on Alternatives and Risk Reduction 
Approaches to Trichloroethylene. July 29-30, 2014. EPA Docket Number 
EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0327-0001.
28. EPA. Regulatory Options Analysis Matrix for TCE Aerosol 
Degreasing [RIN 2070-AK03]. Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
29. EPA. Regulatory Options Analysis Matrix for TCE as a Spot 
Cleaner (Dry Cleaning). [RIN 2070-AK03]. Office of Chemical Safety 
and Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
30. OSHA. Respiratory Protection. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
31. Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA). Presentation by 
Steven Bennett at the Expert Public Workshop on Alternatives and 
Risk Reduction Approaches to Trichloroethylene. July 29, 2014.
32. EPA. Analysis Report of Alternatives in Support of Risk 
Management Options for Use of TCE in Aerosol Degreasing and for Spot 
Cleaning in Dry Cleaning Facilities. Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
33. Unintended pregnancy in the United States: Incidence and 
disparities, 2006. Contraception. 2011;84(5):478-485.
34. EPA. Guidelines for Developmental Toxicity Risk Assessment. 
Federal Register 56(234):63798-63826. December 5, 1991.
35. EPA. Guidelines for Reproductive Toxicity Risk Assessment. 
Federal Register 61(212):56274-56322. October 31, 1996.
36. Johnson, P.D., S.J. Goldberg, M.Z. Mays, and B.V. Dawson. 2003. 
Threshold of Trichloroethylene Contamination in Maternal Drinking 
Waters Affecting Fetal Heart Development in the Rat. Environmental 
Health Perspectives, 111(3), 289-292.
37. EPA. The Effectiveness of Labeling on Hazardous Chemicals and 
Other Products. Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. 
Washington, DC 2016.
38. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Human 
Factors Assessment of Strong Magnet Sets. Bethesda, MD. August 2, 
2012.
39. EPA. Recommendations for an Existing Chemical Exposure Limit 
(ECEL) for Occupational Use of Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Sampling 
and Analytical Methods for TCE. Office of Chemical Safety and 
Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC August 28, 2015.
40. Hindin, David A., and Jon D. Silberman. Designing More Effective 
Rules and Permits. George Washington Journal of Energy & 
Environmental Law. 7.2 (2016): 103-23.
41. EPA. Proceedings Report-Stakeholder Roundtables. United States-
Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council: Supply Chain Communication 
and the U.S. EPA's SNUR and EC/HC's SNAc Programs. November 30, 
2015.
42. Dry Cleaning Coalition. State Coalition for Remediation of 
Drycleaners: Chemicals Used In Dry Cleaning Operations. 2009.
43. EPA. November 13, 2014, Meeting with The Drycleaning and Laundry 
Institute.
44. EPA. Evaluation of Water-Based Cleaners. Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.
45. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). 
Control of Spotting Chemical Hazards in Commercial Drycleaning. 
Publication Number 97-158. Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Atlanta, GA. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/hazardcontrol/hc20.html.
46. CDC. Facts about Congenital Heart Defects http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/facts.html. December 22, 2015. Accessed March 1, 
2016.
47. The National Academies Press, Committee on Developmental 
Toxicology, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, 
Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. Scientific 
Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment. 
Washington, DC. http://www.nap.edu/read/9871/chapter/4. 2000.
48. Mayo clinic. Chronic kidney disease. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-disease/basics/definition/con-20026778. 
January 30, 2015.
49. American Kidney Fund. 2015 Kidney Disease Statistics. http://www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/assets/pdfs/kidney_disease_statistics_2015.pdf
50. The Kidney Boy. The Cost of Dialysis. http://thekidneyboy.blogspot.com/2011/01/cost-of-dialysis.html. January 20, 
2011.
51. Silman AJ, Hochberg MC. Cooper C, et al. Epidemiology of the 
Rheumatic Diseases. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press; 1993:192. 
Cited in Hinchcliff, M.; Varga, Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma: A 
treatable multisystem disease. J. Am Fam Physician. 78(8):961-8. 
2008.
52. Lawrence RC, Helmick CG, Arnett FC, et al. Estimates of the 
prevalence of arthritis and selected musculoskeletal disorders in 
the United States. Arthritis Rheum. 1998;41(5):778-799. Cited in 
Hinchcliff, M.; Varga, Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma: A treatable 
multisystem disease. J. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Oct 15;78(8):961-8.
53. National Cancer Institute. SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Non-Hodgkin 
Lymphoma. Bethesda, MD. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/nhl.html. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
54. Mayo Clinic. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Risk Factors. January 28, 
2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/non-hodgkins-lymphoma/basics/risk-factors/con-20027792. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
55. Morton LM, Curtis RE, Linet MS, et al. Second Malignancy Risks 
After Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 
Differences by Lymphoma Subtype. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 
2010;28(33):4935-4944. doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.29.1112.
56. Sharma R, Biedenharn KR, Fedor JM, Agarwal A. Lifestyle factors 
and reproductive health: Taking control of your fertility. 
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology: RB&E. 2013;11:66. 
doi:10.1186/1477-7827-11-66.
57. CDC. National Center for Health Statistics--Infertility. 
February 6, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infertility.htm 
Retrieved March 16, 2016.

[[Page 91622]]

58. Gruenewald DA, Matsumoto AM. Testosterone supplementation 
therapy for older men: Potential benefits and risks. J Am Geriatr 
Soc. 2003;51(1):101-115.
59. Dadona P, Rosenberg MT. A practical guide to male hypogonadism 
in the primary care setting. Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(6):682-696.
60. International Association for the Study of Pain. http://www.iasp-pain.org/files/Content/ContentFolders/GlobalYearAgainstPain2/20132014OrofacialPain/FactSheets/Trigeminal_Neuralgia.pdf. 2013.
61. American Liver Foundation. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 
(NAFLD). http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/nafld/. 
January 14, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
62. CDC. Viral Hepatitis--Statistics and Surveillance. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Statistics/index.htm. May 31, 2014. Retrieved 
April 4, 2016.
63. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Transplant Living. 
Financing a Transplant--Costs. December 28, 2011. Available at 
http://transplantliving.org/before-the-transplant/financing-a-transplant/the-costs/. Retrieved March 16. 2016.
64. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Letter 
to James J. Jones from Patricia H. Adkins. April 19, 2016.
65. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Letter to 
James J. Jones from David Michaels. April 4 2016.
66. EPA. Section 6(a) Rulemakings under the Toxic Substances Control 
Act (TSCA) Paint Removers & TCE Rulemakings E.O. 13132: Federalism 
Consultation. May 13, 2015.
67. EPA. Notification of Consultation and Coordination on Proposed 
Rulemakings under the Toxic Substances Control Act for (1) Methylene 
Chloride and n-Methylpyrrolidone in Paint Removers and (2) 
Trichloroethylene in Certain Uses. April 8, 2015.

XIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Additional information about these statutes and Executive Orders 
can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is a significant regulatory action because it may raise 
novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the 
President's priorities, or the principles set forth in Executive Order 
12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Accordingly, EPA submitted the 
action to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under 
Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 
21, 2011), and any changes made in response to OMB recommendations have 
been documented in the docket. EPA prepared an economic analysis of the 
potential costs and benefits associated with this action, which is 
available in the docket and summarized in Unit VIII. (Ref. 2).

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    The information collection requirements in this proposed rule have 
been submitted to OMB for review and comment under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The Information Collection 
Request (ICR) document prepared by the EPA has been assigned the EPA 
ICR number 2541.01. You can find a copy of the ICR in the docket for 
this proposed rule, and it is briefly summarized here.
    The information collection activities required under the proposed 
rule include a downstream notification requirement and a recordkeeping 
requirement. The downstream notification would require companies that 
ship TCE to notify companies downstream in the supply chain of the 
prohibitions of TCE in the proposed rule. The proposed rule does not 
require the regulated entities to submit information to EPA. The 
proposed rule also does not require confidential or sensitive 
information to be submitted to EPA or downstream companies. The 
recordkeeping requirement mandates companies that ship TCE to retain 
certain information at the company headquarters for two years from the 
date of shipment. These information collection activities are necessary 
in order to enhance the prohibitions under the proposed rule by 
ensuring awareness of the prohibitions throughout the TCE supply chain, 
and to provide EPA with information upon inspection of companies 
downstream who purchased TCE. EPA believes that these information 
collection activities would not significantly impact the regulated 
entities.
    Respondents/affected entities: TCE manufacturers, processors, and 
distributors.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.
    Estimated number of respondents: 697.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 348.5 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $16,848 (per year).
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for the 
EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    Submit your comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden to EPA using the docket identified at 
the beginning of this proposed rule. You may also send your ICR-related 
comments to OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs via 
email to [email protected], Attention: Desk Officer for the 
EPA. Since OMB is required to make a decision concerning the ICR 
between 30 and 60 days after receipt, OMB must receive comments no 
later than January 17, 2017. The EPA will respond to any ICR-related 
comments in the final rule.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA, 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq. The small entities subject to the requirements of 
this action are blenders of TCE-containing dry cleaning spot removers 
and aerosol degreasers, users of dry cleaning spot removers and aerosol 
degreasers, and manufacturers, processors, and distributors of non-
prohibited TCE-containing products. Users of these products are not 
expected to experience costs as there are currently a number of 
alternatives available that are similar in performance and cost. There 
are no small governmental jurisdictions or non-profits expected to be 
affected by the proposed rule. Overall, EPA estimates there are 
approximately 51,000 small entities affected by the proposed rule.
    Comparing the total annualized compliance cost for companies to 
their revenue, the Agency has estimated that all companies are expected 
to have cost impacts of less than one percent of their revenues, 
ranging from an estimated high of 0.3 percent of revenues to a low of 
0.01 percent of revenues. Details of this analysis are presented in the 
Economic Analysis for this proposed rule (Ref. 2).

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain an unfunded mandate of $100 million or 
more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. The requirements of 
this action would primarily affect manufacturers, processors, and 
distributors of TCE. The total estimated annualized cost of the 
proposed rule is approximately

[[Page 91623]]

$170,000 at 3% and $183,000 at 7% (Ref. 2).

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    The EPA has concluded that this action has federalism implications, 
as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), 
because regulation under TSCA section 6(a) may preempt state law. EPA 
provides the following preliminary federalism summary impact statement. 
The Agency consulted with state and local officials early in the 
process of developing the proposed action to permit them to have 
meaningful and timely input into its development. EPA invited the 
following national organizations representing state and local elected 
officials to a meeting on May 13, 2015, in Washington DC: National 
Governors Association; National Conference of State Legislatures, 
Council of State Governments, National League of Cities, U.S. 
Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, International 
City/County Management Association, National Association of Towns and 
Townships, County Executives of America, and Environmental Council of 
States. A summary of the meeting with these organizations, including 
the views that they expressed, is available in the docket (Ref. 65). 
Although EPA provided these organizations an opportunity to provide 
follow-up comments in writing, no written follow-up was received by the 
Agency.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in 
Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This rulemaking 
would not have substantial direct effects on tribal government because 
TCE is not manufactured, processed, or distributed in commerce by 
tribes. TCE is not regulated by tribes, and this rulemaking would not 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on tribal governments. Thus, 
E.O. 13175 does not apply to this action. EPA nevertheless consulted 
with tribal officials during the development of this action, consistent 
with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribes.
    EPA met with tribal officials in a national informational webinar 
held on May 12, 2015 concerning the prospective regulation of TCE under 
TSCA section 6, and in another teleconference with tribal officials on 
May 27, 2015 (Ref. 66). EPA also met with the National Tribal Toxics 
Council (NTTC) in Washington, DC and via teleconference on April 22, 
2015 (Ref. 66). In those meetings, EPA provided background information 
on the proposed rule and a summary of issues being explored by the 
Agency. These officials expressed concern for TCE contamination on 
tribal lands and supported additional regulation of TCE.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is 
not economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866. This 
action's health and risk assessment of TCE exposure on children are 
contained in Units VI.B.1.c and VII.B.1.c of this preamble. Supporting 
information on the exposures and health effects of TCE exposure on 
children is also available in the Toxicological Review of 
Trichloroethylene (Ref. 3) and the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1).

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution in Commerce, or Use

    This proposed rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 
28355, May 22, 2001), because this action is not expected to affect 
energy supply, distribution in commerce, or use. This rulemaking is 
intended to protect against risks from TCE, and does not affect the use 
of oil, coal, or electricity.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This proposed rulemaking does not involve technical standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994) establishes 
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision 
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission 
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high 
and adverse health or environmental effects of their programs, policies 
and activities on minority populations and low-income populations in 
the U.S. Units VI.B., VII.B, and VIII. of this preamble address public 
health impacts from TCE. EPA has determined that there would not be a 
disproportionately high and adverse health or environmental effects on 
minority, low income, or indigenous populations from this proposed 
rule.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 751

    Environmental protection, Chemicals, Export notification, Hazardous 
substances, Import certification, Trichloroethylene, Recordkeeping.

    Dated: December 6, 2016,
Gina McCarthy,
Administrator.

0
Therefore, it is that 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter R, is proposed to be 
amended by adding a new part 751 to read as follows:

PART 751--REGULATION OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND MIXTURES 
UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
751.1 Purpose.
751.5 Definitions.
751.7 Exports and imports.
751.9 Enforcement and Inspections.
Subpart B--[Reserved]
Subpart C--[Reserved]
Subpart D--Trichloroethylene
751.301 General.
751.303 Definitions.
751.305 Aerosol Degreasing.
751.307 Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning Facilities.
751.309 [Reserved].
751.311 Downstream Notification.
751.313 Recordkeeping.

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2605.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  751.1  Purpose.

    This part sets forth requirements, such as prohibitions concerning 
the manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in 
commerce, uses, and/or disposal of certain chemical substances and 
mixtures under section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 
U.S.C. 2605(a).


Sec.  751.5  Definitions.

    The definitions in section 3 of the Toxic Substances Control Act, 
15 U.S.C. 2602, apply to this part except as otherwise established in 
any subpart under this part.
    Act or TSCA means the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601 
et seq.
    CASRN means Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number.
    EPA means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    Person means any natural person, firm, company, corporation, joint 
venture, partnership, sole proprietorship, association, or any other 
business entity; any State or political

[[Page 91624]]

subdivision thereof; any municipality; any interstate body; and any 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government.


Sec.  751.7  Exports and imports.

    (a) Exports. Persons who intend to export a chemical substance 
identified in any subpart under this part, or in any proposed rule 
which would amend any subpart under this part, are subject to the 
export notification provisions of section 12(b) of the Act. The 
regulations that interpret section 12(b) appear at 40 CFR part 707, 
subpart D.
    (b) Imports. Persons who import a substance identified in any 
subpart under this part are subject to the import certification 
requirements under section 13 of the Act, which are codified at 19 CFR 
12.118 through 12.127. See also 19 CFR 127.28.


Sec.  751.9  Enforcement and Inspections.

    (a) Enforcement. (1) Failure to comply with any provision of this 
part is a violation of section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2614).
    (2) Failure or refusal to establish and maintain records or to 
permit access to or copying of records, as required by the Act, is a 
violation of section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2614).
    (3) Failure or refusal to permit entry or inspection as required by 
section 11 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2610) is a violation of section 15 of 
the Act (15 U.S.C. 2614).
    (4) Violators may be subject to the civil and criminal penalties in 
section 16 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2615) for each violation.
    (b) Inspections. EPA will conduct inspections under section 11 of 
the Act (15 U.S.C. 2610) to ensure compliance with this part.

Subpart B--[Reserved]

Subpart C--[Reserved]

Subpart D--Trichloroethylene


Sec.  751.301  General.

    This subpart sets certain restrictions on the manufacture 
(including import), processing, distribution in commerce, and uses of 
trichloroethylene (TCE) (CASRN 79-01-6) to prevent unreasonable risks 
to health associated with human exposure to TCE for the specified uses.


Sec.  751.303  Definitions.

    The definitions in subpart A of this part apply to this subpart 
unless otherwise specified in this section. In addition, the following 
definitions apply:
    Aerosol degreasing means the use of a chemical in aerosol spray 
products applied from a pressurized can to remove contaminants.
    Distribute in commerce has the same meaning as in section 3 of the 
Act, except that the term does not include retailers for purposes of 
Sec.  751.311 and Sec.  751.313.
    Dry cleaning facility means an establishment with one or more dry 
cleaning systems.
    Dry cleaning system means a dry-to-dry machine and its ancillary 
equipment or a transfer machine system and its ancillary equipment.
    Retailer means a person who distributes in commerce a chemical 
substance, mixture, or article to consumer end users.
    Spot cleaning means use of a chemical to clean stained areas on 
materials such as textiles or clothing.


Sec.  751.305  Aerosol Degreasing.

    (a) After [Date 180 calendar days after the date of publication of 
the final rule], all persons are prohibited from manufacturing, 
processing, and distributing in commerce TCE in aerosol degreasing 
products and TCE for use in aerosol degreasing products.
    (b) After [Date 270 calendar days after the date of publication of 
the final rule], all persons are prohibited from commercial use of TCE 
in aerosol degreasing products.


Sec.  751.307  Spot Cleaning at Dry Cleaning Facilities.

    (a) After [Date 180 calendar days after the date of publication of 
the final rule], all persons are prohibited from manufacturing, 
processing, and distributing in commerce TCE for spot cleaning at dry 
cleaning facilities.
    (b) After [Date 270 calendar days after the date of publication of 
the final rule], all persons are prohibited from commercial use of TCE 
for spot cleaning at dry cleaning facilities.


Sec.  751.309   [Reserved]


Sec.  751.311  Downstream Notification.

    Each person who manufactures, processes, or distributes in commerce 
TCE for any use after [Date 45 calendar days after the date of 
publication of the final rule] must, prior to or concurrent with the 
shipment, notify companies to whom TCE is shipped, in writing, of the 
restrictions described in this subpart.


Sec.  751.313  Recordkeeping.

    (a) Each person who manufactures, processes, or distributes in 
commerce any TCE after [Date 45 calendar days after the date of 
publication of final rule] must retain in one location at the 
headquarters of the company documentation of:
    (1) The name, address, point of contact, and telephone number of 
companies to whom TCE was shipped; and
    (2) The amount of TCE shipped.
    (3) Downstream notification.
    (b) The documentation in (a) must be retained for 2 years from the 
date of shipment.

[FR Doc. 2016-30063 Filed 12-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P



                                                      91592                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                public comment policy, information                      • All Other Basic Organic Chemical
                                                      AGENCY                                                  about CBI or multimedia submissions,                  Manufacturing (NAICS code 325199).
                                                                                                              and general guidance on making                          • Plastics Material and Resin
                                                      40 CFR Part 751                                         effective comments, please visit http://              Manufacturing (NAICS code 325211).
                                                                                                              www2.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-                        • Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
                                                      [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2016–0163; FRL–9949–86]
                                                                                                              epa-dockets.                                          (NAICS code 325212).
                                                      RIN 2070–AK03                                              Docket. Docket number EPA–HQ–                        • Paint and Coating Manufacturing
                                                                                                              OPPT–2016–0163 contains supporting                    (NAICS code 325510).
                                                      Trichloroethylene; Regulation of                        information used in developing the                      • Adhesive Manufacturing (NAICS
                                                      Certain Uses Under TSCA § 6(a)                          proposed rule, comments on the                        code 325520).
                                                                                                              proposed rule, and additional                           • Soap and Other Detergent
                                                      AGENCY:  Environmental Protection
                                                                                                              supporting information. A public                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 325611).
                                                      Agency (EPA).
                                                                                                              version of the docket is available for                  • Polish and Other Sanitation Good
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                                                                        Manufacturing (NAICS code 325612).
                                                                                                              inspection and copying between 8:30
                                                      SUMMARY:    Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a                a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through                      • All Other Miscellaneous Chemical
                                                      volatile organic compound widely used                   Friday, excluding federal holidays, at                Product and Preparation Manufacturing
                                                      in industrial and commercial processes                  the U.S. Environmental Protection                     (NAICS code 325998).
                                                                                                                                                                      • Unlaminated Plastics Film and
                                                      and has some limited uses in consumer                   Agency, EPA Docket Center Reading
                                                                                                                                                                    Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing
                                                      and commercial products. EPA                            Room, WJC West Building, Room 3334,
                                                                                                                                                                    (NAICS code 326113).
                                                      identified significant health risks                     1301 Constitution Avenue NW.,
                                                                                                                                                                      • All Other Plastics Product
                                                      associated with TCE use in aerosol                      Washington, DC 20004. A reasonable fee
                                                                                                                                                                    Manufacturing (NAICS code 326199).
                                                      degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry                 may be charged for copying.                             • Rubber and Plastics Hoses and
                                                      cleaning facilities. EPA has                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                  Belting Manufacturing (NAICS code
                                                      preliminarily determined that these                     technical information contact: Toni                   326220).
                                                      risks are unreasonable risks. To address                Krasnic, Chemical Control Division,                     • All Other Rubber Product
                                                      these unreasonable risks, EPA is                        Office of Pollution Prevention and                    Manufacturing (NAICS code 326299).
                                                      proposing under section 6 of the Toxic                  Toxics, Environmental Protection                        • Cement Manufacturing (NAICS
                                                      Substances Control Act (TSCA) to                        Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,                   code 327310).
                                                      prohibit the manufacture, processing,                   Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone                    • Ground or Treated Mineral and
                                                      and distribution in commerce of TCE for                 number: (202) 564–0984; email address:                Earth Manufacturing (NAICS code
                                                      use in aerosol degreasing and for use in                krasnic.toni@epa.gov.                                 327992).
                                                      spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities;                 For general information contact: The                  • Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube
                                                      to prohibit commercial use of TCE for                   TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422                      Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
                                                      aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning                South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY                     (NAICS code 331210).
                                                      in dry cleaning facilities; to require                  14620; telephone number: (202) 554–                     • Steel Wire Drawing (NAICS code
                                                      manufacturers, processors, and                          1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@                    331222).
                                                      distributors, except for retailers of TCE               epa.gov.                                                • Copper Rolling, Drawing,
                                                      for any use, to provide downstream                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Extruding, and Alloying (NAICS code
                                                      notification of these prohibitions                                                                            331420)
                                                      throughout the supply chain; and to                     I. Executive Summary                                    • Nonferrous Metal (except Copper
                                                      require limited recordkeeping.                          A. Does this action apply to me?                      and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing, and
                                                      DATES: Comments must be received on                                                                           Extruding (NAICS code 331491).
                                                      or before February 14, 2017.                               You may potentially be affected by                   • Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting
                                                                                                              this proposed action if you manufacture               Foundries (NAICS code 331523).
                                                      ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
                                                      identified by docket identification (ID)
                                                                                                              (defined under TSCA to include                          • Powder Metallurgy Part
                                                                                                              import), process, or distribute in                    Manufacturing (NAICS code 332117).
                                                      number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2016–0163, at                        commerce TCE or commercially use                        • Metal Crown, Closure, and Other
                                                      http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the                  TCE in aerosol degreasers or for spot                 Metal Stamping (except Automotive)
                                                      online instructions for submitting                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. The              (NAICS code 332119).
                                                      comments. Once submitted, comments                      following list of North American                        • Saw Blade and Hand Tool
                                                      cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA                      Industrial Classification System                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 332216).
                                                      may publish any comment received to                     (NAICS) codes is not intended to be                     • Metal Window and Door
                                                      its public docket. Do not submit                        exhaustive, but rather provides a guide               Manufacturing (NAICS code 332321).
                                                      electronically any information you                      to help readers determine whether this                  • Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger
                                                      consider to be Confidential Business                    document applies to them. Potentially                 Manufacturing (NAICS code 332410).
                                                      Information (CBI) or other information                  affected entities may include:                          • Other Fabricated Wire Product
                                                      whose disclosure is restricted by statute.                 • All Other Miscellaneous Textile                  Manufacturing (NAICS code 332618).
                                                      Multimedia submissions (audio, video,                   Product Mills (NAICS code 314999).                      • Machine Shops (NAICS code
                                                      etc.) must be accompanied by a written                     • Petroleum Refineries (NAICS code                 332710).
                                                      comment. The written comment is                                                                                 • Precision Turned Product
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              324110).
                                                      considered the official comment and                        • Petroleum Lubricating Oil and                    Manufacturing (NAICS code 332721).
                                                      should include discussion of all points                 Grease Manufacturing (NAICS code                        • Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer
                                                      you wish to make. EPA will generally                    324191).                                              Manufacturing (NAICS code 332722).
                                                      not consider comments or comment                           • Petrochemical Manufacturing                        • Metal Heat Treating (NAICS code
                                                      contents located outside of the primary                 (NAICS code 325110).                                  332811).
                                                      submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or                    • Industrial Gas Manufacturing                       • Metal Coating, Engraving (except
                                                      other file sharing system). For                         (NAICS code 325120).                                  Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied
                                                      additional submission methods (e.g.,                       • Other Basic Inorganic Chemical                   Services to Manufacturers (NAICS code
                                                      mail or hand delivery), the full EPA                    Manufacturing (NAICS code 325180).                    332812).


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00002   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          91593

                                                        • Electroplating, Plating, Polishing,                 rules under TSCA. Persons who import                     • Environmental effects of TCE and
                                                      Anodizing, and Coloring (NAICS code                     any chemical substance governed by a                  the magnitude of exposure of the
                                                      332813).                                                final section 6(a) rule are subject to the            environment to TCE;
                                                        • Oil and Gas Field Machinery and                     TSCA section 13 (15 U.S.C. 2612)                         • Benefits of TCE for various uses;
                                                      Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS code                     import certification requirements and                 and the
                                                      333132).                                                the corresponding regulations at 19 CFR                  • Reasonably ascertainable economic
                                                        • Cutting Tool and Machine Tool                       12.118 through 12.127; see also 19 CFR                consequences of the rule, including: The
                                                      Accessory Manufacturing (NAICS code                     127.28. Those persons must certify that               likely effect of the rule on the national
                                                      333515).                                                the shipment of the chemical substance                economy, small business, technological
                                                        • Small Arms, Ordnance, and                           complies with all applicable rules and                innovation, the environment, and public
                                                      Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing                      orders under TSCA. The EPA policy in                  health; the costs and benefits of the
                                                      (NAICS code 332994).                                    support of import certification appears               proposed and final rule and of the one
                                                        • Fluid Power Pump and Motor                          at 40 CFR part 707, subpart B. In                     or more primary alternatives that EPA
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 333996).                      addition, any persons who export or                   considered; and the cost-effectiveness of
                                                        • All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated                  intend to export a chemical substance                 the proposed rule and of the one or
                                                      Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS                      that is the subject of this proposed rule             more primary alternatives that EPA
                                                      code 332999).                                           are subject to the export notification                considered.
                                                        • Oil and Gas Field Machinery and                     provisions of TSCA section 12(b) (15                     EPA must also consider, to the extent
                                                      Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS code                     U.S.C. 2611(b)), and must comply with                 practicable, whether technically and
                                                      333132).                                                the export notification requirements in               economically feasible alternatives that
                                                        • Industrial and Commercial Fan and                   40 CFR part 707, subpart D.                           benefit health or the environment will
                                                      Blower and Air Purification Equipment                      If you have any questions regarding                be reasonably available as a substitute
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 333413).                      the applicability of this proposed action             when the proposed prohibition or other
                                                        • Cutting Tool and Machine Tool                       to a particular entity, consult the                   restriction takes effect.
                                                      Accessory Manufacturing (NAICS code                     technical information contact listed                     For a chemical substance listed in the
                                                      333515).                                                under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                         2014 update to the TSCA Work Plan for
                                                        • Pump and Pumping Equipment                          CONTACT.                                              Chemical Assessments for which a
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 333911).                                                                            completed risk assessment was
                                                                                                              B. What is the Agency’s authority for                 published prior to the date of enactment
                                                        • Fluid Power Pump and Motor
                                                                                                              taking this action?                                   of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 333996).
                                                        • Search, Detection, Navigation,                         Under section 6(a) of TSCA (15 U.S.C.              Safety for the 21st Century Act, TSCA
                                                      Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical                    2605(a)), if EPA determines after risk                section 26(l)(4) expressly recognizes that
                                                      System and Instrument Manufacturing                     evaluation that a chemical substance                  EPA may issue rules under TSCA
                                                      (NAICS code 334511).                                    presents an unreasonable risk of injury               section 6(a) that are consistent with the
                                                        • Automatic Environmental Control                     to health or the environment, EPA must                scope of the completed risk assessment
                                                      Manufacturing for Residential,                          by rule apply one or more requirements                and consistent with the other applicable
                                                      Commercial, and Appliance Use (NAICS                    to the extent necessary so that the                   requirements of TSCA section 6. TCE is
                                                      code 334512).                                           chemical substance or mixture no longer               such a chemical substance. It is listed in
                                                        • Motor and Generator Manufacturing                   presents such risk. Section 6(b)(4) (15               the 2014 update to the TSCA Work Plan
                                                      (NAICS code 335312).                                    U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)) specifies that risk                and the completed risk assessment was
                                                        • Primary Battery Manufacturing                       evaluations must be conducted without                 published on June 25, 2014. The scope
                                                      (NAICS code 335912).                                    consideration of costs or other non-risk              of the completed risk assessment
                                                        • Carbon and Graphite Product                         factors, including an unreasonable risk               includes aerosol degreasing and spot
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 335991).                      to a potentially exposed or susceptible               cleaning. The completed risk
                                                        • Motor Vehicle Brake System                          subpopulation identified as relevant to               assessment also evaluated vapor
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 336340).                      the risk evaluation, under the                        degreasing, which EPA plans to address
                                                        • Aircraft Manufacturing (NAICS                       conditions of use.                                    in a separate proposed rule.
                                                      code 336411).                                              Since the original enactment of TSCA
                                                                                                                                                                    C. What action is the Agency taking?
                                                        • Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary                  in 1976, EPA has addressed exposure to
                                                      Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS code                     workers. For example, EPA routinely                     EPA has preliminarily determined
                                                      336413).                                                places restrictions on conditions of                  that the use of TCE in aerosol degreasing
                                                        • Guided Missile and Space Vehicle                    manufacturing, processing, distribution               and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 336414).                      and use under the TSCA section 5 (15                  facilities presents an unreasonable risk
                                                        • Ship Building and Repairing                         U.S.C. 2604) new chemicals program.                   of injury to health. Accordingly, EPA is
                                                      (NAICS code 336611).                                    Further, as defined in TSCA, the term                 proposing under section 6 of TSCA to
                                                        • Dental Equipment and Supplies                       ‘‘potentially exposed or susceptible                  prohibit the manufacture, processing,
                                                      Manufacturing (NAICS code 339114).                      subpopulation’’ specifically includes                 and distribution in commerce of TCE for
                                                        • Other Chemical and Allied                           workers. (15 U.S.C. 2602(12)). Thus,                  use in aerosol degreasing and for use in
                                                      Products Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS                    TSCA unambiguously provides EPA                       spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities;
                                                      code 424690).                                           with the authority to address chemical                to prohibit commercial use of TCE for
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                        • Petroleum Bulk Stations and                         risks to workers.                                     aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning
                                                      Terminals (NAICS code 424710).                             When issuing a rule under TSCA                     in dry cleaning facilities; and to require
                                                        • Hazardous Waste Treatment and                       section 6(a), EPA must consider and                   manufacturers, processors, and
                                                      Disposal (NAICS code 562211).                           publish a statement based on reasonably               distributors, except for retailers, to
                                                        • Solid Waste Combustors and                          available information on the:                         provide downstream notification of
                                                      Incinerators (NAICS code 562213).                          • Health effects of the chemical                   these prohibitions throughout the
                                                        This action may also affect certain                   substance in question, TCE in this case,              supply chain (e.g., via a Safety Data
                                                      entities through pre-existing import                    and the magnitude of human exposure                   Sheet (SDS)) and to keep limited
                                                      certification and export notification                   to TCE;                                               records. The application of this supply


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00003   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91594                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      chain approach is necessary so that the                 E. What are the estimated incremental                 approximately $170,000 and $183,000
                                                      chemical substance no longer presents                   impacts of this action?                               annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7%
                                                      the identified unreasonable risks. EPA is                  EPA has evaluated the potential costs              respectively. Total first-year costs to
                                                      requesting public comment on this                       of multiple regulatory options,                       industry are estimated to be
                                                      proposal.                                               including the proposed approach of                    approximately $874,000 (Ref. 2).
                                                        EPA’s analysis of worker and                          prohibiting the manufacture (including                   Although TCE causes a wide range of
                                                      consumer populations’ exposures to                      import), processing, and distribution in              non-cancer adverse effects and cancer,
                                                      TCE also preliminarily indicates that the               commerce of TCE for use in aerosol                    monetized benefits included only
                                                      use of TCE in vapor degreasing presents                 degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry               benefits associated with reducing cancer
                                                      an unreasonable risk of injury to health.               cleaning facilities; prohibiting the                  risks. The Agency does not have
                                                      EPA intends to issue a separate                                                                               sufficient information to include a
                                                                                                              commercial use of TCE for aerosol
                                                      proposed rule for TCE use in vapor                                                                            quantification or valuation estimate in
                                                                                                              degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry
                                                      degreasing, but plans to issue one final                                                                      the overall benefits at this time. The
                                                                                                              cleaning facilities; and requiring
                                                      rule covering both today’s proposal and                                                                       monetized benefits for the proposed
                                                                                                              manufacturers, processors, and
                                                      the vapor degreasing proposal.                                                                                approach range from approximately $9.3
                                                                                                              distributors, except for retailers, to
                                                                                                                                                                    million to $25.0 million on an
                                                      D. Why is the Agency taking this action?                provide downstream notification of
                                                                                                                                                                    annualized basis over 15 years at 3%
                                                                                                              these prohibitions throughout the
                                                         Based on EPA’s analysis of worker                                                                          and $4.5 million to $12.8 million at 7%
                                                                                                              supply chain as well as associated
                                                      and consumer populations’ exposures to                                                                        (Ref. 2). There are also non-monetized
                                                                                                              recordkeeping requirements. This
                                                      TCE, EPA has preliminarily determined                                                                         benefits resulting from the prevention of
                                                                                                              analysis, which is available in the                   the non-cancer adverse effects
                                                      that the use of TCE in aerosol degreasing               docket, is discussed in Units VI and VII,
                                                      and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning                                                                         associated with TCE exposure from use
                                                                                                              and is briefly summarized here.                       in aerosol degreasing and spot cleaning
                                                      facilities presents an unreasonable risk                   Costs of the proposed approach are
                                                      to human health. More specifically,                                                                           for dry cleaning. These include
                                                                                                              discussed in Units VI.C.1 and VII.C.1.
                                                      these uses result in significant non-                                                                         developmental toxicity, toxicity to the
                                                                                                              Alternatives to TCE are readily available
                                                      cancer risks (acute and chronic                                                                               kidney, immunotoxicity, reproductive
                                                                                                              at similar cost and performance.
                                                      exposure scenarios) and cancer risks.                                                                         and endocrine effects, neurotoxicity,
                                                                                                              Blenders of TCE aerosol degreasers and
                                                                                                                                                                    and toxicity to the liver (Ref. 1). The
                                                      These adverse health effects include                    spot cleaners are expected to                         adverse effects of TCE exposure as
                                                      developmental toxicity (e.g., cardiac                   reformulate their products.                           identified in the risk assessment include
                                                      malformations, developmental                            Reformulation costs are expected to be                fetal cardiac malformations that begin in
                                                      immunotoxicity, developmental                           incurred during the first year and total              utero and fetal death. Cardiac
                                                      neurotoxicity, fetal death), toxicity to                $286,000 for reformulation of dry                     malformations can be irreversible and
                                                      the kidney (kidney damage and kidney                    cleaning spot remover products and                    impact a person’s health for a lifetime.
                                                      cancer), immunotoxicity (such as                        total $416,000 for aerosol degreasing                 Other effects, such as damage to the
                                                      systemic autoimmune diseases, e.g.,                     products. Annualized costs of                         developing immune system, may first
                                                      scleroderma, and severe                                 reformulation are approximately                       manifest when a person is an adult and
                                                      hypersensitivity skin disorder), non-                   $32,000 per year (annualized at 3% over               can have long-lasting health impacts.
                                                      Hodgkin’s lymphoma, reproductive and                    15 years) and $41,000 (annualized at 7%               Certain effects that follow adult
                                                      endocrine effects (e.g., decreased libido               over 15 years) for aerosol degreasing,                exposures, such as kidney and liver
                                                      and potency), neurotoxicity (e.g.,                      and $22,000 per year (annualized at 3%                cancer, may develop many years after
                                                      trigeminal neuralgia), and toxicity to the              over 15 years) and $28,000 (annualized                initial exposure. Also see Unit VIII.
                                                      liver (impaired functioning and liver                   at 7% over 15 years) for dry cleaning                    Another alternative regulatory option
                                                      cancer) (Ref. 1). TCE may cause fetal                   spot removers. Costs to users of aerosol              considered was a respiratory protection
                                                      cardiac malformations that begin in                     degreasers and dry cleaning spotters are              program requiring an air-supplied
                                                      utero. In addition, fetal death, possibly               negligible as substitute products of                  respirator with an APF of 10,000. The
                                                      resulting from cardiac malformation,                    similar performance are currently                     costs of implementing a respiratory
                                                      can be caused by exposure to TCE.                       available on the market and are                       protection program, including a
                                                      Cardiac malformations can be                            similarly priced (Ref. 2). Costs of                   supplied-air respirator and related
                                                      irreversible and impact a person’s                      downstream notification and                           equipment, training, fit testing,
                                                      health for a lifetime. In utero exposure                recordkeeping are estimated to cost a                 monitoring, medical surveillance, and
                                                      to TCE may cause other effects, such as                 total of $51,000 in the first year. On an             related requirements, would far exceed
                                                      damage to the developing immune                         annualized basis over 15 years are                    the costs of switching to alternatives, on
                                                      system, which manifest later in adult                   estimated to be approximately $3,900                  a per facility basis. The estimated
                                                      life and can have long-lasting health                   and $5,000 using 3% and 7% discount                   annualized costs of switching to a
                                                      impacts. Certain effects that follow adult              rates respectively. Agency costs for                  respiratory protection program requiring
                                                      exposures, such as kidney and liver                     enforcement are estimated to be                       personal protective equipment (PPE) of
                                                      cancer, may develop many years after                    approximately $112,000 and $109,000                   10,000 are $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at
                                                      initial exposure.                                       annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7%                 7% per dry cleaning facility and $8,300
                                                         As discussed in Unit I.C, EPA is not                 respectively. Total costs of the proposed             at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      proposing to prohibit all manufacturing,                approach to prohibit manufacturing,                   degreasing facility over 15 years. In
                                                      processing, distribution in commerce,                   processing, distribution in commerce for              addition, there would be higher EPA
                                                      and use of TCE. The application of this                 use of TCE in aerosol degreasing and for              administration and enforcement costs
                                                      supply chain approach tailored to                       spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities;             with a respiratory protection program
                                                      specific uses that present unreasonable                 commercial use of TCE in aerosol                      than there would be with an
                                                      risk to human health is necessary so that               degreasing and spot cleaning in dry                   enforcement program under the
                                                      the chemical substance no longer                        cleaning facilities; and require                      proposed approach. The higher costs of
                                                      presents the identified unreasonable                    downstream notification and                           this option render this option a less cost
                                                      risks.                                                  recordkeeping are estimated to be                     effective option than the proposed


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00004   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           91595

                                                      approach at addressing the identified                   B. What are the uses of TCE and how                   C. What are the potential health effects
                                                      unreasonable risks so TCE no longer                     can people be exposed?                                of TCE?
                                                      presents such risks.                                                                                             A broad set of relevant studies
                                                                                                                 In 2011, global consumption of TCE
                                                      F. Children’s Environmental Health                      was 945 million pounds and                            including epidemiologic studies, animal
                                                                                                              consumption in the United States was                  bioassays, metabolism studies, and
                                                         This action is consistent with the                   255 million pounds. TCE is produced                   mechanistic studies show that TCE
                                                      1995 EPA Policy on Evaluating Health                    within and imported into the United                   exposure is associated with an array of
                                                      Risks to Children (http://www.epa.gov/                  States. Nine companies, including                     adverse health effects. TCE has the
                                                      children/epas-policy-evaluating-risk-                   domestic manufacturers and importers,                 potential to induce developmental
                                                      children). EPA has identified women of                  reported a total production and import                toxicity, immunotoxicity, kidney
                                                      childbearing age and the developing                     of 225 million pounds of TCE in 2011                  toxicity, reproductive and endocrine
                                                      fetus as a susceptible subpopulation                    to EPA pursuant to the Chemical Data                  effects, neurotoxicity, liver toxicity, and
                                                      relevant to its risk assessment for TCE.                Reporting CDR rule (Ref. 1).                          several forms of cancer (Ref. 1).
                                                      After evaluating the developmental                                                                               TCE is fat soluble (lipophilic) and
                                                                                                                 Individuals, including workers,
                                                      toxicity literature for TCE, the TCE                                                                          easily crosses biological membranes.
                                                                                                              consumers and the general population,
                                                      Integrated Risk Information System                                                                            TCE has been found in human maternal
                                                                                                              are exposed to TCE from industrial/
                                                      (IRIS) assessment concluded that fetal                                                                        and fetal blood and in the breast milk
                                                                                                              commercial, consumer, and
                                                      heart malformations are the most                                                                              of lactating women (Ref. 1). EPA’s
                                                                                                              environmental sources, in different
                                                      sensitive developmental toxicity                                                                              Integrated Risk Information System
                                                                                                              settings such as homes and workplaces,
                                                      endpoint associated with TCE                                                                                  (IRIS) assessment (Ref. 3) concluded
                                                                                                              and through multiple exposure
                                                      inhalation exposure (Ref. 3). In its TSCA                                                                     that TCE poses a potential health hazard
                                                                                                              pathways (air, water, soil) and routes
                                                      Chemical Work Plan Risk Assessment                                                                            for non-cancer toxicity including fetal
                                                                                                              (inhalation, ingestion, dermal).
                                                      for TCE, EPA identified developmental                                                                         heart malformations and other
                                                      toxicity as the most sensitive endpoint                    The majority (about 83.6%) of TCE is               developmental effects, immunotoxicity,
                                                      for TCE inhalation exposure (i.e., fetal                used as an intermediate chemical for                  kidney toxicity, reproductive and
                                                      heart malformations; Ref. 1) for the most               manufacturing refrigerant HFC-134a.                   endocrine effects, neurotoxicity, and
                                                      sensitive human life stage (i.e., women                 This use occurs in a closed system that               liver effects. The IRIS assessment also
                                                      of childbearing age between the ages of                 has low potential for human exposure                  evaluated TCE and its metabolites.
                                                      16 and 49 years and the developing                      (Ref. 1). EPA did not assess this use and             Based on the results of in vitro and in
                                                      fetus) (Ref. 1). EPA used developmental                 is not proposing to regulate this use of              vivo tests, TCE metabolites have the
                                                      toxicity endpoints for both the acute                   TCE under TSCA. Much of the                           potential to bind or induce damage to
                                                      and chronic non-cancer risk                             remainder, about 14.7 percent, is used                the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid
                                                      assessments based on its developmental                  as a solvent for degreasing of metals. A              (DNA) or chromosomes (Ref. 3).
                                                      toxicity risk assessment policy that a                  relatively small percentage, about 1.7                   An evaluation of the overall weight of
                                                      single exposure of a chemical within a                  percent, accounts for all other uses,                 the evidence of the human and animal
                                                      critical window of fetal development                    including TCE use in products, such as                developmental toxicity data suggests an
                                                      may produce adverse developmental                       aerosol degreasers and spot cleaners.                 association between pre- and/or post-
                                                      effects (Ref. 33). While the proposed                      Based on the Toxics Release Inventory              natal TCE exposures and potential
                                                      regulatory action is protective of the                  (TRI) data for 2012, 38 companies used                adverse developmental outcomes. TCE-
                                                      fetal heart malformation endpoint and is                TCE as a formulation component, 33                    induced heart malformations and
                                                      also protective of cancer risk from                     companies processed TCE by                            immunotoxicity in animals have been
                                                      chronic exposure, the supporting non-                   repackaging the chemical, 28 companies                identified as the most sensitive
                                                      cancer risk analysis of children and                    used TCE as a manufacturing aid, and                  developmental toxicity endpoints for
                                                      women of childbearing age conducted                     1,113 companies used TCE for ancillary                TCE. Human studies examined the
                                                      in the TSCA Chemical Work Plan Risk                     uses, such as degreasing (Ref. 1). Based              possible association of TCE with various
                                                      Assessment for TCE (Ref. 1) also meets                  on the latest TRI data from 2014, the                 prenatal effects. These adverse effects of
                                                      the 1995 EPA Policy on Evaluating                       number of users of TCE has significantly              developmental TCE exposure may
                                                      Health Risks to Children. Supporting                    decreased since 2012: 24 companies use                include: Fetal death (spontaneous
                                                      information on TCE exposures and the                    TCE as a formulation component, 20                    abortion, perinatal death, pre- or post-
                                                      health effects of TCE exposure on                       companies process TCE by repackaging                  implantation loss, resorptions);
                                                      children are available in the                           the chemical, 20 companies use TCE as                 decreased growth (low birth weight,
                                                      Toxicological Review of                                 a manufacturing aid, and 97 companies                 small for gestational age); congenital
                                                      Trichloroethylene (Ref. 3) and the TSCA                 use TCE for ancillary uses, such as                   malformations, in particular heart
                                                      Chemical Work Plan Risk Assessment                      degreasing.                                           defects; and postnatal effects such as
                                                      on Trichloroethylene (Ref. 1), as well as                  The uses assessed by EPA that are the              growth, survival, developmental
                                                      Units VI.B.1.c and VII.B.1.c of this                    subject of this proposal, the use of TCE              neurotoxicity, developmental
                                                      preamble.                                               in aerosol degreasing and for spot                    immunotoxicity, and childhood cancers.
                                                                                                              cleaning in dry cleaning facilities, are              Some epidemiological studies reported
                                                      II. Overview of TCE and Uses Subject                    estimated to represent up to 1.7 percent              an increased incidence of birth defects
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      to This Proposed Rule                                   of total use of TCE. Aerosol degreasing               in TCE-exposed populations from
                                                      A. What chemical is included in the                     is the use of TCE in aerosol spray                    exposure to contaminated water. As for
                                                      proposed rule?                                          products applied from a pressurized can               human developmental neurotoxicity,
                                                                                                              to remove residual contaminants from                  studies collectively suggest that the
                                                        This proposed rule would apply to                     fabricated parts. Spot cleaning is the use            developing brain is susceptible to TCE
                                                      TCE (Chemical Abstract Services                         of TCE in dry cleaning facilities to clean            toxicity. These studies have reported an
                                                      Registry Number 79–01–6) for use in                     stained areas on textiles or clothing.                association with TCE exposure and
                                                      aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning                These uses are discussed in detail in                 central nervous system birth defects and
                                                      in dry cleaning facilities.                             Units VI and VII.                                     postnatal effects such as delayed


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00005   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91596                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      newborn reflexes, impaired learning or                  (Glutathione transferase (GST) pathway)               liver, and the immune system, i.e., non-
                                                      memory, aggressive behavior, hearing                    and mutations to tumor suppressor                     Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Further
                                                      impairment, speech impairment,                          genes have been hypothesized as                       support for TCE’s characterization as a
                                                      encephalopathy, impaired executive                      possible mechanistic key events in the                carcinogen comes from positive results
                                                      and motor function and attention deficit                formation of kidney cancers in humans                 in multiple rodent cancer bioassays in
                                                      disorder (Ref. 1).                                      (Ref. 1).                                             rats and mice of both sexes, similar
                                                         Immune-related effects following TCE                    The toxicological literature provides              toxicokinetics between rodents and
                                                      exposures have been observed in adult                   support for male and female                           humans, mechanistic data supporting a
                                                      animal and human studies. In general,                   reproductive effects following TCE                    mutagenic mode of action for kidney
                                                      these effects were associated with                      exposure. Both the epidemiological and                tumors, and the lack of mechanistic data
                                                      inducing enhanced immune responses                      animal studies provide evidence of                    supporting the conclusion that any of
                                                      as opposed to immunosuppressive                         adverse effects to female reproductive                the mode(s) of action for TCE-induced
                                                      effects. Human studies have reported a                  outcomes. However, more extensive                     rodent tumors are irrelevant to humans.
                                                      relationship between systemic                           evidence exists in support of an                      Additional support comes from the 2014
                                                      autoimmune diseases, such as                            association between TCE exposures and                 evaluation of TCE’s carcinogenic effects
                                                      scleroderma, with occupational                          male reproductive toxicity. There is                  by IARC, which classifies TCE as
                                                      exposure to TCE. There have also been                   evidence that metabolism of TCE in                    carcinogenic to humans (Ref. 4). The
                                                      a large number of case reports in TCE-                  male reproductive tract tissues is                    13th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) by the
                                                      exposed workers developing a severe                     associated with adverse effects on sperm              National Toxicology Program also
                                                      hypersensitivity skin disorder, often                   measures in both humans and animals.                  concluded that TCE exposure is
                                                      accompanied by systemic effects to the                  Furthermore, human studies support an                 reasonably anticipated to be a human
                                                      lymph nodes and other organs, such as                   association between TCE exposure and                  carcinogen (Ref. 5). These additional
                                                      hepatitis (Ref. 1).                                     alterations in sperm density and quality,             recent peer reviewed documents are
                                                         Studies in both humans and animals                   as well as changes in sexual drive or                 consistent with EPA’s classification that
                                                      have shown changes in the proximal                      function and altered serum endocrine                  TCE is carcinogenic to humans by all
                                                      tubules of the kidney following                         levels (Ref. 1).                                      routes of exposure based upon strong
                                                      exposure to TCE (Ref. 1). The TCE IRIS                     Neurotoxicity has been demonstrated                epidemiological and animal evidence
                                                      assessment concluded that TCE is                        in animal and human studies under                     (Refs. 1 and 3).
                                                      carcinogenic to humans based on                         both acute and chronic exposure
                                                      convincing evidence of a causal                         conditions. Evaluation of multiple                    D. What are the environmental impacts
                                                      relationship between TCE exposure in                    human studies revealed TCE-induced                    of TCE?
                                                      humans and kidney cancer (Ref. 3). A                    neurotoxic effects including alterations                 Pursuant to Section 6(c) of TSCA,
                                                      recent review of TCE by the                             in trigeminal nerve and vestibular                    EPA in this section describes the effects
                                                      International Agency for Research on                    function, auditory effects, changes in                of TCE on the environment and the
                                                      Cancer (IARC) also supported this                       vision, alterations in cognitive function,            magnitude of the exposure of the
                                                      conclusion (Ref. 4). The 13th report on                 changes in psychomotor effects, and                   environment to TCE. The unreasonable
                                                      carcinogens (RoC) by the National                       neurodevelopmental outcomes. These                    risk preliminary determination of this
                                                      Toxicology Program also concluded that                  studies in different populations have                 proposal, however, is based solely on
                                                      TCE is reasonably anticipated to be a                   consistently reported vestibular system-              risks to human health since these risks
                                                      human carcinogen 2015 (Ref. 5). These                   related symptoms such as headaches,                   are the most serious consequence of use
                                                      additional recent peer reviews are                      dizziness, and nausea following TCE                   of TCE and are sufficient to support this
                                                      consistent with EPA’s classification that               exposure (Ref. 1).                                    proposed action.
                                                      TCE is carcinogenic to humans by all                       Animals and humans exposed to TCE                     1. Environmental effects and impacts.
                                                      routes of exposure based upon strong                    consistently experience liver toxicity.               TCE enters the environment as a result
                                                      epidemiological and animal evidence                     Specific effects include the following                of emissions from metal degreasing
                                                      (Refs. 1 and 3).                                        structural changes: Increased liver                   facilities, and spills or accidental
                                                         TCE metabolites appear to be the                     weight, increase in DNA synthesis                     releases, and historic waste disposal
                                                      causative agents that induce renal                      (transient), enlarged hepatocytes,                    activities. Because of its high vapor
                                                      toxicity, including cancer. S-                          enlarged nuclei, and peroxisome                       pressure and low affinity for organic
                                                      dichlorovinyl-L-cysteine (DCVC), and to                 proliferation. Several human studies                  matter in soil, TCE evaporates fairly
                                                      a lesser extent other metabolites,                      reported an association between TCE                   rapidly when released to soil; however,
                                                      appears to be responsible for kidney                    exposure and significant changes in                   where it is released onto land surface or
                                                      damage and kidney cancer following                      serum liver function tests used in                    directly into the subsurface, TCE can
                                                      TCE exposure. Toxicokinetic data                        diagnosing liver disease, or changes in               migrate from soil to groundwater (Ref.
                                                      suggest that the TCE metabolites derived                plasma or serum bile acids. There was                 1). Based on TCE’s moderate
                                                      from glutathione conjugation (in                        also human evidence for hepatitis                     persistence, low bioaccumulation, and
                                                      particular DCVC) can be systemically                    accompanying immune-related                           low hazard for aquatic toxicity, the
                                                      delivered or formed in the kidney.                      generalized skin diseases, jaundice,                  magnitude of potential environmental
                                                      Moreover, DCVC-treated animals                          hepatomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and                 impacts on ecological receptors is
                                                      showed the same type of kidney damage                   liver failure in TCE-exposed workers                  judged to be low for the environmental
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      as those treated with TCE (Ref. 1). The                 (Ref. 1).                                             releases associated with the use of TCE
                                                      toxicokinetic data and the genotoxicity                    TCE is characterized as carcinogenic               for spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      of DCVC further suggest that a                          to humans by all routes of exposure as                facilities and in aerosol degreasers. This
                                                      mutagenic mode of action is involved in                 documented in EPA’s TCE IRIS                          should not be misinterpreted to mean
                                                      TCE-induced kidney tumors, although                     assessment (Ref. 3). This conclusion is               that the fate and transport properties of
                                                      cytotoxicity followed by compensatory                   based on strong cancer epidemiological                TCE suggest that water and soil
                                                      cellular proliferation cannot be ruled                  data that reported an association                     contamination is likely low or does not
                                                      out. As for the mutagenic mode of                       between TCE exposure and the onset of                 pose an environmental concern. EPA is
                                                      action, both genetic polymorphisms                      various cancers, primarily in the kidney,             addressing TCE contamination in


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00006   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          91597

                                                      groundwater, drinking water, and                        EPA is seeking to address in this                     that EPA is proposing to address under
                                                      contaminated soils at a large number of                 proposed rule.                                        TSCA section 6(a) today.
                                                      sites. While the primary concern with                                                                            The Occupational Safety and Health
                                                                                                              A. Federal Actions Pertaining to TCE                  Administration (OSHA) established a
                                                      this contamination has been human
                                                      health, there is potential for TCE                         Since 1979, EPA has issued numerous                permissible exposure limit (PEL) for
                                                      exposures to ecological receptors in                    final rules and notices pertaining to TCE             TCE in 1971. The PEL is an 8-hour time-
                                                      some cases (Ref. 1).                                    under its various authorities.                        weighted average (TWA) TCE
                                                         2. What is the global warming                           • Safe Drinking Water Act: EPA                     concentration of 100 ppm. In addition,
                                                      potential of TCE? Global warming                        issued drinking water standards for TCE               the TCE PEL requires that exposures to
                                                      potential (GWP) measures the potency                    pursuant to section 1412 of the Safe                  TCE not exceed 200 ppm (ceiling) at any
                                                      of a greenhouse gas over a specific                     Drinking Water Act. EPA promulgated                   time during an eight hour work shift
                                                      period of time, relative to carbon                      the National Primary Drinking Water                   with the following exception: Exposures
                                                      dioxide, which has a high GWP of 1                      Regulation (NPDWR) for TCE in 1987                    may exceed 200 ppm, but not more than
                                                      regardless of the time period used. Due                 (52 FR 25690, July 8, 1987). The                      300 ppm (peak), for a single time period
                                                      to high variability in the atmospheric                  NPDWR established a non-enforceable                   up to 5 minutes in any 2 hours (Refs. 7
                                                      lifetime of greenhouse gases, the 100-                  maximum contaminant level (MCL) goal                  and 8). OSHA acknowledges that many
                                                      year scale (GWP100) is typically used.                  of zero mg/L based on classification as               of its PELs are not protective of worker
                                                      TCE has relatively low global warming                   a probable human carcinogen. The                      health. OSHA has noted that ‘‘with few
                                                      potential at a GWP100 of 140 and thus                   NPDWR also established an enforceable                 exceptions, OSHA’s PELs, which
                                                      the impact is low (Ref. 1).                             MCL of 0.005 mg/L based on analytical                 specify the amount of a particular
                                                         3. What is the ozone depletion                       feasibility. EPA is evaluating revising               chemical substance allowed in
                                                      potential of TCE? TCE is not an ozone-                  the TCE drinking water standard as part               workplace air, have not been updated
                                                      depleting substance and is listed as                    of a group of carcinogenic volatile                   since they were established in 1971
                                                      acceptable under the Significant New                    organic compounds.                                    under expedited procedures available in
                                                      Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program for                     • Clean Water Act: EPA identified                  the short period after the OSH Act’s
                                                      degreasing and aerosols. In 2007, TCE                   TCE as a toxic pollutant under section                adoption . . . Yet, in many instances,
                                                                                                              307(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act (33                  scientific evidence has accumulated
                                                      was identified as a substitute for two
                                                                                                              U.S.C. 1317(a)(1)) in 1979 (44 FR 44502,              suggesting that the current limits are not
                                                      ozone depleting chemicals, methyl
                                                                                                              July 30, 1979) (FRL–1260–5). In                       sufficiently protective.’’ (Ref. 9 at p.
                                                      chloroform and CFC–113, for metals,
                                                                                                              addition, EPA developed recommended                   61386), including the PEL for TCE (Ref.
                                                      electronics, and precision cleaning (72
                                                                                                              TCE ambient water quality criteria for                65).
                                                      FR 30142, May 30, 2007) (FRL–8316–8)                                                                             To provide employers, workers, and
                                                      (Ref. 6).                                               the protection of human health pursuant
                                                                                                                                                                    other interested parties with a list of
                                                         4. Is TCE a volatile organic compound                to section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act.
                                                                                                                                                                    alternate occupational exposure limits
                                                      (VOC)? TCE is a VOC as defined at 40                       • Clean Air Act: TCE is designated a               that may serve to better protect workers,
                                                      CFR 51.100(c). A VOC is any compound                    hazardous air pollutant (HAP) under the               OSHA’s Web page highlights selected
                                                      of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide,                   Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(b)(1)).                 occupational exposure limits derived by
                                                      carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic                 EPA promulgated National Emission                     other organizations. For example, the
                                                      carbides or carbonates, and ammonium                    Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants                National Institute for Occupational
                                                      carbonate, which participates in                        (NESHAPs) for TCE for several                         Safety and Health considers TCE a
                                                      atmospheric photochemical reactions.                    industrial source categories, including               potential occupational carcinogen and
                                                         5. Does TCE persist in the                           halogenated solvent cleaning, fabric                  recommended an exposure limit of 25
                                                      environment and bioaccumulate? TCE                      printing, coating, and dyeing, and                    ppm as a 10-hour TWA in 2003 (Ref.
                                                      may be persistent, but it is not                        synthetic organic chemical                            10). The American Conference of
                                                      bioaccumulative. TCE is slowly                          manufacturing.                                        Governmental Industrial Hygienists
                                                      degraded by sunlight and reactants                         • Resource Conservation and                        recommended an 8-hour TWA of 10
                                                      when released to the atmosphere.                        Recovery Act (RCRA): EPA classifies                   ppm and acute, or short-term, exposure
                                                      Volatilization and microbial                            certain wastes containing TCE as                      limit of 25 ppm in 2004 (Ref. 11).
                                                      biodegradation influence the fate of TCE                hazardous waste subject to Subtitle C of
                                                      when released to water, sediment or                     RCRA pursuant to the toxicity                         B. State Actions Pertaining to TCE
                                                      soil. The biodegradation of TCE in the                  characteristics or as a listed waste.                    Many states have taken actions to
                                                      environment is dependent on a variety                   RCRA also provides authority to require               reduce risks from TCE use. TCE is listed
                                                      of factors and so a wide range of                       cleanup of hazardous wastes containing                on California’s Safer Consumer Products
                                                      degradation rates have been reported                    TCE at RCRA facilities.                               regulations candidate list of chemicals
                                                      (ranging from days to years). TCE is not                   • Comprehensive Environmental                      that exhibit a hazard trait and are on an
                                                      expected to bioconcentrate in aquatic                   Response, Compensation and Liability                  authoritative list, and is also listed on
                                                      organisms based on measured                             Act (CERCLA): EPA designated TCE as                   California’s Proposition 65 list of
                                                      bioconcentration factors of less than                   a hazardous substance with a reportable               chemicals known to cause cancer or
                                                      1000 (Ref. 1).                                          quantity pursuant to section 102(a) of                birth defects or other reproductive
                                                                                                              CERCLA and EPA is actively overseeing                 harm. In addition, the California Code of
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      III. Regulatory Actions Pertaining to                   cleanup of sites contaminated with TCE                Regulations, Title 17, Section 94509(a)
                                                      TCE                                                     pursuant to the National Contingency                  lists standards for VOCs for consumer
                                                        Because of its potential health effects,              Plan (NCP).                                           products sold, supplied, offered for sale,
                                                      TCE is subject to state, federal, and                      While many of the statutes that EPA                or manufactured for use in California
                                                      international regulations restricting and               is charged with administering provide                 (Ref. 12). As part of that regulation, use
                                                      regulating its use, which are                           statutory authority to address specific               of consumer general purpose degreaser
                                                      summarized in this section. None of                     sources and routes of TCE exposure,                   products that contain TCE are banned in
                                                      these actions addresses the                             none of these can address the serious                 California and safer substitutes are in
                                                      unreasonable risks under TSCA that                      human health risks from TCE exposure                  use.


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00007   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91598                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                        In Massachusetts, TCE is a designated                 authorization. As such, entities that                 IV. TCE Risk Assessment
                                                      high hazard substance, with an annual                   wanted to use TCE were required to                      In 2013, EPA identified TCE use as a
                                                      reporting threshold of 1,000 pounds                     apply for authorization by October 2014,              solvent degreaser (aerosol degreasing
                                                      (Ref. 13). Minnesota classifies TCE as a                and those entities without an                         and vapor degreasing) and spot remover
                                                      chemical of high concern. Many other                    authorization were required to stop                   in dry cleaning operations as a priority
                                                      states have considered TCE for similar                  using TCE by April 2016. The European                 for risk assessment under the TSCA
                                                      chemical listings (Ref. 14). Several                    Chemicals Agency (ECHA) received 19
                                                                                                                                                                    Work Plan. This Unit describes the
                                                      additional states have various TCE                      applications for authorization from
                                                                                                                                                                    development of the TCE risk assessment
                                                      regulations that range from reporting                   entities interested in using TCE beyond
                                                                                                                                                                    and supporting analysis and expert
                                                      requirements to product contamination                   April 2016. None of the applications
                                                                                                                                                                    input on the uses that are the subject of
                                                      limits to use reduction efforts aimed at                were for use of TCE in aerosol
                                                                                                                                                                    this proposed rule. A more detailed
                                                      limiting or prohibiting TCE content in                  degreasers or for spot cleaning in dry
                                                                                                                                                                    discussion of the risks associated with
                                                      products.                                               cleaning facilities (Ref. 16).
                                                        Most states have set PELs identical to                   Canada conducted a hazard                          each use subject to today’s proposed
                                                      the OSHA 100 ppm 8-hour TWA PEL                         assessment of TCE in 1993 and                         rule can be found in Units VI and VII.
                                                      (Ref. 15). Nine states have PELs of 50                  concluded that ‘‘trichloroethylene                    A. TSCA Work Plan for Chemical
                                                      ppm (Ref. 15). California’s PEL of 25                   occurs at concentrations that may be                  Assessments
                                                      ppm is the most stringent (Ref. 12). All                harmful to the environment, and that
                                                                                                                                                                      In 2012, EPA released the TSCA Work
                                                      of these PELs are significantly higher                  may constitute a danger in Canada to
                                                      than the exposures at which EPA                         human life or health. It has been                     Plan Chemicals: Methods Document in
                                                      identified unreasonable risks for TCE                   concluded that trichloroethylene occurs               which EPA described the process the
                                                      use in aerosol degreasers and for spot                  at concentrations that do not constitute              Agency intended to use to identify
                                                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and                 a danger to the environment on which                  potential candidate chemicals for near-
                                                      would not be protective.                                human life depends’’ (Ref. 17). In 2003,              term review and assessment under
                                                                                                              Canada issued the Solvent Degreasing                  TSCA (Ref. 21). EPA also released the
                                                      C. International Actions Pertaining to                                                                        initial list of TSCA Work Plan chemicals
                                                                                                              Regulations (SOR/2003–283) to reduce
                                                      TCE                                                                                                           identified for further assessment under
                                                                                                              releases of TCE into the environment
                                                         TCE is also regulated internationally                from solvent degreasing facilities using              TSCA as part of its chemical safety
                                                      and the international industrial and                    more than 1,000 kilograms of TCE per                  program (Ref. 22).
                                                      commercial sectors have moved to                        year (Ref. 17). In 2013, Canada added                   The process for identifying these
                                                      alternatives. TCE is prohibited for use in              TCE to the Toxic Substances List—                     chemicals for further assessment under
                                                      the European Union (EU) as an aerosol                   Schedule 1 because TCE was found to                   TSCA was based on a combination of
                                                      degreaser and spotting agent at dry                     be toxic under conditions (a) and (c) of              hazard, exposure, and persistence and
                                                      cleaning facilities based on its                        Section 64(a) of the Canadian                         bioaccumulation characteristics, and is
                                                      classification as a carcinogenic                        Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)                   described in the TSCA Work Plan
                                                      substance (Ref. 16). TCE was added to                   because it ‘‘is entering or may enter the             Chemicals Methods Document (Ref. 21).
                                                      the EU Registration, Evaluation,                        environment in a quantity or                          Using the TSCA Work Plan chemical
                                                      Authorisation and Restriction of                        concentration or under conditions that:               prioritization criteria, TCE ranked high
                                                      Chemicals (REACH) restriction of                        (a) Have or may have an immediate or                  for health hazards and exposure
                                                      substances classified as a carcinogen                   chronic harmful effect on the                         potential and was included on the
                                                      category 1B under the EU Classification                 environment or its biological diversity,              initial list of TSCA Work Plan chemicals
                                                      and Labeling regulation in 2009 (Ref.                   and (c) constitute or may constitute a                for assessment.
                                                      16). The restriction prohibits the placing              danger in Canada to human life or                     B. TCE Risk Assessment
                                                      on the market or use of TCE as a                        health.’’ (Ref. 18).
                                                      substance, as a constituent of other                       In Japan, the Chemical Substances                     EPA finalized a TSCA Work Plan
                                                      substances, or in mixtures for supply to                Control Law considers TCE a Class II                  Chemical Risk Assessment for TCE (TCE
                                                      the general public when the individual                  substance (substances that may pose a                 risk assessment) in June 2014, following
                                                      concentration of TCE in the substance or                risk of long-term toxicity to humans or               the July 2013 peer review of the
                                                      mixture is equal to or greater than 0.1%                to flora and fauna in the human living                December 2012 draft TCE risk
                                                      by weight (Ref. 16). In 2010, TCE was                   environment, and that have been, or in                assessment. All documents from the
                                                      added to the Candidate List of                          the near future are reasonably likely to              July 2013 peer review of the draft TCE
                                                      substances for inclusion in Annex XIV                   be, found in considerable amounts over                risk assessment are available in EPA
                                                      of REACH, or the Authorisation List.                    a substantially extensive area of the                 Docket Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2012–
                                                      Annex XIV includes Substances of Very                   environment) (Ref. 19). Japan also                    0723. TCE appears in the 2014 update
                                                      High Concern that are subject to use                    controls air emissions and water                      of the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical
                                                      authorization due to their hazardous                    discharges containing TCE, as well as                 Assessments and the completed risk
                                                      properties. TCE meets the criteria for                  aerosol products for household use and                assessment is noted therein. The draft
                                                      classification as a carcinogen. In 2011,                household cleaners containing TCE.                    TCE risk assessment evaluated
                                                      TCE was recommended for inclusion in                       TCE is listed in the Australian                    commercial and consumer use of TCE as
                                                      Annex XIV of REACH due to the very                      National Pollutant Inventory, a program               a solvent degreaser (aerosol degreasing
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      high volumes allocated to uses in the                   run cooperatively by the Australian,                  and vapor degreasing) and consumer
                                                      scope of authorization and because at                   State and Territory governments to                    use of TCE as a spray-applied protective
                                                      least some of the described uses                        monitor common pollutants and their                   coating for arts and crafts (Ref. 1). In
                                                      appeared to result in significant                       levels of release to the environment.                 response to specific comments and
                                                      exposure of workers and professionals,                  Australia classifies TCE as a health,                 information provided by the peer
                                                      and could be considered widely                          physicochemical and/or                                reviewers, the commercial use of TCE as
                                                      dispersive uses. In 2013, the                           ecotoxicological hazard, according to                 a spotting agent at dry cleaning facilities
                                                      Commission added TCE to Annex XIV                       the Australian National Occupational                  was evaluated, using the near-field/far-
                                                      of REACH, making it subject to                          Health and Safety Commission (Ref. 20).               field mass balance approach, for the


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00008   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          91599

                                                      final risk assessment. The use of TCE in                reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, and              using TCE-containing spot cleaners in
                                                      commercial/industrial vapor degreasing,                 liver toxicity (Ref. 1).                              dry cleaning facilities. For users of TCE-
                                                      and in arts and crafts, is not addressed                   Margins of exposure (MOEs) were                    containing spot cleaning products, these
                                                      in today’s proposal. EPA intends to                     used in this assessment to estimate non-              cancer risks are 1.35 × 10 ¥2 for spot
                                                      issue a separate proposed rule on TCE                   cancer risks for acute and chronic                    cleaning. In the supplemental analysis
                                                      use in vapor degreasers at commercial/                  exposures. The MOE is the health point                following the TCE risk assessment, EPA
                                                      industrial facilities soon. EPA also                    of departure (an approximation of the                 also identified acute and chronic non-
                                                      published a final Significant New Use                   no-observed adverse effect level                      cancer and cancer risks for the
                                                      Rule (SNUR) that would require                          (NOAEL) for a specific endpoint divided               commercial aerosol degreasing use
                                                      manufacturers (including importers)                     by the exposure concentration for the                 scenario for workers and occupational
                                                      and processors of TCE to notify the                     specific scenario of concern. The                     bystanders using aerosol degreasers
                                                      Agency before starting or resuming any                  benchmark MOE accounts for the total
                                                                                                                                                                    (Ref. 23).
                                                      significant new uses of TCE in certain                  uncertainty factor based on the
                                                      consumer products, including in spray                   following uncertainty factors:                           The levels of acute and chronic
                                                      fixatives used to finish arts and crafts                Intraspecies, interspecies, subchronic to             exposures estimated to present low risk
                                                      (81 FR 20535; April 8, 2016).                           chronic, and lowest observed adverse                  for non-cancer effects also result in low
                                                         The TCE risk assessment evaluated                    effect level (LOAEL) to NOAEL.                        risk for cancer.
                                                      health risks to consumers and workers,                  Uncertainty factors are intended to                      Given the risks identified in the TCE
                                                      including occupational bystanders, from                 account for (1) the variation in                      risk assessment, the agency undertook
                                                      inhalation exposures to TCE. A                          sensitivity among the members of the                  further analysis to help determine
                                                      summary of the peer review and public                   human population (i.e., interhuman or                 whether the use of TCE for spot cleaning
                                                      comments, along with EPA’s response,                    intraspecies variability); (2) the                    in dry cleaning facilities and in aerosol
                                                      is available in the docket for the risk                 uncertainty in extrapolating animal data              degreasers poses an unreasonable risk.
                                                      assessment and can be accessed                          to humans (i.e., interspecies variability);
                                                      electronically at https://                              (3) the uncertainty in extrapolating from             C. Supplemental Analysis Using the
                                                      www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-                     data obtained in a study with less-than-              Methodology of the TCE Risk
                                                      HQ-OPPT-2012-0723-0039. While                           lifetime exposure to lifetime exposure                Assessment
                                                      solvent degreasing (both aerosol and                    (i.e., extrapolating from subchronic to
                                                                                                              chronic exposure); and (4) the                           Because the TCE risk assessment
                                                      vapor) is within the scope of the TCE                                                                         concentrated on consumer use of
                                                                                                              uncertainty in extrapolating from a
                                                      risk assessment, with respect to aerosol                                                                      aerosol degreasers and because the
                                                                                                              LOAEL rather than from a NOAEL (Ref.
                                                      degreasing, the assessment targeted                                                                           aerosol degreaser products available to
                                                                                                              26). MOEs provide a non-cancer risk
                                                      consumer use of specific products.                                                                            consumers are also available to
                                                                                                              profile by presenting a range of
                                                      Therefore, using the peer reviewed near-                                                                      commercial users, following release of
                                                                                                              estimates for different non-cancer health
                                                      field/far-field mass balance approach                                                                         the TCE risk assessment, EPA analyzed
                                                                                                              effects for different exposure scenarios,
                                                      that was used in the risk assessment,
                                                                                                              and are a widely recognized method for                the risk to workers and occupational
                                                      EPA performed supplemental analyses
                                                                                                              evaluating a range of potential non-                  bystanders from commercial use of TCE-
                                                      of worker and bystander inhalation risk
                                                                                                              cancer health risks from exposure to a                containing aerosol degreasers and
                                                      from TCE aerosol degreaser use in                       chemical.                                             identified short-term and long-term non-
                                                      occupational settings. The TCE risk                        The TCE risk assessment estimated                  cancer and cancer risks for the
                                                      assessment identified primary uses of                   acute non-cancer risks for consumers
                                                      TCE and selected uses including aerosol                                                                       commercial aerosol degreasing use
                                                                                                              and residential bystanders from the use               scenario (Ref. 23). This analysis is
                                                      degreasing and spot cleaning in dry                     of TCE-containing aerosol degreasers
                                                      cleaning facilities as those that were                                                                        consistent with the scope of the TCE
                                                                                                              and spray-applied protective coatings.                risk assessment and was based on the
                                                      expected to involve frequent or routine                 Exposure scenarios with MOEs below
                                                      use of TCE in high concentrations and/                                                                        peer-reviewed near-field/far-field mass
                                                                                                              the benchmark MOE have significant                    balance approach that was used in the
                                                      or have high potential for human                        risks of concern and typically, non-
                                                      exposure (Refs. 1, 23, 24, and 25) and                                                                        TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1). EPA also
                                                                                                              cancer adverse effects are more likely to             conducted supplemental analyses of
                                                      therefore were included in the scope of                 result from exposure scenarios with
                                                      the risk assessment. However, this does                                                                       various parameters of exposure
                                                                                                              MOEs below the benchmark MOE. For
                                                      not mean that EPA determined that                                                                             scenarios, consistent with the
                                                                                                              non-cancer effects EPA estimated
                                                      other uses not included in the TCE risk                                                                       methodology used in the risk
                                                                                                              exposures that are significantly larger
                                                      assessments present low risk.                                                                                 assessment, on the use of TCE-
                                                                                                              than the point of departure. The TCE
                                                         The TCE risk assessment identified                                                                         containing aerosol degreasers by
                                                                                                              risk assessment also estimated acute
                                                      acute non-cancer risks (i.e.,                           non-cancer risk for workers and                       consumers and use of TCE for spot
                                                      developmental effects) for most                         occupational bystanders for uses                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. Prior
                                                      occupational and consumer exposure                      including spot cleaning in dry cleaning               to promulgation of the final rule, EPA
                                                      scenarios, including commercial vapor                   facilities.                                           will peer review the ‘‘Supplemental
                                                      degreasing, spot cleaning, and consumer                    The TCE risk assessment also                       Occupational Exposure and Risk
                                                      aerosol degreasing exposure scenarios                   estimated chronic non-cancer risk for                 Reduction Technical Report in Support
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      (Ref. 1). For chronic non-cancer risks                  workers and occupational bystanders for               of Risk Management Options for
                                                      there is a range of human health effects                uses including spot cleaning in dry                   Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Aerosol
                                                      in both the occupational vapor                          cleaning facilities. These include                    Degreasing’’ (Ref. 25) and the exposure
                                                      degreasing and spot cleaning exposure                   developmental toxicity, toxicity to the               assessment for TCE use in spot cleaning
                                                      scenarios with the greatest concern for                 kidney, immunotoxicity, reproductive                  in dry cleaning facilities in the ‘‘TSCA
                                                      developmental effects (i.e., fetal cardiac              and endocrine effects, neurotoxicity,                 Work Plan Chemical Risk Assessment.
                                                      defects), as well as kidney effects and                 and toxicity to the liver.                            Trichloroethylene: Degreasing, Spot
                                                      immunotoxicity. In addition, there are                     There are also cancer risks for persons            Cleaning and Arts & Crafts Uses’’ (Ref.
                                                      chronic non-cancer risks for adverse                    occupationally exposed to TCE when                    1).


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00009   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91600                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      D. Expert Meeting on TCE                                   • Prohibit or regulate any manner or               economy, small business, technological
                                                        On July 29, 2014, EPA held a 2-day                    method of commercial use (§ 6(a)(5)).                 innovation, the environment, and public
                                                      public workshop on TCE degreasing                          • Prohibit or otherwise regulate any               health; the costs and benefits of the
                                                      (Ref. 27). The purpose of the workshop                  manner or method of disposal (§ 6(a)(6)).             proposed and final rule and of the one
                                                                                                                 • Direct manufacturers and                         or more primary alternatives that EPA
                                                      was to collect information from users,
                                                                                                              processors to give notice of the                      considered; and the cost-effectiveness of
                                                      academics, and other stakeholders on
                                                                                                              determination to distributors and the                 the proposed rule and of the one or
                                                      the use of TCE as a degreaser in various
                                                                                                              public and replace or repurchase                      more primary alternatives that EPA
                                                      applications, e.g., in degreasing metal
                                                                                                              substances (§ 6(a)(7)).                               considered.
                                                      parts, availability and efficacy of safer                  EPA analyzed a wide range of                          In deciding whether to prohibit or
                                                      alternatives, safer engineering practices               regulatory options under section 6(a) for             restrict in a manner that substantially
                                                      and technologies to reduce exposure to                  each use in order to determine the                    prevents a specific condition of use of
                                                      TCE, and to discuss possible risk                       proposed regulatory approach (Refs. 28                a chemical substance or mixture, and in
                                                      reduction approaches. The workshop                      and 29). For each use, EPA considered                 setting an appropriate transition period
                                                      included presentations by experts,                      whether a regulatory option (or                       for such action, EPA must also consider,
                                                      breakout sessions with case studies, and                combination of options) would address                 to the extent practicable, whether
                                                      public comment opportunities (Ref. 27)                  the identified unreasonable risks so that             technically and economically feasible
                                                      and informed EPA’s assessment of the                    it no longer presents such risks. To do               alternatives that benefit health or the
                                                      alternatives to TCE considered in this                  so, EPA initially analyzed whether the                environment will be reasonably
                                                      proposed rule. All documents from the                   regulatory options could reduce risks                 available as a substitute when the
                                                      public workshop are available in EPA                    (non-cancer and cancer) so that TCE no                proposed prohibition or other restriction
                                                      Docket Number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2014–                         longer presents unreasonable risks,                   takes effect.
                                                      0327. Informed in part by the workshop                  based on EPA’s technical analysis of                     EPA’s analysis of the regulatory
                                                      and other analysis, including discussion                exposure scenarios. For the non-cancer                options and consideration of the TSCA
                                                      with Toxics Use Reduction Institute at                  risks, EPA determined an option could                 section 6(c)(2) factors are discussed in
                                                      the University of Massachusetts Lowell,                 be protective against the risk if it could            more detail in Unit VI for aerosol
                                                      EPA has concluded that TCE                              achieve the benchmark MOE for the                     degreasing and in Unit VII for spot
                                                      alternatives are available for all                      most sensitive non-cancer endpoint.                   cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
                                                      applications subject to this proposed                   EPA’s assessments for these uses                         To the extent information was
                                                      rule (Ref. 2). The discussions of the                   indicate that when exposures meet the                 available, EPA considered the benefits
                                                      meeting demonstrated that alternatives                  benchmark MOE for the most sensitive                  realized from risk reductions (including
                                                      are available for aerosol uses that are                 endpoint, they also result in low risk for            monetized benefits, non-monetized
                                                      being addressed in this proposed                        cancer.                                               quantified benefits, and qualitative
                                                      rulemaking.                                                After the technical analysis, which                benefits), offsets to benefits from
                                                      V. Regulatory Approach                                  represents EPA’s assessment of the                    countervailing risks (e.g., residual risk
                                                                                                              potential for the regulatory options to               risks from chemical substitutions and
                                                      A. TSCA Section 6 Unreasonable Risk                     achieve risk benchmarks based on                      alternative practices), the relative risk
                                                      Analysis                                                analysis of exposure scenarios, EPA                   for environmental justice populations
                                                         Under section 6(a) of TSCA, if the                   then considered how reliably the                      and children or other susceptible
                                                      Administrator determines that a                         regulatory options would actually reach               subpopulations (as compared to the
                                                      chemical substance presents an                          these benchmarks. In determining                      general population), and the cost of
                                                      unreasonable risk of injury to health or                whether a regulatory option would                     regulatory requirements for the various
                                                      the environment, without consideration                  impose requirements to the extent                     options.
                                                      of costs or other non-risk factors,                     necessary so that TCE no longer                          EPA considered the estimated costs to
                                                      including an unreasonable risk to a                     presents the identified unreasonable                  regulated entities as well as the cost to
                                                      potentially exposed or susceptible                      risks, the Agency considered whether                  administer and enforce the options. For
                                                      subpopulation identified as relevant to                 the option could be realistically                     example, an option that includes use of
                                                      the Agency’s risk evaluation, under the                 implemented or whether there were                     a respirator would include inspections
                                                      conditions of use, EPA must by rule                     practical limitations on how well the                 to evaluate compliance with all
                                                      apply one or more requirements to the                   option would mitigate the risks in                    elements of a respiratory protection
                                                      extent necessary so that the chemical                   relation to the benchmarks, as well as                program (Ref. 30). EPA took into
                                                      substance no longer presents such risk.                 whether the option’s protectiveness was               account the available information about
                                                         The section 6(a) requirements can                    impacted by environmental justice or                  the functionality and performance
                                                      include one or more, or a combination                   children’s health concerns.                           efficacy of the regulatory options and
                                                      of, the following actions:                                 B. Section 6(c)(2) considerations. As              the ability to implement the use of
                                                         • Prohibit or otherwise restrict the                 noted previously, TSCA section 6(c)(2)                chemical substitutes or other
                                                      manufacturing, processing, or                           requires EPA to factor in, to the extent              alternatives (e.g., PPE). Available
                                                      distribution in commerce of such                        practicable, the following                            information included the existence of
                                                      substances (§ 6(a)(1)).                                 considerations in selecting regulatory                other Federal, state, or international
                                                         • Prohibit or otherwise restrict                                                                           regulatory requirements associated with
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              requirements:
                                                      manufacturing, processing, or                              • Health effects of TCE and the                    each of the regulatory options as well as
                                                      distribution in commerce of such                        magnitude of human exposure to TCE;                   the commercial history for the options.
                                                      substances for particular uses or for uses                 • Environmental effects of TCE and
                                                                                                                                                                    C. Regulatory Options Receiving Limited
                                                      in excess of a specified concentration                  the magnitude of exposure of the
                                                                                                                                                                    Evaluation
                                                      (§ 6(a)(2)).                                            environment to TCE;
                                                         • Require minimum warning labels                        • Benefits of TCE for various uses;                  As discussed previously, EPA
                                                      and instructions (§ 6(a)(3)).                              • Reasonably ascertainable economic                analyzed a wide range of regulatory
                                                         • Require record keeping or testing                  consequences of the rule, including: The              options under TSCA section 6(a). Early
                                                      (§ 6(a)(4)).                                            likely effect of the rule on the national             in the process, EPA identified two


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00010   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91601

                                                      regulatory options under section 6(a)                   effective to some degree. However, the                can be an important component to an
                                                      that do not pertain to this action and                  extent of the effectiveness has varied                approach for addressing unreasonable
                                                      were therefore not evaluated for this                   considerably across studies and some of               risks associated with TCE use in aerosol
                                                      proposed rulemaking. First, EPA                         the perceived effectiveness may not                   degreasers and for spot cleaning in dry
                                                      determined that the TSCA section                        reflect real-world situations. This is                cleaning facilities and has included a
                                                      6(a)(1) regulatory option to prohibit the               because interactions among labels,                    very simple downstream notification
                                                      manufacture, processing or distribution                 users, the environment, and other                     requirement as part of the proposed
                                                      in commerce of TCE or limit the amount                  factors greatly influence the degree of a             rulemaking.
                                                      of TCE which may be manufactured,                       label’s effectiveness at changing user
                                                                                                                                                                    VI. Regulatory Assessment of TCE Use
                                                      processed or distributed in commerce is                 behavior (Ref. 37). In addition, while
                                                                                                                                                                    in Aerosol Degreasing
                                                      not applicable because the Agency is                    some studies have shown that different
                                                      not proposing to ban or limit the                       components of labels and warnings tend                  This Unit describes the current use of
                                                      manufacture, processing or distribution                 to have some influence, the evidence                  TCE in aerosol degreasing, the
                                                      in commerce of TCE for uses other than                  does not suggest that labels alone would              unreasonable risks presented by this
                                                      in aerosol degreasing or for spot                       be sufficient to ensure that users take               use, and how EPA preliminarily
                                                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities at this             the steps needed to protect themselves.               determined which regulatory options
                                                      time. In addition, EPA determined that                     The Agency further determined that                 are necessary to address those
                                                      the TSCA section 6(a)(6) regulatory                     presenting information about TCE on a                 unreasonable risks.
                                                      option to prohibit or otherwise regulate                label would not adequately address the                A. Description of the Current Use
                                                      any manner or method of disposal of the                 identified unreasonable risks because
                                                      chemical is not applicable since EPA                    the nature of the information the user                   Aerosol degreasing is a process that
                                                      did not assess risks associated with TCE                would need to read, understand, and act               uses aerosol spray products, typically
                                                      disposal.                                               upon is extremely complex. When the                   applied from a pressurized can, to
                                                         Another option EPA evaluated would                   precaution or information is simple or                remove residual contaminants from
                                                      require warning labels and instructions                 uncomplicated (e.g., do not mix this                  parts. The aerosol droplets bead up on
                                                      on TCE-containing aerosol degreasers                    cleaner with bleach or do not mix this                the fabricated part and then drip off,
                                                      and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                   cleaner with ammonia), it is more likely              carrying away any contaminants and
                                                      facilities pursuant to section 6(a)(3)                  the user will successfully understand                 leaving behind a clean surface.
                                                      (Refs. 28 and 29). The Agency                           and follow the direction. In contrast, it             Components of an item can be cleaned
                                                      determined that warning labels and                      would be challenging to most users to                 in place or removed from the item for
                                                      instructions alone could not mitigate the               follow the complex product label                      more thorough cleaning. Aerosol
                                                      risks to the extent necessary so that TCE               instructions required to explain how to               degreasers can also be sprayed onto a
                                                      no longer presents the identified                       reduce exposures to the extremely low                 rag that is used to wipe components
                                                      unreasonable risks to users. The Agency                 levels needed to minimize the risk from               clean.
                                                      based this determination on an analysis                 TCE. Rather than a simple message, the                   Aerosol degreasers are primarily used
                                                      of 48 relevant studies or meta-analyses,                label would need to explain a variety of              for niche industrial or manufacturing
                                                      which found that consumers and                          inter-related factors, including but not              uses and some commercial service uses,
                                                      professionals do not consistently pay                   limited to the use of local exhaust                   such as degreasing of metals, degreasing
                                                      attention to labels; consumers and                      ventilation, respirators and assigned                 of electrical motors, and electronic
                                                      professional users often do not                         protection factor, and window periods                 cleaners. One example of a commercial
                                                      understand label information;                           during pregnancy when the developing                  setting for the aerosol degreaser use is
                                                      consumers and professional users often                  fetus is susceptible to adverse effects               repair shops, where service items are
                                                      base a decision to follow label                         from acute exposures, as well as effects              cleaned to remove any contaminants
                                                      information on previous experience and                  to bystanders. It is unlikely that label              that would otherwise compromise the
                                                      perceptions of risk; even if consumers                  language changes will for this use result             item’s operation. Internal components
                                                      and professional users have noticed,                    in widespread, consistent, and                        may be cleaned in place or removed
                                                      read, understood, and believed the                      successful adoption of risk reduction                 from the item, cleaned, and then re-
                                                      information on a hazardous chemical                     measures by users.                                    installed once dry. EPA identified 16
                                                      product label, they may not be                             Additionally, any use of labels to                 different aerosol spray degreaser
                                                      motivated to follow the label                           promote or regulate safe product use                  products that contain TCE, blended by
                                                      information, instructions, or warnings;                 should be considered in the context of                6 different firms. EPA estimates that
                                                      and consumers and professional users                    other potential risk reduction                        about 2,200 commercial facilities use
                                                      have varying behavioral responses to                    techniques. As highlighted by a 2014                  TCE aerosol spray degreasers (Ref. 2).
                                                      warning labels, as shown by mixed                       expert report for the Consumer Product                EPA requests comment on uses of TCE
                                                      results in studies (Ref. 37).                           Safety Commission (CPSC), ‘‘safety and                aerosol degreasers and TCE aerosol
                                                         These conclusions are based on the                   warnings literature consistently identify             degreasing products that the agency did
                                                      weight-of-evidence analysis that EPA                    warnings as a less effective hazard-                  not identify.
                                                      conducted of the available literature on                control measure than either designing                    Consumer use of TCE in aerosol
                                                      the efficacy of labeling and warnings.                  out a hazard or guarding the consumer                 degreasers is similar to commercial use
                                                      This analysis indicates that a label’s                  from a hazard. Warnings are less                      but occurs in consumer settings. The
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      effectiveness at changing user behavior                 effective primarily because they do not               aerosol products used in consumer
                                                      to comply with instructions and                         prevent consumer exposure to the                      settings are the same as those used in
                                                      warnings depends not only on attributes                 hazard. Instead, they rely on persuading              commercial settings. TCE use is very
                                                      of the label and the user, but also on the              consumers to alter their behavior in                  limited in products intended for
                                                      multiple steps required in the processes                some way to avoid the hazard’’ (Ref. 38).             consumers due to existing VOC
                                                      of attention, comprehension, judgment,                     While this regulatory option alone                 regulations in California and in a
                                                      and action (Ref. 37).                                   does not address the risks, EPA                       number of northeast, mid-Atlantic, and
                                                         Numerous studies have found that                     recognizes that the section 6(a)(3)                   Midwestern states. Consumer Specialty
                                                      product labels and warnings are                         warnings and instruction requirement                  Products Association (CSPA) member


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00011   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91602                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      companies have consistently stated that                 perchloroethylene and 1-bromopropane,                 exposure is significant because
                                                      they do not formulate TCE to be sold                    are hazardous, effects from these                     approximately half of all pregnancies
                                                      into consumer products, and the                         chemicals are generally seen at levels                are unintended. If a pregnancy is not
                                                      products are generally only sold in the                 that are higher than the levels that are              planned before conception, a woman
                                                      commercial supply chains (Ref. 31).                     associated with TCE toxicity. Thus,                   may not be in optimal health for
                                                      However, due to the wide availability of                considering similar exposure potentials               childbearing (Ref. 33). The pregnancy
                                                      products available on the Internet and                  for substitutes, the overall risk potential           estimate includes women who have live
                                                      through various suppliers that serve                    for the substitutes will be less than for             births, induced abortions, and fetal
                                                      commercial and consumer customers,                      TCE (Ref. 32).                                        losses (Ref. 2).
                                                      consumers are able to purchase aerosol                                                                           EPA also examined acute risks for
                                                                                                              B. Analysis of Regulatory Options                     consumer exposures in residential
                                                      degreasing products containing TCE. As
                                                      a result, EPA evaluated consumer                           In this section, EPA explains how it               settings. EPA assumed that affected
                                                      exposures to aerosol degreasers                         determined whether the regulatory                     consumers would be individuals that
                                                      containing TCE in its TCE risk                          options considered would address the                  intermittently use TCE aerosol
                                                      assessment, and identified potential                    unreasonable risks presented by this                  degreasers in and around their homes,
                                                      risks to consumers from aerosol                         use. First, EPA characterizes the                     whereas bystanders would be
                                                      degreasers.                                             unreasonable risks associated with the                individuals in close proximity to the use
                                                                                                              current use of TCE in aerosol                         activity but not using the product. EPA
                                                         There are currently TCE alternatives                 degreasing. Then, the Agency describes                assumed that consumer users would
                                                      available on the market for all of the                  its initial analysis of which regulatory              generally be adults of both sexes (16
                                                      existing uses of aerosol degreasing that                options have the potential to reach the               years old and older, including women of
                                                      are similar in efficacy and cost (Refs. 2,              protective non-cancer and cancer                      childbearing age), although exposures to
                                                      32). The most likely substitute products                benchmarks. The levels of acute and                   teenagers and even younger individuals
                                                      would be products with hydrocarbon/                     chronic exposures estimated to present                may be possible in residential settings
                                                      mineral spirits, products that are                      low risk for non-cancer effects also                  as bystanders. However, risk estimates
                                                      acetone or terpene based, and some that                 result in low risk for cancer. Lastly, this           focused on pregnant women. This is
                                                      contain perchloroethylene or 1-                         section evaluates how well those                      because one of the most sensitive health
                                                      bromopropane. All substitutes are                       regulatory options would address the                  effects associated with TCE exposure is
                                                      expected to be less hazardous than TCE.                 identified unreasonable risks in                      adverse effects on the developing fetus
                                                      Substitutes that are hazardous but at                   practice.                                             (Ref. 3).
                                                      dose levels higher than the dose levels                    1. Risks associated with the current                  d. Exposures for this use. For
                                                      at which TCE causes adverse effects                     use. a. General impacts. The TCE risk                 consumer exposures, EPA used the
                                                      include perchloroethylene and 1-                        assessment identified acute non-cancer                Exposure and Fate Assessment
                                                      bromopropane. EPA does not advocate                     risks for consumers and residential                   Screening Tool Version 2/Consumer
                                                      that perchloroethylene or 1-                            bystanders from the use of TCE-                       Exposure Module to estimate TCE
                                                      bromopropane be used as substitutes.                    containing aerosol degreasers (Ref. 1).               exposures for the consumer use
                                                      EPA released a draft risk assessment for                EPA performed supplemental analysis                   scenarios (Ref. 1). This modeling
                                                      1-bromopropane on March 3, 2016. The                    consistent with the methodology used                  approach was selected because
                                                      schedule for finalizing the assessment of               for the consumer use scenario included                emissions and monitoring data were not
                                                      1-bromopropane and other chemicals is                   in the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 24), and             available for the aerosol degreasing TCE
                                                      still under development. Many                           identified acute and chronic non-cancer               uses under consideration. The model
                                                      substitutes are expected to be                          risks and cancer risks for the                        used a two-zone representation of a
                                                      significantly less hazardous than TCE,                  commercial aerosol degreasing use                     house to calculate potential TCE
                                                      based on currently available                            scenario (Ref. 23). EPA estimates that                exposure levels for consumers and
                                                      information. These include formulations                 there are approximately 10,800 workers                bystanders. The modeling approach
                                                      that may be categorized as acetone-,                    and occupational bystanders at                        integrated assumptions and input
                                                      citrus terpene-, hydrocarbon-, and                      commercial aerosol degreasing                         parameters about exposure duration, the
                                                      water-based degreasers. Several                         operations, and approximately 22,000                  chemical emission rate over time, the
                                                      formulations are made with chemicals                    consumers and bystanders exposed to                   volume of the house and the room of
                                                      that are expected to have lower relative                TCE during the consumer use of aerosol                use, the air exchange rate and interzonal
                                                      exposure potential, compared to TCE,                    degreasers (Ref. 2).                                  airflow rate. The model also considered
                                                      based on currently available                               b. Impacts on minority populations.                the exposed individual’s location as it
                                                      information. These include citrus                       There is no known disproportionate                    relates to use, body weight, and
                                                      terpenes and water-based degreasers.                    representation of minority populations                inhalation rate during and after the
                                                      EPA has not developed risk estimates                    in occupations using aerosol degreasers.              product use (Ref. 1). No respirator
                                                      related to the use of substitutes,                      All employees and consumers using                     scenarios were considered for use by
                                                      however, the benefits analysis                          aerosol degreasers would benefit from                 consumers because EPA cannot require
                                                      incorporates the potential for certain                  risk reduction.                                       use of respirators by consumers under
                                                      alternatives to result in risks to users by                c. Impacts on children. EPA has                    TSCA section 6(a). EPA used both an air
                                                      assuming no benefits for TCE users that                 concerns for effects on the developing                exchange rate of 0.45 per hour based on
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      switch to perchloroethylene or 1-                       fetus from acute and chronic worker and               the central tendency ventilation rate for
                                                      bromopropane alternatives in its lower                  consumer maternal exposures to TCE.                   a home in the United States and a
                                                      estimate for benefits. EPA estimates that               The risk estimates are focused on                     higher ventilation rate (1.26 air
                                                      25% of TCE users will substitute                        pregnant women because one of the                     exchanges per hour, representing the
                                                      perchloroethylene or 1-bromopropane,                    most sensitive health effects associated              upper 10% of U.S. homes) to represent
                                                      50% will substitute hydrocarbon/                        with TCE exposure from the use of                     use of the TCE aerosol degreaser in a
                                                      mineral spirits, and 25% will substitute                consumer and commercial aerosol                       well-ventilated space (Refs. 1, 24). EPA
                                                      acetone/terpene alternatives (Ref. 2).                  degreasers is adverse effects on the                  also considered a range of
                                                      Although some substitutes, including                    developing fetus. The potential for                   concentrations of TCE in the aerosol


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00012   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91603

                                                      degreasers that the consumers used (5%                  used in this assessment to estimate non-              scenario) and whether room ventilation
                                                      to 90%) (Refs. 1, 24). In the modeling,                 cancer risks for acute and chronic                    was used. For acute consumer aerosol
                                                      TCE in the aerosol degreaser entered the                exposures. Exposure scenarios with                    degreasing exposures, the high end
                                                      room air through overspray of the                       MOEs below the benchmark MOE for                      MOE is 0.002 for fetal heart
                                                      product and evaporation from a thin                     the individual toxicity endpoints have                malformations. This means that
                                                      film. The inhalation acute dose rates                   risks of concern, as explained in detail              exposures are estimated to be 5,000
                                                      were computed iteratively by                            in the TCE risk assessment (Ref. 1).                  times greater than exposures used to
                                                      calculating the peak concentrations for                 Cancer risks express the incremental                  calculate the benchmark MOE of 10. All
                                                      each simulated 1-second interval and                    probability of an individual developing               of the residential use scenarios resulted
                                                      then summing the doses over 24 hours                    cancer over a lifetime as a result of                 in MOE values significantly below the
                                                      to form a 24-hour dose (Ref. 1).                        exposure to TCE under specified use                   benchmark MOE of 10 irrespective of
                                                         The high-end inhalation exposure                     scenarios.                                            the percentile HEC value used to
                                                      estimates for the consumer scenarios                       The acute inhalation risk assessment               estimate the MOEs (Refs. 1, 24). Given
                                                      were 2 ppm for users of TCE-containing                  used developmental toxicity data to                   this significant difference between the
                                                      aerosol degreasers and 0.8 ppm for                      evaluate the acute risks for the TCE use              benchmark MOEs and the MOEs from
                                                      bystanders of TCE-containing solvent                    scenarios. As indicated in the TSCA                   the residential use scenarios, EPA has
                                                      degreasers (Ref. 1).                                    Work Plan Risk Assessment on TCE,                     preliminarily determined that the risks
                                                         For exposures in commercial settings,                EPA’s policy supports the use of                      TCE present for the consumer aerosol
                                                      EPA determined baseline exposures                       developmental studies to evaluate the                 degreasing use are unreasonable risks.
                                                      using a near-field/far-field modeling                   risks of acute exposures. This science-                  For occupational aerosol degreasing
                                                      approach to estimate airborne                           based policy is based on the                          exposures the MOE is 0.003 for fetal
                                                      concentrations of TCE and Monte Carlo                   presumption that a single exposure of a               heart malformation and is also
                                                      simulation to establish the range and                   chemical at a critical window of fetal                representative of MOEs for kidney
                                                      likelihood of exposures (Ref. 23). The                  development, as in the case of cardiac                toxicity and immunotoxicity. This
                                                      near-field/far-field model estimates                    malformation, may produce adverse                     equates to estimated exposures that are
                                                      airborne concentrations in a near field (a              developmental effects (Ref. 34 and 35).               more than 3,000 times greater than those
                                                      zone close to the source of exposure)                   EPA reviewed multiple studies for                     needed to achieve the benchmark MOE.
                                                      and a far field (a zone farther from the                suitability for acute risk estimation                 For chronic occupational aerosol
                                                      source of exposure but within the                       including a number of developmental                   degreasing exposures the baseline
                                                      occupational building). EPA used these                  studies of TCE exposure and additional                cancer risk is 1.6 × 10 ¥2 exceeding
                                                      estimated airborne concentrations to                    studies of TCE metabolites administered               standard cancer benchmarks of 10 ¥6 to
                                                      estimate 8-hour time weighted average                   developmentally (Appendix N) (Ref. 1).                10 ¥4 (Refs. 1, 23). EPA has
                                                      exposures for workers (i.e., in the near                EPA based its acute risk assessment on                preliminarily determined that TCE
                                                      field) and occupational bystanders (i.e.,               the most sensitive health endpoint (i.e.,             presents unreasonable risks for the
                                                      in the far field). A worker is defined as               fetal heart malformations; Ref. 1)                    occupational aerosol degreasing use.
                                                      the person performing the task in which                 representing the most sensitive human                    2. Initial analysis of potential
                                                      TCE is used. Occupational bystanders                    life stage (i.e., the developing fetus). The          regulatory options. Having identified
                                                      are defined as other people within the                  acute risk assessment used the                        unreasonable risks from the use of TCE
                                                      building who are not performing the                     physiologically based pharmacokinetic                 in aerosol degreasing, EPA evaluated
                                                      TCE-based task. Details of the modeling                 (PBPK)-derived hazard values (HEC50,                  whether regulatory options under
                                                      and estimation method for calculating                   HEC95, or HEC99; HECXX is the Human                   section 6(a) could reach the risk (non-
                                                      exposure levels during aerosol                          Equivalent Concentration at a particular              cancer and cancer) benchmarks.
                                                      degreasing are available in the analysis                percentile) from the Johnson et al.                      EPA assessed a number of exposure
                                                      document, Supplemental Occupational                     (2003) (Ref. 36) developmental toxicity               scenarios associated with risk reduction
                                                      Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical                   study for each aerosol degreaser use                  options in order to determine variations
                                                      Report in Support of Risk Management                    scenario. Note that the differences                   in TCE exposure from aerosol
                                                      Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use                 among these hazard values is small and                degreasing, including: Material
                                                      in Aerosol Degreasing (Ref. 23). As                     no greater than 3-fold (i.e., 2-fold for              substitution, engineering controls, and
                                                      discussed in Unit IV.C, this analysis is                HEC50/HEC95 ratios; 3-fold for HEC50/                 use of PPE. EPA also assessed
                                                      based on the methodology used in the                    HEC99 ratios; 1.4-fold for HEC95/HEC99                combinations of these options. The
                                                      peer reviewed TCE risk assessment (Ref.                 ratios). The TCE IRIS assessment                      material substitution scenarios involved
                                                      1).                                                     preferred the HEC99 for the non-cancer                reducing the concentration of TCE in
                                                         EPA assumed that a worker applies                    dose-response derivations because the                 the degreasing formulation, with
                                                      aerosol degreasers 260 days a year, once                HEC99 was interpreted to be protective                concentrations varying from 5 to 95
                                                      per hour, and that no applications occur                for a sensitive individual in the                     percent by weight in the product. For
                                                      during the first hour of the 8-hour work                population. While the HEC99 was used                  the engineering controls risk reduction
                                                      day. EPA also assumed that aerosol                      to determine the level of risk to be used             option exposure scenarios, EPA
                                                      degreasing facilities use 192.2 grams of                in making the preliminary section 6(a)                evaluated using local exhaust
                                                      degreaser per day and for 100% TCE                      determination, the small variation                    ventilation to improve ventilation near
                                                      degreaser this would be 27.5 grams of                   among HEC50, HEC95 and HEC99                          the worker activity, with estimated 90%
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      TCE per application. For degreasers                     would not result in a different risk                  reduction in exposure levels. The PPE
                                                      with differing concentrations of TCE,                   determination.                                        risk reduction option exposure
                                                      the per-application quantity was                           Acute inhalation risks were estimated              scenarios evaluated workers and
                                                      adjusted accordingly (Refs. 1 and 23).                  for all residential exposure scenarios of             occupational bystanders wearing
                                                         e. Risks for this use. As discussed in               aerosol degreasing based on concerns                  respirators with an assigned protection
                                                      Unit IV.B, TCE is associated with a                     for developmental effects. Risks of                   factor (APF) varying from 10 to 10,000.
                                                      range of non-cancer adverse health                      concern were identified for consumer                  Additionally, EPA evaluated all
                                                      effects in humans and animals and is                    users and bystanders, regardless of the               combinations of the above three options:
                                                      carcinogenic to humans. MOEs were                       type of exposure (typical vs. worst case              Material substitution plus PPE, material


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00013   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91604                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      substitution plus engineering controls                  magnitude—to meet the risk                            section 6(a)(3); and (d) requiring the use
                                                      such as local exhaust ventilation, PPE                  benchmarks. Options found not to meet                 of PPE in commercial aerosol degreasing
                                                      plus engineering controls such as local                 the risk benchmarks and, therefore,                   operations in which TCE is used under
                                                      exhaust ventilation, and materials                      found not to address the identified                   section 6(a)(5) or requiring the use of
                                                      substitution plus PPE plus engineering                  unreasonable risks are documented in                  PPE and engineering controls (local
                                                      controls such as local exhaust                          EPA’s supplemental technical reports                  exhaust ventilation) in commercial
                                                      ventilation.                                            on aerosol degreasing (Refs. 23 and 24).              aerosol degreasing operations in which
                                                         EPA’s inhalation exposure modeling                      3. Assessment of regulatory options to             TCE is used under section 6(a)(5).
                                                      estimated exposures to characterize the                 determine whether they address the                       The full range of regulatory options
                                                      range of workplace scenarios. Inhalation                identified unreasonable risks to the                  considered under section 6(a) is
                                                      exposure level estimate for facilities                  extent necessary so that TCE no longer                reflected in EPA’s supporting analysis
                                                      without local exhaust ventilation ranged                presents such risks. As discussed in                  (Ref. 29). A discussion of those
                                                      from 1.00 ppm to 14.36 ppm as 8-hour                    Unit V, EPA considered a number of                    regulatory options that could reach the
                                                      TWAs for workers and 0.21 ppm to                        regulatory options under section 6(a)                 risk benchmarks for consumer use,
                                                      13.58 ppm for bystanders. For facilities                which are reflected in EPA’s supporting               commercial use, or both is provided in
                                                      with local exhaust ventilation which                    analysis (Refs. 28 and 29). In assessing              this Unit, along with the Agency’s
                                                      was estimated to have an effectiveness                  these options, EPA considered a wide                  evaluation of how well those regulatory
                                                      of 90%, EPA’s inhalation exposure level                 range of exposure scenarios (Refs. 23,                options would address the identified
                                                      estimates were 0.586 ppm for workers                    24, 25). These include both baseline and              unreasonable risks in practice.
                                                      and 0.507 ppm for bystanders. This                      risk reduction scenarios involving                       a. Proposed approach to prohibit
                                                      estimate was for the 99th percentile and                varying factors such as exposure                      manufacturing, processing, distribution
                                                      assumed that the aerosol degreaser was                  concentration percentiles, local exhaust              in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol
                                                      100% TCE and that no PPE was used.                      ventilation use, respirator use, working              degreasing and require downstream
                                                      The exposure estimates for wearing PPE                  lifetimes, etc. As part of this analysis,             notification. As noted previously, the
                                                      combined with facilities having local                   EPA considered the impacts of                         proposed regulatory approach for TCE
                                                      exhaust ventilation ranged from                         regulatory options on consumer users                  use in aerosol degreasing would
                                                      0.0000586 ppm to 0.0586 ppm for                         and commercial users separately.                      prohibit the manufacturing, processing,
                                                      workers and 0.0000507 ppm to 0.0507                     However, EPA is proposing to address                  and distribution in commerce of TCE for
                                                      ppm for bystanders. The range                           the aerosol degreasing use as a whole                 aerosol degreasing under TSCA section
                                                      represents the 10 to 10,000 range of                    rather than as separate consumer and                  6(a)(2), prohibit the commercial use of
                                                      respirator APFs considered. The                         commercial uses given that the                        TCE for aerosol degreasing under TSCA
                                                      exposure estimates for material                         differences in the use itself between                 section 6(a)(5), and require
                                                      substitution plus local exhaust                         workers and consumers differ only in                  manufacturers, processors, and
                                                      ventilation ranged from 0.0293 ppm to                   the degree of repetition and duration                 distributors, except for retailers, to
                                                      0.556 ppm for workers and 0.0253 ppm                    and, furthermore, that not addressing                 provide downstream notification, e.g.,
                                                      to 0.482 ppm for bystanders. The range                  them jointly would facilitate products                via a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), of the
                                                      represents the various TCE                              intended for one segment being                        prohibitions under TSCA section
                                                      concentrations (5% to 95%) considered                   intentionally or unintentionally                      6(a)(3).
                                                      for material substitution. Additional                   acquired and misused by the other.                       As discussed in Unit VI.B.1, the
                                                      exposure level estimates for various                       The options that had the potential to              baseline risk for exposure to workers
                                                      scenarios are available in the analysis                 address the identified unreasonable                   and consumers for aerosol degreasing
                                                      document Supplemental Occupational                      risks for consumer use, commercial use,               departs from non-cancer MOE
                                                      Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical                   or both uses of TCE in aerosol                        benchmarks for all non-cancer effects
                                                      Report in Support of Risk Management                    degreasing included: (a) Prohibiting the              (e.g., developmental effects, kidney
                                                      Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use                 manufacturing, processing, and                        toxicity, and immunotoxicity) and
                                                      in Aerosol Degreasing (Ref. 23).                        distribution in commerce of TCE for use               standard cancer benchmarks. Under this
                                                         Overall, EPA evaluated dozens of                     in aerosol degreasing under section                   proposed approach, exposures to TCE
                                                      distinct exposure scenarios. The results                6(a)(2) plus prohibiting the use of TCE               from use in aerosol degreasing would be
                                                      indicate that regulatory options such as                in commercial aerosol degreasing under                completely eliminated. As a result, both
                                                      reducing the concentration of TCE in                    section 6(a)(5) and requiring                         non-cancer and cancer risks would be
                                                      aerosol degreasers and using local                      downstream notification when                          eliminated (Refs. 23 and 24).
                                                      exhaust ventilation to improve                          distributing TCE for other uses under                    The proposed approach would ensure
                                                      ventilation near worker activity, in the                section 6(a)(3); (b) variations on such a             that workers and consumers are no
                                                      absence of PPE could not achieve the                    supply-chain approach (such as just                   longer at risk from TCE exposure
                                                      target MOE benchmarks for non-cancer                    prohibiting the manufacturing,                        associated with this use. Prohibiting the
                                                      endpoints for acute and chronic                         processing, and distribution in                       manufacturing, processing and
                                                      exposures and standard cancer risk                      commerce of TCE for use in aerosol                    distribution in commerce of TCE for use
                                                      benchmarks for chronic exposures (Refs.                 degreasing products under section                     in aerosol degreasing would minimize
                                                      23 and 24). The results also demonstrate                6(a)(2) or just prohibiting the                       the availability of TCE for aerosol
                                                      that all risk reduction options meeting                 commercial use of TCE in aerosol                      degreasing. The prohibition of the use of
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      the benchmark MOEs and cancer                           degreasing under section 6(a)(5)); (c)                TCE in commercial aerosol degreasing
                                                      benchmarks for TCE aerosol degreasers                   prohibiting the manufacturing,                        would eliminate commercial demand
                                                      require the use of a respirator, whether                processing, and distribution in                       for TCE aerosol degreasing products and
                                                      used alone or in conjunction with                       commerce of TCE for use in consumer                   significantly reduce the potential for
                                                      additional levels of protection.                        aerosol degreasing products under                     consumer use of commercial products.
                                                      Therefore, EPA found options setting a                  section 6(a)(2) and requiring                         These complementary provisions would
                                                      maximum concentration in products                       downstream notification (e.g., via a                  protect both workers and consumers;
                                                      under section 6(a)(2) to not be protective              Safety Data Sheet (SDS)) when                         workers would not be exposed to TCE
                                                      because the options failed—by orders of                 distributing TCE for other uses under                 and the risk to consumers would be


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00014   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                            91605

                                                      minimized because commercial aerosol                    unsophisticated purchasers, in                        option would protect consumers. In
                                                      degreasing products containing TCE                      particular, are likely to be unfamiliar               addition, this option alone would not
                                                      would not be available, so consumers                    with the prohibitions regarding this use              address the risks to workers from
                                                      would not be able to divert commercial-                 and mistakenly use TCE for aerosol                    commercial aerosol degreasing.
                                                      use products from the supply chain. The                 degreasing and thereby expose                            d. Require the use of personal
                                                      downstream notification of these                        themselves and bystanders to                          protective equipment in commercial
                                                      restrictions ensures that processors,                   unreasonable risks. Thus, under these                 aerosol degreasing operations in which
                                                      distributors, and other purchasers are                  variations, EPA anticipates that the risk             TCE is used under section 6(a)(5) or
                                                      aware of the manufacturing, processing,                 benchmarks would not actually be                      require the use of personal protective
                                                      distribution in commerce and use                        realized by many users. Therefore, these              equipment and engineering controls in
                                                      restrictions for TCE in aerosol                         variations fail to address the identified             commercial aerosol degreasing
                                                      degreasing, and helps to ensure that the                unreasonable risks, considering the                   operations in which TCE is used under
                                                      rule is effectively implemented by                      practical limitations of the options.                 section 6(a)(5). Another regulatory
                                                      avoiding off-label use as an aerosol                       Another regulatory option that EPA                 option that EPA considered was to
                                                      degreaser of TCE manufactured for other                 considered was to prohibit only the                   require respiratory protection
                                                      uses. Downstream notification also                      commercial use of TCE for aerosol                     equipment at commercial aerosol
                                                      streamlines and aids in compliance and                  degreasing. This approach would                       degreasing operations in the form of a
                                                      enhances enforcement. Overall,                          eliminate both non-cancer and cancer                  full face piece self-contained breathing
                                                      downstream notification facilitates                     risks for commercial settings only, but               apparatus (SCBA) in pressure demand
                                                      implementation of the rule. This                        would not eliminate risks to consumers.               mode or other positive pressure mode
                                                      integrated supply chain proposed                        By prohibiting commercial use alone,                  with an APF of 10,000. EPA’s analysis
                                                      approach minimizes the risk from TCE                    without a prohibition on the                          determined that use of a SCBA with an
                                                      in aerosol degreasing. In addition, the                 manufacture, processing, and                          APF of 10,000 for commercial aerosol
                                                      proposed approach would provide                         distribution in commerce for consumer                 degreasing uses could control TCE air
                                                      staggered compliance dates for                          and commercial use, this would not                    concentration to levels that allow for
                                                      implementing the prohibition of                         address consumer risks as consumers                   meeting the benchmarks for non-cancer
                                                      manufacturing, processing, distribution                 would still be able to purchase aerosol               and cancer risks for the commercial uses
                                                      in commerce, and commercial use in                      degreasing products containing TCE,                   addressed in this proposed rule.
                                                      order to avoid undue impacts on the                     including those products labeled and                     Although respirators could reduce
                                                      businesses involved.                                    marketed as ‘‘professional strength’’ or              exposures to levels that are protective of
                                                                                                              ‘‘commercial grade’’ products.                        non-cancer and cancer risks, there are
                                                         b. Options that are variations of the                Consumers would continue to be                        many documented limitations to
                                                      proposed approach to prohibit                           exposed far above the health                          successful implementation of respirators
                                                      manufacturing, processing, distribution                 benchmarks and would not be protected                 with an APF of 10,000. Not all workers
                                                      in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol                 from the unreasonable risks posed by                  can wear respirators. Individuals with
                                                      degreasing and require downstream                       TCE.                                                  impaired lung function, due to asthma,
                                                      notification. One variation of the                         c. Prohibit the manufacturing,                     emphysema, or chronic obstructive
                                                      proposed approach would be to prohibit                  processing, and distribution in                       pulmonary disease for example, may be
                                                      manufacture, processing, and                            commerce of TCE for use in consumer                   physically unable to wear a respirator.
                                                      distribution in commerce for the                        aerosol degreasing products under                     Determination of adequate fit and
                                                      consumer and commercial aerosol                         section 6(a)(2) or prohibit the                       annual fit testing is required for a tight
                                                      degreasing uses alone. This option                      manufacturing, processing, and                        fitting full-face piece respirators to
                                                      could reach the risk benchmarks for                     distribution in commerce of TCE for use               provide the required protection. Also,
                                                      TCE. However, while this option could                   in consumer aerosol degreasing                        difficulties associated with selection, fit,
                                                      address the identified unreasonable                     products under section 6(a)(2) and                    and use often render them ineffective in
                                                      risks, in practice given the continued                  require downstream notification when                  actual application, preventing the
                                                      availability of TCE for other uses, it                  distributing TCE for other uses section               assurance of consistent and reliable
                                                      would not do so. Without the                            6(a)(3). EPA considered prohibiting the               protection, regardless of the assigned
                                                      accompanying prohibition on                             manufacturing, processing, and                        capabilities of the respirator.
                                                      commercial use and downstream                           distribution in commerce of TCE for use               Individuals who cannot get a good face
                                                      notification that is included in the                    in consumer aerosol degreasing                        piece fit, including those individuals
                                                      proposed approach, this option would                    products including an option with a                   whose beards or sideburns interfere
                                                      leave open the likelihood that                          requirement for downstream                            with the face piece seal, would be
                                                      commercial users or consumers could                     notification of such prohibition. If such             unable to wear tight fitting respirators.
                                                      obtain off-label TCE for aerosol                        a prohibition were effective, this option             In addition, respirators may also present
                                                      degreasing. For example, if only                        would mitigate the risks to consumers                 communication problems, vision
                                                      manufacturing, processing and                           from TCE use in aerosol degreasing.                   problems, worker fatigue and reduced
                                                      distribution in commerce for the aerosol                However, EPA has determined that                      work efficiency (63 FR 1156, January 8,
                                                      degreasing use were prohibited without                  consumers can easily obtain products                  1998). According to OSHA, ‘‘improperly
                                                      also prohibiting the commercial use and                 labeled for commercial use. Indeed, for               selected respirators may afford no
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      providing the downstream notice,                        many consumers, identifying a product                 protection at all (for example, use of a
                                                      commercial users or consumers could                     as being for commercial use may imply                 dust mask against airborne vapors), may
                                                      more easily acquire TCE for degreasing                  greater efficacy. Coupled with the fact               be so uncomfortable as to be intolerable
                                                      from sources that make it available for                 that many products identified as                      to the wearer, or may hinder vision,
                                                      other uses. This would be particularly                  commercial or professional are readily                communication, hearing, or movement
                                                      easy for commercial users given that a                  obtainable in a variety of venues (e.g.,              and thus pose a risk to the wearer’s
                                                      company may buy a chemical substance                    the Internet, general retailers, and                  safety or health.’’ (63 FR 1189–1190).
                                                      for one use and also use it for another.                specialty stores, such as automotive                  Nonetheless, it is sometimes necessary
                                                      Without downstream notification,                        stores), EPA does not find that this                  to use respiratory protection to control


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00015   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91606                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      exposure. The OSHA respiratory                          commercial aerosol degreasing use                     adhesives, electrical cleaners, footwear/
                                                      protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134)                   would do anything to reduce the risks                 leather care products, adhesive
                                                      requires employers to establish and                     to consumer users. Therefore,                         removers, general purpose degreasers,
                                                      implement a respiratory protection                      considering the practical limitations of              and graffiti removers (Ref. 15). New
                                                      program to protect their respirator                     PPE for this scenario as well as the                  Jersey prohibits the use of TCE in all
                                                      wearing employees. This OSHA                            unmitigated risks to consumers, this                  those products and also in brake
                                                      standard contains several requirements,                 option would not address the                          cleaners, engine degreasers, and
                                                      e.g., for program administration;                       unreasonable risks presented by these                 carburetor/fuel-injection air intake
                                                      worksite-specific procedures; respirator                uses.                                                 cleaners. In addition to prohibiting the
                                                      selection; employee training; fit testing;                 Even if either of these approaches                 use of TCE in all those products,
                                                      medical evaluation; respirator use;                     were coupled with a section 6(a)(2)                   California also prohibits the use of TCE
                                                      respirator cleaning, maintenance, and                   prohibition on the manufacture,                       in bathroom and tile cleaners,
                                                      repair; and other provisions that would                 processing and distribution in                        construction and panel/floor covering
                                                      be difficult to fully implement in some                 commerce of TCE for use in consumer                   adhesives; carpet/upholstery cleaner,
                                                      small business settings where they are                  aerosol degreasing products, this would               general purpose cleaners, fabric
                                                      not already using respirators.                          not protect consumers because they                    protectant, multi-purpose lubricant,
                                                        In addition, OSHA has adopted a                       would be able to buy and use                          penetrant, metal polish or cleanser,
                                                      hierarchy of industrial hygiene controls                commercial aerosol degreasing                         multi-purpose solvent, oven cleaners,
                                                      established by the industrial hygiene                   products, e.g., via the Internet.                     paint thinner, pressurized gas duster,
                                                      community to be used to protect                            EPA could also require that TCE                    sealant or caulking compound, spot
                                                      employees from hazardous airborne                       products be distributed with a respirator             remover, and silicone-based multi-
                                                      contaminants, such as TCE (see, e.g., 29                with an appropriate assigned protection               purpose lubricant (Ref. 12). The range of
                                                      CFR 1910.134(a)(1); 29 CFR                              factor to protect for the risks from TCE.             the State-mandated prohibitions
                                                      1910.1000(e), and OSHA’s substance-                     EPA determined that this option would                 demonstrate that other chemicals can be
                                                      specific standards in 29 CFR 1910,                      not address the identified unreasonable               substituted for TCE for a wide range of
                                                      subpart Z). According to the hierarchy,                 risks because simply packaging a                      uses because other chemicals or
                                                      substitution of less toxic substances,                  respirator with a chemical (or any                    mixtures of chemicals can impart
                                                      engineering controls, administrative                    product) does not mean that a worker or               properties similar to those of TCE.
                                                      controls, and work practice controls are                consumer would actually use it properly               Further, the fact that 10 states and the
                                                      the preferred methods of compliance for                 or even understand how to use it (Refs.               District of Columbia have specifically
                                                      protecting employees from airborne                      28 and 29).                                           prohibited the use of TCE in general
                                                      contaminants and are to be                              C. Availability of Substitutes and                    purpose degreasers and general purpose
                                                      implemented first, before respiratory                   Impacts of the Proposed and Alternative               degreasers continue to be sold in those
                                                      protection is used. OSHA permits                        Regulatory Options                                    jurisdictions, demonstrates that TCE is
                                                      respirators to be used only where                                                                             not critical to the degreasing use and
                                                      engineering controls and effective work                    This Unit examines the availability of             there are efficacious substitutes.
                                                      practices are not feasible or during an                 substitutes for TCE in aerosol degreasing               TCE is also prohibited in the
                                                      interim period while such controls are                  and describes the estimated costs of the              European Union in aerosol degreasers
                                                      being implemented.                                      proposed and alternative regulatory                   (Ref. 16); TCE substitutes are used for
                                                        Also for commercial aerosol                           actions that EPA considered. More                     aerosol degreasing. These regulations
                                                      degreasing uses, EPA considered                         information on the benefits and costs of              confirm that TCE is not a critical
                                                      requiring a combination of local exhaust                this proposal as a whole can be found                 chemical for aerosol degreasing and that
                                                      ventilation and a supplied-air respirator               in Unit VIII.                                         substituting alternate chemicals would
                                                      with an APF of 1,000, with a                               Overall, EPA notes that the cost of                not be overly difficult. Producers of
                                                      performance based option using an air                   aerosol degreasing product                            aerosol degreasing products containing
                                                      exposure limit. This option could also                  reformulations are low. Total first-year              TCE also produce aerosol degreasing
                                                      reduce risks to the health benchmarks                   reformulation costs are estimated to be               products with substitute chemicals.
                                                      for workers when used properly (Ref.                    $416,000 and annualized costs are                     Thus, there is already precedent for
                                                      23). However, while this option has the                 estimated to be approximately $32,000                 producers reformulating products to
                                                      benefit of incorporating engineering                    per year (annualized at 3% over 15                    meet demand in some states and
                                                      controls and use of a respirator with a                 years) and $41,000 (annualized at 7%                  countries. In addition, EPA expects that
                                                      lower APF, there are still the limitations              over 15 years). A wide variety of                     one effect of a ban on the use of TCE in
                                                      to successful implementation of the use                 effective substitutes are available, as               aerosol degreasing products would be
                                                      of supplied-air respirators in the                      previously noted, and the current                     increased technological innovation,
                                                      workplace as discussed previously.                      existence of non-TCE containing aerosol               resulting in the development of
                                                      Further, this option would also require                 degreasers indicates that there are no                additional alternatives.
                                                      the use of prescriptive and expensive                   specific aerosol degreasing uses for                    1. Proposed approach to prohibit
                                                      engineering controls to reach the risk                  which TCE is critical. TCE use is limited             manufacturing, processing, distribution
                                                      benchmarks, unless the optional use of                  in aerosol degreasing products intended               in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol
                                                      an air exposure limit is implemented                    for consumers due to existing VOC                     degreasing and require downstream
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      (Ref. 39). Even if the performance-based                regulations in California and in a                    notification. The costs of the proposed
                                                      option of meeting an air concentration                  number of other states. New Hampshire                 approach are estimated to include
                                                      level as an exposure limit for TCE were                 and Virginia prohibit use of TCE in                   product reformulation costs,
                                                      used, this would depend upon the use                    aerosol adhesives. Connecticut,                       downstream notification costs,
                                                      of both engineering controls and a                      Delaware, the District of Columbia,                   recordkeeping costs, and Agency costs.
                                                      respirator to meet the exposure limit for               Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland,                   The total first-year costs of aerosol
                                                      TCE.                                                    Massachusetts, Michigan, New York,                    degreasing product reformulations are
                                                        Furthermore, neither of these                         and Rhode Island prohibit the use of                  estimated to be $416,000 and
                                                      variations of relying upon PPE for                      TCE in aerosol adhesives, contact                     annualized costs are estimated to be


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00016   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           91607

                                                      approximately $32,000 per year                          of this proposed rulemaking. The                      address the identified unreasonable
                                                      (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and                    proposed approach to prohibit                         risks.
                                                      $41,000 (annualized at 7% over 15                       manufacturing, processing, distribution
                                                                                                                                                                    A. Description of the Current Use
                                                      years). The cost for reformulation                      in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol
                                                      includes a variety of factors such as                   degreasing and require downstream                        TCE was first introduced as a dry
                                                      identifying the substitute for TCE,                     notification is relatively easy to enforce            cleaning solvent in the United States in
                                                      assessing the efficacy of the new                       because key requirements are directly                 the 1930s (Ref. 2). It was never widely
                                                      formulation and determining shelf-life.                 placed on a small number of suppliers                 used as a primary dry cleaning solvent;
                                                      The costs to users of aerosol degreasers                and because the supply chain approach                 however, TCE is still used for spot
                                                      are negligible as substitute products are               minimizes to the greatest extent the                  cleaning in dry cleaning facilities to
                                                      currently available on the market and                   potential for TCE products to be                      remove oily-type stains, including fats,
                                                      are similarly priced. The first-year costs              intentionally or unintentionally                      waxes, grease, cosmetics, and paints.
                                                      of downstream notification and                          misdirected into the prohibited uses.                 Stained fabrics are typically ‘‘pre-
                                                      recordkeeping are estimated to be                       Enforcement under the other options                   spotted’’ with spot treatment products,
                                                      $51,000 and on an annualized basis over                 would be much more difficult since the                which are often solvent-based such as
                                                      15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using                    key requirements are directly placed on               those containing TCE, prior to being
                                                      3% and 7% discount rates respectively                   the large number of product users (Ref.               placed in dry cleaning machines (Refs.
                                                      (Ref. 2). Agency costs for enforcement                  40). Under these other options,                       42, 43). TCE is one of many available
                                                      are estimated to be approximately                       enforcement activities must target firms              spotting agents used in dry cleaning
                                                      $112,000 and $109,000 annualized over                   that might perform the activity where a               facilities. A range of alternative spotting
                                                      15 years at 3% and 7%, respectively.                    TCE use is restricted or prohibited.                  agents are used in dry cleaning facilities
                                                      Annual recurring costs to the Agency for                Identifying which establishments might                including certain halogenated solvents,
                                                      enforcement are estimated to be                         use aerosol degreasers is difficult                   such as perchloroethylene, 1-
                                                      $121,000 per year. The total cost of the                because aerosol degreasing is not strictly            bromopropane, and methylene chloride;
                                                      proposed approach for aerosol                           specific to any industry (Ref. 2).                    water- and soy-based spotting agents;
                                                      degreasing use is estimated to be                       Therefore, while EPA considers                        hydrocarbon/mineral spirits; glycol
                                                      $37,000–$40,000 and $46,000–$49,000                     downstream notification to be a critical              ethers; and others (Ref. 2). TCE is
                                                      annualized over 15 years at 3% and 7%,                  component of this proposal, EPA also                  applied by a squirt bottle directly onto
                                                      respectively.                                           finds that incorporating downstream                   the stain on the garment (Ref. 1). Squirt
                                                         2. Options that require personal                     notification reduces the burden on                    bottles are hand filled from larger
                                                      protective equipment. Given equipment                   society by easing implementation,                     volume containers of the spotting agent.
                                                      costs and the requirements associated                   compliance, and enforcement (Ref. 41).                After application, the TCE-based
                                                      with establishing a respiratory                                                                               spotting agent is patted with a brush to
                                                      protection program which involves                       D. Summary                                            break up the stain without harming
                                                      training, respirator fit testing and the                   The proposed approach to prohibit                  fabric and suction vacuumed from the
                                                      establishment and maintenance of a                      manufacturing, processing, distribution               garment, which is then placed in the dry
                                                      medical monitoring program, EPA                         in commerce, and use of TCE for aerosol               cleaning machine. The TCE spotting
                                                      anticipates that companies would                        degreasing and require downstream                     agent from the vacuum is collected as
                                                      choose to switch to substitute chemicals                notification is necessary to ensure that              hazardous waste. Concentrations of TCE
                                                      instead of adopting a program for PPE,                  TCE no longer presents unreasonable                   in commercial spotting agents vary from
                                                      including with a performance based                      risks for all users. This option does not             10% to 100% (Refs. 42, 43).
                                                      option of meeting an air concentration                  pose an undue burden on industry                         EPA estimates that there are
                                                      level as an exposure limit for TCE. The                 because comparably effective and priced               approximately 61,000 dry cleaning
                                                      estimated annualized costs of switching                 substitutes to TCE for aerosol degreasing             facilities in the United States, with an
                                                      to a respiratory protection program                     are readily available. The supply chain               estimated 210,000 workers.
                                                      requiring PPE of APF 10,000 are $8,300                  approach ensures protection of                        Approximately 32,000 to 52,000 of those
                                                      at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol                      consumers from the identified                         dry cleaning facilities are estimated to
                                                      degreasing facility over 15 years. The                  unreasonable risks by precluding the                  be using TCE in spot cleaning, with an
                                                      estimated annualized costs of switching                 off-label purchase of commercial                      estimated 105,000 to 168,000 workers
                                                      to a respiratory protection program                     products by consumers. The                            and occupational bystanders (Ref. 2).
                                                      requiring PPE of APF 1,000 are $5,400                   downstream notification (e.g., via SDS)               Less than 1% of the total 225 million
                                                      at 3% and $5,500 at 7% per facility over                component of the supply chain                         pounds of TCE used in the United States
                                                      15 years. In addition, there would be                   approach provides notice of the                       is for dry cleaning with approximately
                                                      higher EPA administration and                           prohibition throughout the supply chain               50% to 80% of dry cleaners estimated
                                                      enforcement costs with a respiratory                    and, while slightly more costly to                    to be using TCE for spot cleaning in dry
                                                      protection program than there would be                  upstream entities, helps to ensure that               cleaning facilities (Ref. 2). A typical dry
                                                      with an enforcement program under the                   the use no longer presents unreasonable               cleaning facility uses 0.84 to 8.4 gallons
                                                      proposed approach. Further, even if cost                risks because it streamlines and aids in              per year of TCE for spot cleaning
                                                      were not an impediment, in addition to                  compliance and enhances enforcement.                  operations (Ref. 1).
                                                      cost, there are many limitations to the                                                                          There are currently a wide variety of
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              VII. Regulatory Assessment of TCE Use                 comparably effective substitutes on the
                                                      successful implementation of respirators
                                                      with an APF of 10,000 in a workplace.                   for Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning                     market and in use in dry cleaning
                                                         3. Options that exclude downstream                   Facilities                                            operations that are similarly priced to
                                                      notification. EPA was unable to                           This Unit describes the current use of              TCE (Ref. 2), including substitute water-
                                                      monetize the extent to which                            TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                 based cleaners (Ref. 44), methyl esters
                                                      enforcement costs would vary by                         facilities, the unreasonable risks                    (soy) cleaners, hydrocarbon/mineral
                                                      regulatory option so EPA assumed                        presented by this use, and how EPA                    spirits, glycol ethers, perchloroethylene,
                                                      monetized enforcement costs to be the                   preliminarily determined which                        methylene chloride, and 1-
                                                      same under all options for the purpose                  regulatory options are necessary to                   bromopropane (Ref. 32). Chemical


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00017   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91608                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      substitutes that would most likely be                   fetus from acute and chronic maternal                 humans and animals and is also
                                                      used are water-based cleaners, methyl                   exposures to TCE in dry cleaning                      carcinogenic to humans.
                                                      esters (soy) cleaners, hydrocarbon/                     facilities. The risk estimates are focused               As discussed in Unit IV.B, MOEs were
                                                      mineral spirits, glycol ethers,                         on pregnant women because adverse                     used in this assessment to estimate non-
                                                      perchloroethylene, 1-bromopropane,                      effects on the developing fetus is one of             cancer risks for acute and chronic
                                                      methylene chloride, and others. EPA                     the most sensitive health effects                     exposures. Exposure scenarios with
                                                      estimates that 5% of users will switch                  associated with TCE exposure. Of the up               MOEs below the benchmark MOE have
                                                      to aqueous cleaners, 25% will switch to                 to 168,000 workers and occupational                   risks of concern and typically, non-
                                                      perchloroethylene and 1-bromopropane,                   bystanders in dry cleaning operations                 cancer adverse effects are more likely to
                                                      and 70% will switch to other                            who make up the exposed population,                   result from exposure scenarios with
                                                      alternatives (Ref. 2). In general,                      3.2% are estimated to be pregnant                     MOEs below the benchmark MOE. For
                                                      substitutes are less toxic than TCE (Refs.              women. Thus, up to approximately                      the use of TCE as a spot cleaner in dry
                                                      32, 44). Thus, considering similar                      5,400 pregnant women are estimated to                 cleaning facilities, the risk estimates for
                                                      exposure potentials for substitutes, the                be exposed to TCE in spot cleaning in                 a range of non-cancer effects were below
                                                      overall risk potential for the substitutes              dry cleaning facilities each year. The                the benchmark MOE of 10 for
                                                      will be less than for TCE (Ref. 32).                    pregnancy estimate includes women                     developmental effects. The MOE for
                                                                                                              who have live births, induced abortions,              acute developmental effects is 0.002 for
                                                      B. Analysis of Regulatory Options                                                                             fetal heart malformation (Refs. 1, 25).
                                                                                                              and fetal losses (Ref. 2). The potential
                                                        In this Unit, EPA explains how it                     for exposure is significant because                   For chronic occupational spot cleaning
                                                      determined whether the regulatory                       approximately half of all pregnancies                 exposures, the MOE is 0.003 for fetal
                                                      options considered would address the                    are unintended. If a pregnancy is not                 heart malformation and is similar to
                                                      unreasonable risks presented by this                    planned before conception, a woman                    MOEs for kidney toxicity and
                                                      use. First, EPA characterizes the                       may not be in optimal health for                      immunotoxicity. In the baseline
                                                      unreasonable risks associated with the                  childbearing (Ref. 33).                               exposure scenarios, the MOEs are 3,000
                                                      current use of TCE for spot cleaning in                    d. Exposures for this use. TCE                     times less than the benchmark MOEs
                                                      dry cleaning facilities. Then, the Agency               exposures for this use are through the                (Refs. 1, 25). EPA has preliminarily
                                                      describes its initial analysis of which                 inhalation route. EPA used readily                    determined that TCE presents
                                                      regulatory options have the potential to                available information from a 2007 study               unreasonable non-cancer risks from spot
                                                      achieve non-cancer and cancer                           on spotting chemicals, prepared for the               cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
                                                      benchmarks. The levels of acute and                     California EPA and EPA, to estimate                      Cancer risks determine the
                                                      chronic exposures estimated to present                  releases of TCE and associated                        incremental probability of an individual
                                                      low risk for non-cancer effects also                    inhalation exposures to workers from                  developing cancer over a lifetime as a
                                                      results in low risk for cancer. Lastly,                 spot cleaning operations in dry cleaning              result of exposure to TCE. For chronic
                                                      this Unit evaluates how well those                      facilities (Ref. 1). The near field/far field         occupational spot cleaning exposures
                                                      regulatory options would address the                    mass balance model, which has been                    the baseline cancer risk is 1 × 10¥2
                                                      identified unreasonable risks in                        extensively peer-reviewed, was used for               which exceeds the standard cancer
                                                      practice.                                               this estimation of workplace exposure                 benchmarks of 10¥6 to 10¥4 (Refs. 1
                                                        1. Risks associated with the current                  levels during spot cleaning (Ref. 1). The             and 25). Accordingly, EPA has
                                                      use. a. General impacts. The TCE risk                   near-field/far-field model estimates                  preliminarily determined that TCE
                                                      assessment identified non-cancer risks                  airborne concentrations in a near field (a            presents unreasonable cancer risks from
                                                      and cancer risks for chronic exposures                  zone close to the source of exposure)                 spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
                                                      of workers and occupational bystanders                  and a far field (a zone farther from the                 2. Initial analysis of potential
                                                      in dry cleaning facilities that use TCE                 source of exposure but within the                     regulatory options. Having identified
                                                      for spot cleaning (Ref. 1). EPA also                    occupational building). EPA used these                unreasonable risks from the use of TCE
                                                      identified acute non-cancer risks for                   estimated airborne concentrations to                  in spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      workers and occupational bystanders                     estimate exposures for the worker                     facilities, EPA evaluated whether
                                                      (Ref. 1). The size of the potentially                   applying the spotting agent (i.e., in the             regulatory options under section 6(a)
                                                      exposed population is approximately                     near field) and the occupational                      could reach the risk (non-cancer and
                                                      105,000–168,000 workers and                             bystanders (i.e., in the far field). A                cancer) benchmarks.
                                                      occupational bystanders in dry cleaning                 worker is defined as the person                          EPA assessed a number of exposure
                                                      operations (Ref. 2).                                    performing the task in which TCE is                   scenarios associated with risk reduction
                                                        b. Impacts on minority populations.                   used. Occupational bystanders are                     options in order to determine variations
                                                      In dry cleaning facilities, Asian and                   defined as other persons within the dry               in TCE exposure when spot cleaning in
                                                      Hispanic populations are over-                          cleaning facility who are not performing              dry cleaning facilities: Material
                                                      represented. 13% of dry cleaning                        the TCE-based task. EPA assumed that                  substitution, engineering controls, and
                                                      workers are Asian, compared to 5% of                    dry cleaning facilities operated 260 days             use of PPE, as well as combinations. The
                                                      the national population. Also, 30% of                   per year for 8 hours a day; that the                  materials substitution scenarios
                                                      dry cleaning workers are Hispanic (of                   concentration in the spotting agent                   involved reducing the concentration of
                                                      any race) compared to 16% of the                        ranged from 10 to 100% and that a                     TCE in the spot cleaning formulation,
                                                      national population (Ref. 2). Because                   typical dry cleaning facility used 0.84 to            with concentrations varying from 5% to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      minority populations are                                8.4 gallons of TCE per year for spotting              95% total weight of the formulation. For
                                                      disproportionately over-represented in                  operations. Details of the modeling and               the engineering control risk reduction
                                                      this industry they are disproportionately               estimation method for calculating                     option exposure scenarios, EPA
                                                      exposed; thus, there would be                           exposure levels during spot cleaning are              evaluated using local exhaust
                                                      disproportionately positive benefits for                available in the TCE risk assessment                  ventilation to improve ventilation near
                                                      these populations from the regulatory                   (Ref. 1).                                             the worker activity, with estimated 90%
                                                      approach set forth in this proposal.                       e. Risks for this use. As discussed in             reduction in exposure levels. The PPE
                                                        c. Impacts on children. EPA has                       Unit IV.B, TCE is associated with a                   risk reduction option exposure
                                                      concern for effects on the developing                   range of non-cancer health effects in                 scenarios evaluated workers and


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00018   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91609

                                                      occupational bystanders wearing                         orders of magnitude—to meet the risk                  in commerce, and use of TCE for spot
                                                      respirators with APF varying from 10 to                 benchmarks. Options found not to meet                 cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and
                                                      10,000. Additionally, EPA evaluated all                 the risk benchmarks and which,                        require downstream notification. As
                                                      combinations of the above three options:                therefore, do not address the identified              noted previously, the proposed
                                                      Material substitution plus PPE; material                unreasonable risks are documented in                  regulatory approach uses several
                                                      substitution plus local exhaust                         EPA’s supplemental technical report on                elements of TSCA section 6(a) to
                                                      ventilation; PPE plus local exhaust                     spot cleaning (Ref. 25).                              address the risk of TCE use for spot
                                                      ventilation; and material substitution                     3. Assessment of regulatory options to             cleaning in dry cleaning facilities
                                                      plus PPE plus local exhaust ventilation.                determine whether they address the                    throughout the supply chain. The
                                                         EPA’s site-specific inhalation                       identified unreasonable risks to the                  proposed regulatory approach would
                                                      exposure level estimate for facilities                  extent necessary so that TCE no longer                prohibit the manufacturing, processing,
                                                      without local exhaust ventilation ranged                presents such risks. As discussed in                  and distribution in commerce of TCE for
                                                      from 0.08 to 19 ppm as 8-hour TWAs.                     Unit V., EPA considered a number of                   spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities
                                                      Although relevant exposure monitoring                   regulatory options under section 6(a) to              under TSCA § 6(a)(2), prohibit the
                                                      data were limited, EPA identified a                     address TCE risks from spot cleaning in               commercial use of TCE for spot cleaning
                                                      study specific to spot cleaning with TCE                dry cleaning facilities which are                     in dry cleaning facilities under TSCA
                                                      (Ref. 42). In this study, TWA levels for                reflected in EPA’s supporting analysis                § 6(a)(5), and require manufacturers,
                                                      worker exposure to TCE during spot                      (Ref. 29). In assessing these options,                processors, and distributors, except for
                                                      cleaning (with no local exhaust                         EPA considered a wide range of                        retailers, to provide downstream
                                                      ventilation) ranged from 2.37 to 3.11                   exposure scenarios (Ref. 25). These                   notification, e.g., via a SDS, of the
                                                      ppm. This range of exposure levels falls                include both baseline and risk reduction              prohibitions under TSCA § 6(a)(3).
                                                      within EPA’s estimated exposure range                   scenarios involving varying factors such                 As discussed in Unit VII.B.1, the
                                                      of 0.08 to 19 ppm and is within a factor                as reduction of TCE content in spot                   MOEs for occupational exposure for
                                                      of 10 of EPA’s high-end estimate of 19                  cleaners, exposure concentration                      spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities
                                                      ppm (Ref. 43).                                          percentiles, local exhaust ventilation                are below the non-cancer MOE
                                                         For facilities with local exhaust                    use, respirator use, working lifetimes,               benchmarks for all non-cancer effects
                                                      ventilation, EPA’s inhalation exposure                  etc. The options that could reduce the                (e.g., developmental effects, kidney
                                                      level estimates were 5.0 × 10¥1 ppm for                 risks of TCE use to the benchmark MOE                 toxicity, and immunotoxicity) and
                                                      workers and 4.2 × 10¥1 for bystanders.                  and standard cancer benchmarks for                    standard cancer benchmarks. Under this
                                                      The exposure estimates for wearing PPE                  spot cleaning in dry cleaning include (a)             proposed approach, exposures to TCE
                                                      combined with facilities having local                   prohibiting the manufacture, processing,              from this use would be completely
                                                      exhaust ventilation ranged from 5.0 ×                   and distribution in commerce of TCE for               eliminated. As a result, both non-cancer
                                                      10¥5 ppm to 5.0 × 10¥2 ppm for                          use as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning                 and cancer risks from exposure to TCE
                                                      workers and 4.2 × 10¥5 ppm to 4.2 ×                     facilities (section 6(a)(2)) plus                     from this use would be eliminated (Ref.
                                                      10¥2 ppm for bystanders. The exposure                   prohibiting the use of TCE as a spot                  39). All employees in dry cleaning
                                                      estimates for material substitution plus                cleaner in dry cleaning facilities (section           facilities would benefit; and Asian and
                                                      local exhaust ventilation ranged from                   6(a)(5)) and requiring downstream                     Hispanic populations, which are over-
                                                      2.5 × 10¥2 ppm to 4.7 × 10¥1 ppm for                    notification when distributing TCE for                represented in dry cleaning facilities,
                                                      workers and 2.1 × 10¥2 ppm to 4.0 ×                     other uses under section 6(a)(3); (b)                 would disproportionally benefit from
                                                      10¥1 ppm for bystanders. All exposure                   variations on such a supply-chain                     the proposed approach.
                                                      level estimates for the various scenarios               approach (such as just prohibiting the                   The proposed approach would ensure
                                                      considered are available in the TCE risk                manufacture, processing, distribution in              that workers and occupational
                                                      assessment (Ref. 1) and Supplemental                    commerce of TCE for use as a spot                     bystanders are no longer at risk from
                                                      Occupational Exposure and Risk                          cleaner in dry cleaning facilities under              TCE exposure associated with this use
                                                      Reduction Technical Report in Support                   section 6(a)(2) or just prohibiting the               throughout the supply chain. By
                                                      of Risk Management Options for                          commercial use of TCE as a spot cleaner               proposing to prohibit the manufacture,
                                                      Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in Spot                     in dry cleaning facilities under section              processing and distribution in
                                                      Cleaning (Ref. 25).                                     6(a)(5)); (c) requiring the use of personal           commerce of TCE for use as a spot
                                                         The results indicate that alternate                  protective equipment in dry cleaning                  cleaner in dry cleaning facilities, EPA
                                                      regulatory options such as reducing the                 facilities in which TCE is used as a spot             would ensure that manufacturers,
                                                      concentration of TCE in spot cleaners                   cleaner under section 6(a)(5) or                      processors and distributors would not
                                                      for dry cleaning facilities and using                   requiring the use of personal protective              sell TCE for a use that EPA has
                                                      local exhaust ventilation to improve                    equipment and engineering controls in                 determined presents an unreasonable
                                                      ventilation near worker activity could                  dry cleaning facilities in which TCE is               risk of injury to health, and the
                                                      not achieve the target MOE benchmarks                   used as a spotting agent under section                intentional or unintentional availability
                                                      for non-cancer endpoints for acute and                  6(a)(5).                                              of TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      chronic exposures and standard cancer                      The full range of regulatory options               facilities would be minimized. The
                                                      risk benchmarks for chronic exposures.                  considered under section 6(a) is                      proposal to prohibit commercial use of
                                                      The results also demonstrate that all risk              reflected in EPA’s supporting analysis                TCE as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning
                                                      reduction options require the use of a                  (Ref. 29). A discussion of the regulatory             facilities would eliminate commercial
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      respirator, whether used alone or in                    options that were determined to have                  demand for TCE-based spot cleaning
                                                      conjunction with additional levels of                   the potential to address the identified               products and would more effectively
                                                      protection, in order to meet the non-                   unreasonable risks is provided in this                protect workers and bystanders than a
                                                      cancer and cancer risk benchmarks (Ref.                 Unit, along with the Agency’s                         prohibition only on manufacture,
                                                      25). Therefore, EPA found that options                  evaluation of how well those regulatory               processing or distribution for this use
                                                      setting a maximum concentration in                      options would address the unreasonable                under Section 6(a)(2). The prohibition
                                                      products under section 6(a)(2) did not                  risks in practice.                                    on commercial use ensures that
                                                      address the identified unreasonable                        a. Proposed approach to prohibit                   commercial users would not be able to
                                                      risks because the options failed—by                     manufacturing, processing, distribution               divert TCE manufactured for other


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00019   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91610                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      allowable uses to this prohibited use                   (approximately 61,000), EPA is                        respirator. In addition, while this option
                                                      without consequence. The downstream                     concerned that without the section                    could mitigate the risk for workers, dry
                                                      notification of these restrictions ensures              6(a)(3) downstream notification                       cleaning facilities are generally small
                                                      that processors, distributors, and                      requirement, these entities might not                 shops and many are co-located in
                                                      purchasers are aware of the                             become aware of the prohibition on TCE                commercial shopping centers where the
                                                      manufacturing, processing, and                          in spot cleaning because they may be                  work goes on in plain view of customers
                                                      distribution in commerce and use                        unaware that certain products actually                or are co-located with residential
                                                      restrictions for TCE spot cleaner uses in               contain TCE. Thus, without downstream                 buildings. It is highly unlikely that dry
                                                      dry cleaning facilities and helps to                    notification, EPA anticipates that the                cleaning operations would undertake
                                                      ensure that the rule is effectively                     risk benchmarks would not actually be                 fitting all of their workers with the full
                                                      implemented by avoiding off-label use                   realized by many users. Therefore, such               face piece SCBA apparatus with
                                                      as a spot cleaner of TCE manufactured                   an option fails to address the identified             accompanying supplied air breathing
                                                      for other uses. Downstream notification                 unreasonable risks, considering the                   device necessary to mitigate risk. This
                                                      also streamlines and aids in compliance                 practical limitations.                                approach could have separate economic
                                                      and enhances enforcement. Overall,                         Another regulatory option that EPA                 impacts because consumers may not
                                                      downstream notification facilitates                     considered was to prohibit only the                   wish to enter an establishment in which
                                                      implementation of the rule. Collectively                manufacturing, processing or                          workers are wearing supplied-air
                                                      the proposed approach completely                        distribution in commerce of TCE for                   respirators. In addition, many dry
                                                      mitigates the risk from TCE in spot                     spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities              cleaning establishments are located near
                                                      cleaners in dry cleaning facilities. In                 under TSCA section 6(a)(2) or, a                      residential areas. Local residents may
                                                      addition, the proposed approach would                   variation of this option: A prohibition of            react adversely to an establishment
                                                      provide staggered compliance dates for                  manufacturing, processing, or                         using chemicals which require a
                                                      implementing the prohibition of                         distribution in commerce of TCE for                   supplied-air respirator.
                                                      manufacturing, processing, distribution                 spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities                 EPA also considered requiring the
                                                      in commerce, and commercial use in                      and require downstream notification                   combination of the use of local exhaust
                                                      order to avoid undue impacts on the                     when distributing TCE for other uses                  ventilation which achieves 90%
                                                      businesses involved.                                    under section 6(a)(3). This option could              reduction in airborne concentrations to
                                                         b. Options that are variations of the                reach the risk benchmarks for TCE (Ref.               improve ventilation near the worker
                                                      proposed approach to prohibit                           29). However, this option introduces                  activity and a supplied-air respirator
                                                      manufacturing, processing, distribution                 weaknesses, such as likelihood for users              with an APF of 1,000 with a
                                                      in commerce, and use of TCE for spot                    to obtain TCE for spot cleaning through               performance based option using an air
                                                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and                 other means, and thereby fails to                     exposure limit. EPA conducted a risk
                                                      require downstream notification.                        address the identified unreasonable                   analysis for both baseline exposures and
                                                      Another regulatory option that EPA                      risks. For example, if only                           exposures after implementing risk
                                                      considered was to prohibit only the                     manufacturing, processing and                         management options, allowing for a
                                                      commercial use of TCE for spot cleaning                 distribution in commerce for the spot                 direct comparison of the acute and
                                                      in dry cleaning facilities under TSCA                   cleaning use in dry cleaners were                     chronic risks associated with the
                                                      § 6(a)(5). This option could reach the                  prohibited without also prohibiting the               exposures following application of a
                                                      risk benchmarks for TCE (Ref. 29).                      use, dry cleaning facilities could go to              risk reduction option. This option
                                                      While this approach could eliminate                     other sources to acquire TCE for non-                 would also reduce risks to the health
                                                      non-cancer and cancer risks, in practice                prohibited uses and divert those uses to              benchmarks for workers when used
                                                      it would not address the identified                     the spot cleaning use without                         properly (Ref. 25). While this option has
                                                      unreasonable risks because users would                  consequence. This would be the case                   the benefit of incorporating engineering
                                                      easily be able to obtain TCE for use in                 even if the prohibition on                            controls and use of a respirator with a
                                                      dry cleaning facilities or would likely                 manufacturing, processing and                         lower APF, there are still the limitations
                                                      unknowingly purchase spot agents                        distribution in commerce were                         to successful implementation of the use
                                                      which contain TCE. If the Agency were                   accompanied by the downstream                         of supplied-air respirators in the
                                                      to prohibit use alone, without the                      notification requirement. A combined                  workplace as discussed previously.
                                                      prohibition on manufacture, processing,                 approach would ensure that the section
                                                                                                                                                                    C. Availability of Substitutes and
                                                      and distribution in commerce for the                    6(a) requirements address the identified
                                                                                                                                                                    Impacts of the Proposed and Alternative
                                                      use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry                     unreasonable risks.
                                                                                                                 c. Require the use of personal                     Regulatory Options
                                                      cleaning facilities, there is a greater
                                                      likelihood that TCE manufactured for                    protective equipment in commercial dry                   This Unit examines the availability of
                                                      non-prohibited uses could be diverted                   cleaning facilities in which TCE is used              substitutes for TCE as a spot cleaner in
                                                      to prohibited uses. Users would likely                  as a spot cleaner under section 6(a)(5)               dry cleaning facilities and describes the
                                                      unknowingly purchase materials that                     or require the use of personal protective             estimated costs of the proposal and the
                                                      they do not realize contain TCE because                 equipment and engineering controls in                 alternatives that EPA considered. More
                                                      they would not be aware of the                          commercial dry cleaning facilities in                 information on the benefits and costs of
                                                      prohibition, which would result in                      which TCE is used as a spot cleaner                   this proposal as a whole can be found
                                                      unreasonable risks for those users.                     under section 6(a)(5). Another                        in Unit VIII.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      Taking the supply chain approach to                     regulatory option that EPA considered                    Overall, EPA notes that the costs of
                                                      addressing the risk of TCE in spot                      was to require the use of respirators in              dry cleaning spot cleaning product
                                                      cleaning at commercial dry cleaning                     the form of a supplied-air respirator                 reformulation are low. Total first-year
                                                      facilities helps to ensure that TCE                     with an APF of 10,000 for workers at                  reformulation costs are estimated to be
                                                      manufactured for other allowed uses                     risk of exposure to TCE with a                        $286,000 and annualized costs are
                                                      would not be used for this prohibited                   performance based option using an air                 approximately $22,000 per year
                                                      use.                                                    exposure limit. See Unit VI.B.3.d for a               (annualized at 3% over 15 years) and
                                                         Due to the large number of dry                       discussion of issues and drawbacks of                 $28,000 (annualized at 7% over 15
                                                      cleaning facilities in the United States                requiring the use of a supplied-air                   years). A wide variety of effective


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00020   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           91611

                                                      substitutes for TCE in spot cleaning                    enforcement are estimated to be                       implementation, compliance, and
                                                      applications indicates that producers                   $121,000 per year. The total cost of the              enforcement.
                                                      and users can readily shift from TCE to                 proposed approach for the dry cleaning
                                                                                                                                                                    D. Summary
                                                      less hazardous chemical substitutes.                    spot cleaning use is estimated to be
                                                      Limitations on these or similar uses of                 $130,000 to $133,000 and $135,000 to                     The proposed approach to prohibit
                                                      TCE are already in place in many states                 $137,000 annualized at 3% and 7%,                     manufacturing, processing, distribution
                                                      in the United States and internationally.               respectively, over 15 years.                          in commerce, and use of TCE for spot
                                                      For example, TCE use is prohibited in                      2. Options that require personal                   cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and
                                                      California for aerosol and non-aerosol                  protective equipment. The costs of                    require downstream notification is
                                                      consumer spot removers. TCE is also                     implementing a respiratory protection                 necessary to ensure that TCE no longer
                                                      prohibited in the European Union for                    program, including a supplied-air                     presents unreasonable risks for this use.
                                                      spot cleaning use in dry cleaning                       respirator and related equipment,                     This option does not pose an undue
                                                      facilities. In addition, according to the               training, fit testing, monitoring, medical            burden on industry because comparable
                                                      Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, a                    surveillance, and related requirements,               substitutes to TCE for spot cleaning in
                                                      trade association representing more than                would far exceed the costs of switching               dry cleaning facilities are readily
                                                      4,000 dry cleaning operations in the                    to alternatives, on a per facility basis.             available. This approach also protects
                                                      United States, not all dry cleaning                     The estimated annualized costs of                     workers and occupational bystanders
                                                      facilities use TCE, and many other                      switching to a respiratory protection                 from the identified unreasonable risks
                                                      alternatives are available and equally                  program requiring PPE of 10,000 are                   by providing downstream notification of
                                                      effective (Refs. 42, 43). Further,                      $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at 7% per dry                 the prohibition throughout the supply
                                                      prohibitions in California and the                      cleaning facility over 15 years. The                  chain and avoiding off-label purchase
                                                      European Union indicate that the                        estimated annualized costs of switching               and use of TCE for the prohibited use.
                                                      transition can be made to substitutes,                  to a respiratory protection program                   Downstream notification streamlines
                                                      demonstrating that switching to                         requiring PPE of 1,000 are $5,800 at 3%               compliance and aids in compliance and
                                                      alternatives would not be overly                        and $5,800 at 7% per dry cleaning                     enhances enforcement.
                                                      difficult for users. Producers of spot                  facility over 15 years. In addition, there            VIII. Other Factors Considered
                                                      cleaning products containing TCE also                   would be higher EPA administration
                                                      produce spot cleaning products with                                                                              When issuing a rule under TSCA
                                                                                                              and enforcement costs with respiratory
                                                      substitute chemicals. Thus, there is                                                                          section 6(a), EPA must consider and
                                                                                                              protection program than there would be
                                                      already precedent for producers                                                                               publish a statement based on reasonably
                                                                                                              with an enforcement program under the
                                                      reformulating products to meet demand                                                                         available information on the:
                                                                                                              proposed approach.
                                                                                                                                                                       • Health effects of the chemical
                                                      in some states and countries. In                           3. Options that exclude downstream                 substance in question, TCE in this case,
                                                      addition, EPA expects that one effect of                notification. EPA was unable to                       and the magnitude of human exposure
                                                      a ban on the use of TCE for spot                        monetize the extent to which                          to TCE;
                                                      cleaning at dry cleaning facilities would               enforcement costs would vary by                          • Environmental effects of TCE and
                                                      be increased technological innovation,                  regulatory option so EPA assumed                      the magnitude of exposure of the
                                                      resulting in the development of                         monetized enforcement costs to be the                 environment to TCE;
                                                      additional alternatives.                                same under all options for the purpose                   • Benefits of TCE for various uses;
                                                         1. Proposed approach to prohibit                     of this proposed rulemaking. The                      and the
                                                      manufacturing, processing, distribution                 proposed approach to prohibit                            • Reasonably ascertainable economic
                                                      in commerce, and use of TCE for spot                    manufacturing, processing, distribution               consequences of the rule, including the
                                                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and                 in commerce, and use of TCE for spot                  likely effect of the rule on the national
                                                      require downstream notification. The                    cleaning in dry cleaning facilities and               economy, small business, technological
                                                      costs of the proposed approach are                      require downstream notification is                    innovation, the environment, and public
                                                      estimated to include product                            relatively easy to enforce because key                health, the costs, benefits, and cost-
                                                      reformulation costs, downstream                         requirements are directly placed on a                 effectiveness of the rule and of the one
                                                      notification and recordkeeping costs,                   small number of suppliers and because                 or more primary alternatives that EPA
                                                      and Agency costs. The total first-year                  the supply chain approach minimizes to                considered.
                                                      costs of dry cleaning spot cleaning                     the greatest extent the potential for TCE                TSCA section 6(c)(2)(B) instructs EPA,
                                                      product reformulation are                               products to be intentionally or                       when selecting among prohibitions and
                                                      approximately $286,000 and annualized                   unintentionally misdirected into the                  other restrictions under 6(a) to factor in,
                                                      are estimated to be $22,000 per year (at                prohibited uses. Enforcement under the                to the extent practicable, these
                                                      3% over 15 years) and $28,000 (at 7%                    other options would be much more                      considerations. This Unit provides more
                                                      over 15 years). The costs to users of dry               difficult since the key requirements are              information on the benefits, costs, and
                                                      cleaning spot cleaning products are                     directly placed on the large number of                cost-effectiveness of this proposal and
                                                      negligible as substitute products are                   product users. Under these other                      the alternatives that EPA considered.
                                                      currently available on the market and                   options, enforcement activities must                     As discussed in Unit IV.B, TCE
                                                      are similarly priced. The costs of                      target firms that might perform the                   exposure is associated with a wide array
                                                      downstream notification and                             activity where a TCE use is restricted or             of adverse health effects. These health
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      recordkeeping are estimated to be                       prohibited. For the prohibition on TCE                effects include developmental toxicity
                                                      $51,000 and on an annualized basis over                 in dry cleaning spot removers, this                   (e.g., cardiac malformations,
                                                      15 years are $3,900 and $5,000 using                    would include all dry cleaning                        developmental immunotoxicity,
                                                      3% and 7% discount rates respectively.                  establishments. (Ref. 2). Therefore,                  developmental neurotoxicity, fetal
                                                      Agency costs for enforcement are                        while EPA considers downstream                        death), toxicity to the kidney (kidney
                                                      estimated to be approximately $112,000                  notification to be a critical component               damage and kidney cancer),
                                                      and $109,000 annualized over 15 years                   of this proposal, EPA also finds that                 immunotoxicity (such as systemic
                                                      at 3% and 7%, respectively. Annual                      incorporating downstream notification                 autoimmune diseases e.g., scleroderma)
                                                      recurring costs to the Agency for                       reduces the burden on society by easing               and severe hypersensitivity skin


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00021   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91612                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      disorder, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,                       are unintended. If a pregnancy is not                 Similarly, the inability to monetize an
                                                      endocrine and reproductive effects (e.g.,               planned before conception, a woman                    adverse effect does not reflect the
                                                      decreased libido and potency),                          may not be in optimal health for                      severity of the effect, the lifetime nature
                                                      neurotoxicity (e.g., trigeminal                         childbearing (Ref. 33).                               of the impact, or the magnitude of the
                                                      neuralgia), and toxicity to the liver                      Given the large differential between               benefit in preventing the adverse impact
                                                      (impaired functioning and liver cancer)                 the benchmark MOE and the MOEs                        from TCE exposure, such as a cardiac
                                                      (Ref. 1). TCE may cause fetal cardiac                   resulting from EPA’s estimates of                     malformation, on a person. In
                                                      malformations that begin in utero. In                   exposures, people exposed to TCE in                   considering the benefits of preventing
                                                      addition, fetal death, possibly resulting               aerosol degreasing and during dry                     TCE exposure, EPA considered the type
                                                      from cardiac malformation, can be                       cleaning operations are at significant                of effect, the severity of the effect, the
                                                      caused by exposure to TCE. Cardiac                      risk for the multiple adverse non-cancer              duration of the effect, and costs and
                                                      malformations can be irreversible and                   health effects caused by TCE and the                  other monetary impacts of the health
                                                      impact a person’s health for a lifetime.                impacts discussed below on many facets                endpoint.
                                                      Other effects, such as damage to the                    of their life that these adverse health                  The health endpoints associated with
                                                      developing immune system, may first                     effects cause. These risks are significant            TCE exposure are serious. The following
                                                      manifest when a person is an adult and                  even when considered alone. However,                  is a discussion of the impacts of the
                                                      can have long-lasting health impacts.                   workers may be also be impacted by the                most significant cancer and non-cancer
                                                      Certain effects that follow adult                       significant risks for several types of                effects associated with TCE exposure,
                                                      exposures, such as kidney and liver                     cancer. The cancer risks to workers                   including the severity of the effect, the
                                                      cancer, may develop many years after                    using TCE in aerosol degreasing and for               manifestation of the effect, and how the
                                                      initial exposure. The point during a                    spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities              effect impacts a person during their
                                                      lifetime when the effect manifests itself               are 1.6 × 10¥2 or more than one and                   lifetime. While TCE can cause a variety
                                                      and the expected impacts to a person                    one-half cases in one hundred for                     of adverse health effects, the general
                                                      during her/his lifetime are important                   aerosol degreasing and 1.4 × 10¥2 or                  population incidences of these adverse
                                                      factors in determining the benefits of                  more than one case in one hundred for                 health outcomes are not due solely to
                                                      mitigating and preventing TCE                           use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry                   TCE.
                                                      exposure.                                               cleaning facilities.
                                                                                                                 The risk reduction from preventing                 A. Benefits of the Proposed Rule and the
                                                         Based on EPA’s analysis of worker
                                                                                                              TCE exposure cannot be                                Alternatives That EPA Considered
                                                      and consumer populations’ exposure to
                                                      TCE, EPA has determined that there are                  comprehensively quantified or                            1. Developmental effects. The TCE
                                                      significant cancer and non-cancer risks                 monetized even though the adverse                     risk assessment (and EPA’s 2011 IRIS
                                                      (acute and chronic) from TCE exposure,                  effects are well-documented, the TCE                  Assessment) identified developmental
                                                      which can result in developmental                       risk assessment estimating these risks                effects as the critical effect of greatest
                                                      effects, kidney toxicity, immunotoxicity,               has been peer-reviewed, and the                       concern for both acute and chronic non-
                                                      reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and               benefits of reducing the risk of these                cancer risks. There are increased health
                                                      liver toxicity. These risks are                         health endpoints can be described. It is              risks for developmental effects to the
                                                      unreasonable risks because the chemical                 relatively straightforward to monetize                approximately 900 pregnant women
                                                      exposures predicted for the various                     the benefits of reducing the risk of                  exposed to TCE during the use of
                                                      scenarios assessed are above what                       cancer (kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-             aerosol degreasers and approximately
                                                      would be necessary to achieve the MOE                   Hodgkin’s lymphoma) due to TCE                        5,400 pregnant women working in dry
                                                      benchmarks for cardiac defects, kidney                  exposure. The estimated value of the                  cleaning operations (Ref. 2).
                                                      toxicity, immunotoxicity, liver toxicity,               annualized benefit is estimated to be                 Specifically, these assessments
                                                      neurotoxicity and endocrine and                         $9.3 million to $25.0 million at 3% and               identified fetal cardiac malformations in
                                                      reproductive toxicity. For commercial                   $4.5 million to $12.8 million at 7% over              the offspring of mothers exposed to TCE
                                                      use scenarios of aerosol degreasing and                 15 years. It is currently not possible to             during gestation as the critical effect.
                                                      use of TCE for spot cleaning in dry                     monetize the benefits of reducing the                 Although fetal cardiac defects is the
                                                      cleaning facilities, as well as for all the             risks of the costs of non-cancer effects              most sensitive endpoint and is the focus
                                                      residential use scenarios, exposures are                (all developmental toxicity, kidney                   of the discussion in this Unit, TCE
                                                      far beyond what would be necessary to                   toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive                exposures can result in other adverse
                                                      achieve the MOE benchmark for cardiac                   toxicity, neurotoxicity, and liver                    developmental outcomes, including
                                                      defects. For example, the 99th                          toxicity) of TCE exposure. There are two              prenatal (e.g., spontaneous abortion and
                                                      percentile of the upper end exposure                    reasons for this. First, dose response                perinatal death, decreased birth weight,
                                                      use scenario for aerosol degreasing has                 information and concentration response                and congenital malformations) and
                                                      a MOE of 0.003 for chronic exposures                    functions in humans are not available,                postnatal (e.g., growth, survival,
                                                      and 0.002 for acute exposures. Thus, for                which would allow EPA to estimate the                 developmental neurotoxicity,
                                                      this aerosol degreasing use scenario,                   number of population-level non-cancer                 developmental immunotoxicity, and
                                                      people are exposed at a level that is                   cases that would be avoided by reducing               childhood cancers) effects.
                                                      3,000 times higher than what EPA                        exposures to levels corresponding with                Developmental TCE exposure results in
                                                      determines is protective for the non-                   MOE benchmarks. Second, even it were                  qualitatively different immunotoxicity
                                                      cancer health effect.                                   possible to calculate the number of                   effects than adult exposure. These
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                         The number of people at risk for the                 cases avoided, EPA may not be able to                 effects influence the development of the
                                                      developmental effects is estimated to be                monetize the benefits of these avoided                immune system and result in
                                                      up to approximately 5,400 pregnant                      cases due to limitations in data needed               impairment of the immune system to
                                                      women in dry cleaning operations and                    to apply established economic                         respond to infection whereas adult
                                                      approximately 900 pregnant women                        methodologies. However, being unable                  exposures result in more pronounced
                                                      exposed to TCE during the use of                        to quantitatively assess individual risk              immune response related to
                                                      aerosol degreasers. The potential for                   and population-level non-cancer cases                 autoimmune responses.
                                                      exposure is significant because                         avoided from TCE exposure does not                       Cardiac defects, which can result from
                                                      approximately half of all pregnancies                   negate the impact of these effects.                   very low level exposure to TCE, affect


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00022   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91613

                                                      the structural development of a baby’s                  is not a cure. They can still develop                 to provide some form of financial
                                                      heart and how it works. The defects                     other health problems over time,                      support. The monetary, emotional, and
                                                      impact how blood flows through the                      depending on their specific heart defect,             mental costs of heart defects can be
                                                      heart and out to the rest of the body.                  the number of heart defects they have,                considerable, and even though neither
                                                      The impact can be mild (such as a small                 and the severity of their heart defect.               the precise reduction in individual risk
                                                      hole in the heart) or severe (such as                   For example, some related health                      of developing a cardiac defect from
                                                      missing or poorly formed septal wall                    problems that might develop include                   reducing TCE exposure or the total
                                                      and valves of the heart). While diagnosis               irregular heart beat (arrhythmias),                   number of cases avoided can be
                                                      for some cardiac defects can occur                      increased risk of infection in the heart              estimated, their impact should be
                                                      during pregnancy, for other cardiac                     muscle (infective endocarditis), or                   considered.
                                                      defects, detection may not occur until                  weakness in the heart (cardiomyopathy).                  2. Kidney toxicity. The TCE risk
                                                      after birth or later in life, during                    In order to stay healthy, a person needs              assessment identified kidney toxicity as
                                                      childhood or adulthood. These cardiac                   regular checkups with a cardiologist.                 a significant concern for non-cancer risk
                                                      defects can be occult or life- threatening              They also might need further operations               from TCE exposure with the risk being
                                                      with the most severe cases causing early                after initial childhood surgeries (Ref.               from chronic exposure. There are
                                                      mortality and morbidity. While the                      46).                                                  increased health risks for kidney
                                                      incidences in the following paragraphs                     Depending upon the severity of the                 toxicity to the approximately 10,800
                                                      reflect adverse health outcomes beyond                  defect, the costs for surgeries, hospital             workers and occupational bystanders at
                                                      just exposure to TCE, the general                       stays, and doctor’s appointments to                   commercial aerosol degreasing
                                                      population numbers provide a context                    address a baby’s cardiac defect can be                operations and the up to approximately
                                                      for understanding the impact of the                     significant. The costs for the defects                168,000 workers and occupational
                                                      adverse health effects that TCE can                     may also continue throughout a person’s               bystanders in dry cleaning operations
                                                      cause.                                                  lifetime. In 2004, hospital costs in the              (Ref. 2).
                                                         Nearly 1% or about 40,000 births per                 United States for individuals with a                     Exposure to TCE can lead to changes
                                                      year in the United States are affected by               cardiac defect were approximately $1.4                in the proximate tubules of the kidney.
                                                      cardiac defects (Ref. 46). About 25% of                 billion (Ref. 46).                                    This damage may result in signs and
                                                      those infants with a cardiac defect have                   Beyond the monetary cost, the                      symptoms of acute kidney failure that
                                                      a critical defect. Infants with critical                emotional and mental toll on parents                  include: Decreased urine output,
                                                      cardiac defects generally need surgery                  who discover that their child has a heart             although occasionally urine output
                                                      or other procedures in their first year of              defect while in utero or after birth will             remains normal; fluid retention, causing
                                                      life. Some estimates put the total                      be high (Ref. 47). They may experience                swelling in the legs, ankles or feet;
                                                      number of individuals (infants,                         anxiety and worry over whether their                  drowsiness, shortness of breath, fatigue,
                                                      children, adolescents, and adults) living               child will have a normal life of playing              confusion, nausea, seizures or coma in
                                                      with cardiac defects at 2 million (Ref.                 with friends and participating in sports              severe cases; and chest pain or pressure.
                                                      46). Cardiac defects can be caused by                   and other physical activities, or whether             Sometimes acute kidney failure causes
                                                      genetics, environmental exposure, or an                 their child may be more susceptible to                no signs or symptoms and is detected
                                                      unknown cause.                                          illness and be limited in the type of                 through lab tests done for another
                                                         Infant deaths resulting from cardiac                 work and experiences they can have. In                reason.
                                                      defects often occur during the neonatal                 addition, parents can be expected to                     Kidney toxicity means the kidney(s)
                                                      period. One study indicated that cardiac                experience concerns over potential                    has suffered damage that can result in
                                                      defects accounted for 4.2% of all                       unknown medical costs that may be                     a person being unable to rid their body
                                                      neonatal deaths. Of infants born with a                 looming in the future, lifestyle changes,             of excess urine and wastes. In extreme
                                                      non-critical cardiac defect, 97% are                    and being unable to return to work in                 cases where the kidney(s) is impaired
                                                      expected to survive to the age of one,                  order to care for their child.                        over a long period of time, the kidney(s)
                                                      with 95% expected to survive to 18                         The emotional and mental toll on a                 could be damaged to the point that it no
                                                      years of age. Of infants born with a                    person throughout childhood and into                  longer functions. When a kidney(s) no
                                                      critical cardiac defect, 75% are expected               adolescence with a heart defect also                  longer functions, a person needs
                                                      to survive to one year of age, with 69%                 should be considered (Ref. 47). Cardiac               dialysis and ideally a kidney transplant.
                                                      expected to survive to 18 years of age                  patients who are children may feel                    In some cases, a non-functioning
                                                      (Ref. 47). A child with a cardiac defect                excluded from activities and feel limited             kidney(s) can result in death. Kidney
                                                      is 50% more likely to receive special                   in making friends if they have to miss                dialysis and kidney transplantation are
                                                      education services compared to a child                  school due to additional surgeries, or                expensive and incur long-term health
                                                      without birth defects (Ref. 46).                        may not be able to fully participate in               costs if kidney function fails (Ref. 48).
                                                         Treatments for cardiac defects vary.                 sports or other physical exercise.                       Approximately 31 million people, or
                                                      Some affected infants and children                      Children may feel self-conscious of the               10% of the adult population, in the
                                                      might need one or more surgeries to                     scars left by multiple surgeries. This, in            United States have chronic kidney
                                                      repair the heart or blood vessels. In                   turn, adds emotional and mental stress                disease. In the United States, it is the
                                                      other instances, a heart defect cannot be               to the parents as they observe their                  ninth leading cause of death. About
                                                      fully repaired, although treatments have                child’s struggles.                                    93% of chronic kidney disease is from
                                                      advanced such that infants are living                      As a person with a heart defect enters             known causes, including 44% from
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      longer and healthier lives. Many                        adulthood, the emotional or mental toll               diabetes and 28.4% from high blood
                                                      children are living into adulthood and                  of a cardiac defect may continue or in                pressure. Unknown or missing causes
                                                      lead independent lives with little or no                other instances the problem may only                  account for about 6.5% of cases, or
                                                      difficulty. Others, however, may                        surface as the person becomes an adult.               about 2 million people (Ref. 49).
                                                      develop disability over time which is                   If a cardiac defect impacts a person’s                   The monetary cost of kidney toxicity
                                                      hard to predict and for which it is                     ability to enter certain careers, this                varies depending on the severity of the
                                                      difficult to quantify impacts.                          could take a monetary as well as                      damage to the kidney. In less severe
                                                         Even though a person’s heart defect                  emotional toll on that person and on                  cases, doctor visits may be limited and
                                                      may be repaired, for many people this                   their parents or families who may need                hospital stays unnecessary. In more


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00023   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91614                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      severe cases, a person may need serious                 hypersensitivity skin disorder.                       threatening outcomes. For mild
                                                      medical interventions, such as dialysis                 Scleroderma is a chronic connective                   symptoms, doctors’ visits and outpatient
                                                      or a kidney transplant if a donor is                    tissue disease with autoimmune origins.               treatment could be appropriate while
                                                      available, which can result in high                     The annual incidence is estimated to be               more severe immunotoxicity disorders,
                                                      medical expenses due to numerous                        10 to 20 cases per 1 million persons                  may require hospital visits. Treatments
                                                      hospital and doctor visits for regular                  (Ref. 51), and the prevalence is four to              for these conditions with immune
                                                      dialysis and surgery if a transplant                    253 cases per 1 million persons (Ref.                 modulating drugs also have
                                                      occurs. The costs for hemodialysis, as                  52). About 300,000 Americans are                      countervailing risks.
                                                      charged by hospitals, can be upwards of                 estimated to have scleroderma. About                     These disorders also take an
                                                      $100,000 per month (Ref. 50).                           one third of those people have the                    emotional and mental toll on the person
                                                         Depending on the severity of the                     systemic form of scleroderma. Since                   as well as on their families. Their
                                                      kidney damage, kidney disease can                       scleroderma presents with symptoms                    quality of life may be impacted because
                                                      impact a person’s ability to work and                   similar to other autoimmune diseases,                 they no longer have the ability to do
                                                      live a normal life, which in turn takes                 diagnosis is difficult. There may be                  certain activities that may affect or
                                                      a mental and emotional toll on the                      many misdiagnosed or undiagnosed                      highlight their skin disorder, such as
                                                      patient. In less severe cases, the impact               cases (Ref. 52).                                      swimming. Concerns over doctor and
                                                      on a person’s quality of life may be                       Localized scleroderma is more                      hospital bills, particularly if a person’s
                                                      limited while in instances where kidney                 common in children, whereas systemic                  ability to work is impacted, may further
                                                      damage is severe, a person’s quality of                 scleroderma is more common in adults.                 contribute to a person’s emotional and
                                                      life and ability to work would be                       Overall, female patients outnumber                    mental stress. While neither the precise
                                                      affected. While neither the precise                     male patients about 4-to-1. Factors other             reduction in individual risk of
                                                      reduction in individual risk of                         than a person’s gender, such as race and              developing this disorder from TCE
                                                      developing kidney toxicity from                         ethnic background, may influence the                  exposure or the total number of cases
                                                      reducing TCE exposure or the total                      risk of getting scleroderma, the age of               avoided can be estimated, this should be
                                                      number of cases avoided can be                          onset, and the pattern or severity of                 considered.
                                                      estimated, these costs must still be                    internal organ involvement. The reasons                  b. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. EPA’s
                                                      considered because they can                             for this susceptibility are not clear.                2011 IRIS assessment for TCE found that
                                                      significantly impact those exposed to                   Although scleroderma is not directly                  TCE is carcinogenic. Chronic exposure
                                                      TCE.                                                    inherited, some scientists believe there              to TCE, by all routes of exposure, can
                                                         Chronic exposure to TCE can also                     is a slight predisposition to it in families          result in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
                                                      lead to kidney cancer. The estimated                    with a history of rheumatic diseases                  (NHL), one of the three cancers for
                                                      value of the annualized benefit is                      (Ref. 53).                                            which the EPA TCE IRIS assessment
                                                      $276,000 to $661,000 for aerosol                           The symptoms of scleroderma vary                   based its cancer findings. There are
                                                      degreasing and $1.4 million to $5.5                     greatly from person-to-person with the                increased health risks for NHL for the
                                                      million for spot cleaning in dry cleaning               effects ranging from very mild to life                approximately 10,800 workers and
                                                      facilities at 3% over 15 years; and                     threatening. If not properly treated, a               occupational bystanders at commercial
                                                      $135,000 to $349,000 for aerosol                        mild case can become much more                        aerosol degreasing operations and the
                                                      degreasing and $677,000 to $2.9 million                 serious. Relatively mild symptoms are                 up to approximately 168,000 workers
                                                      for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                       localized scleroderma, which results in               and occupational bystanders in dry
                                                      facilities at 7% over 15 years. Kidney                  hardened waxy patches on the skin of                  cleaning operations (Ref. 2).
                                                      cancer rarely shows signs or symptoms                   varying sizes, shapes and color. The                     NHL is a form of cancer that
                                                      in its early stages. As kidney cancer                   more life threatening symptoms are                    originates in a person’s lymphatic
                                                      progresses, the cancer may grow beyond                  from systemic scleroderma, which can                  system. For NHL, there are
                                                      the kidney spreading to lymph nodes or                  involve the skin, esophagus,                          approximately 19.7 new cases per
                                                      distant sites like the liver, lung or                   gastrointestinal tract (stomach and                   100,000 men and women per year with
                                                      bladder increasing the impacts on a                     bowels), lungs, kidneys, heart and other              6.2 deaths per 100,000 men and women
                                                      person and the costs to treat it. This                  internal organs. It can also affect blood             per year. NHL is the seventh most
                                                      metastasis is highly correlated with fatal              vessels, muscles and joints. The tissues              common form of cancer (Ref. 53). Some
                                                      outcomes. Impacts of kidney cancer that                 of involved organs become hard and                    studies suggest that exposure to
                                                      are not monetized include the                           fibrous, causing them to function less                chemicals may be linked to an increased
                                                      emotional, psychological impacts and                    efficiently.                                          risk of NHL. Other factors that may
                                                      the impacts of treatment for the cancer                    Severe hypersensitivity skin disorder              increase the risk of NHL are medications
                                                      on the well-being of the person.                        includes exfoliative dermatitis, mucous               that suppress a person’s immune
                                                         3. Immunotoxicity. a. Non-cancer                     membrane erosions, eosinophilia, and                  system, infection with certain viruses
                                                      chronic effects. The TCE risk assessment                hepatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis is a                and bacteria, or older age (Ref. 54).
                                                      identified immunotoxicity as a chronic                  scaly dermatitis involving most, if not                  Symptoms are painless, swollen
                                                      non-cancer risk from TCE exposure.                      all, of the skin. Eosinophilia on the                 lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or
                                                      There are increased health risks for                    other hand is a chronic disorder                      groin, abdominal pain or swelling, chest
                                                      immunotoxicity to the approximately                     resulting from excessive production of a              pain, coughing or trouble breathing,
                                                      10,800 workers and occupational                         particular type of white blood cells. If              fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      bystanders at commercial aerosol                        diagnosed and treated early a person                  loss. Depending on the rate at which the
                                                      degreasing operations and the up to                     can lead a relatively normal life (Ref.               NHL is advancing, the approach may be
                                                      approximately 168,000 workers and                       51).                                                  to monitor the condition, while more
                                                      occupational bystanders in dry cleaning                    The monetary costs for treating these              aggressive NHL could require
                                                      operations (Ref. 1).                                    various immunotoxicity disorders will                 chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell
                                                         Human studies have demonstrated                      vary depending upon whether the                       transplant, medications that enhance a
                                                      that TCE exposed workers can suffer                     symptoms lead to early diagnosis and                  person’s immune system’s ability to
                                                      from systemic autoimmune diseases                       early diagnosis can influence whether                 fight cancer, or medications that deliver
                                                      (e.g., scleroderma) and severe                          symptoms progress to mild or life                     radiation directly to cancer cells.


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00024   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91615

                                                         Treatment for NHL will result in                     hypogonadism, resulting in low T levels               and motor function and attention deficit
                                                      substantial costs for hospital and                      (Ref. 59). Hormone therapy and                        can impact a child’s educational
                                                      doctors’ visits in order to treat the                   endocrine monitoring may be required                  progression and adolescent’s schooling
                                                      cancer. The treatments for NHL can also                 in the most severe cases. Low T levels                and ability to make friends, which in
                                                      have countervailing risks and can lead                  are associated with aging; an estimated               turn can impact the type of work or
                                                      to higher susceptibility of patients for                39% of men 45 or older have                           ability get work later in life.
                                                      secondary malignancies (Ref. 55). The                   hypogonadism, resulting in low T levels                  Neurotoxicity in adults can affect the
                                                      emotional and mental toll from                          (Ref. 59). Hormone therapy and                        trigeminal nerve, the largest and most
                                                      wondering whether a treatment will be                   endocrine monitoring may be required                  complex of the 12 cranial nerves, which
                                                      successful, going through the actual                    in the most severe cases.                             supplies sensations to the face, mucous
                                                      treatment, and inability to do normal                      The monetary costs of these potential              membranes, and other structures of the
                                                      activities or work will most likely be                  reproductive effects involve doctor’s                 head. Onset of trigeminal neuralgia
                                                      high. This emotional and mental toll                    visits in order to try to determine why               generally occurs in mid-life and known
                                                      will extend to the person’s family and                  there is a change. In some instances, a               causes include multiple sclerosis,
                                                      friends as they struggle with the                       person or couple may need to visit a                  sarcoidosis and Lyme disease. There is
                                                      diagnosis and success and failure of a                  fertility doctor.                                     also a co-morbidity with scleroderma
                                                      treatment regime. If a person has                          The impact of a reduced sex drive can              and systemic lupus. Some data show
                                                      children, this could affect their mental                take an emotional and mental toll on                  that the prevalence of trigeminal
                                                      and emotional well-being and may                        single people as well as couples. For                 neuralgia could be between 0.01% and
                                                      impact their success in school. A                       people trying to get pregnant, decreased              0.3% (Ref. 60). Alterations to this nerve
                                                      discussion of the monetized benefits                    fertility can add stress to a relationship            function might cause sporadic and
                                                      associated with reducing risk of NHL is                 as the cause is determined and avenues                sudden burning or shock-like facial pain
                                                      located in Unit VIII.B. The estimated                   explored to try to resolve the difficulties           to a person. One way to relieve the
                                                      value of the annualized benefit is                      in conceiving. A person or couples’                   burning or shock-like facial pain is to
                                                      $759,000 to $1.2 million for aerosol                    quality of life can also be affected as               undergo a procedure where the nerve
                                                      degreasing and $3.9 million to $10.1                    they struggle with a reduced sex drive.               fibers are damaged in order to block the
                                                      million for spot cleaning in dry cleaning               Similar to effects discussed previously,              pain. This treatment can have lasting
                                                      facilities at 3% over 15 years; and                     while neither the precise reduction in                impact on sensation which may also be
                                                      $355,000 to $601,000 for aerosol                        individual risk of developing this                    deleterious for normal pain sensation.
                                                      degreasing and $1.8 million to $5.0                     disorder from reducing TCE exposure or                The potential side effects of this
                                                      million for spot cleaning in dry cleaning               the total number of cases avoided can be              procedure includes facial numbness and
                                                      facilities at 7% over 15 years.                         estimated, the Agency still considers                 some sensory loss.
                                                         4. Reproductive and endocrine effects.               their impact.                                            The monetary health costs can range
                                                      The TCE risk assessment identified                         5. Neurotoxicity. The TCE risk                     from doctor’s visits and medication to
                                                      chronic non-cancer risks for                            assessment identified chronic risks for               surgeries and hospital stays. Depending
                                                      reproductive effects for workers and                    neurotoxicity for workers and                         upon when the neurotoxic effect
                                                      bystanders exposed to TCE. There are                    bystanders. There are increased health                occurred, the monetary costs may
                                                      increased health risks for reproductive                 risks for neurotoxicity to the                        encompass a person’s entire lifetime or
                                                      effects for the approximately 10,800                    approximately 10,800 workers and                      just a portion.
                                                      workers and occupational bystanders at                  bystanders at commercial aerosol                         The personal costs (emotional,
                                                      commercial aerosol degreasing                           degreasing operations and the up to                   mental, and impacts to a person’s
                                                      operations and the up to approximately                  approximately 168,000 workers and                     quality of life) cannot be discounted.
                                                      168,000 workers and occupational                        bystanders in dry cleaning operations                 Parents of a child with impaired
                                                      bystanders in dry cleaning operations                   (Ref. 2).                                             learning, memory, or some other
                                                      (Ref. 2).                                                  Studies have also demonstrated                     developmental neurotoxic effect may
                                                         The reproductive effect for both                     neurotoxicity for acute exposure.                     suffer emotional and mental stress
                                                      females and males can be altered libido.                Neurotoxic effects observed are                       related to worries about the child’s
                                                      The prevalence of infertility is estimated              alterations in trigeminal nerve and                   performance in school, ability to make
                                                      at about 10–15% of couples with a                       vestibular function, auditory effects,                friends, and quality of the child’s life
                                                      decreased libido among the factors of                   changes in vision, alterations in                     because early disabilities can have
                                                      infertility (Ref. 56). For females, there               cognitive function, changes in                        compounding effects as they grow into
                                                      can be reduced incidence of                             psychomotor effects, and                              adulthood. The parent may need to take
                                                      fecundability (6.7 million women ages                   neurodevelopmental outcomes.                          off work unexpectedly and have the
                                                      15 to 44 or 10.9% affected) (Ref. 57),                  Developmental neurotoxicity effects are               additional cost of doctor visits and/or
                                                      increase in abnormal menstrual cycle,                   delayed newborn reflexes, impaired                    medication.
                                                      and amenorrhea (the absence of                          learning or memory, aggressive                           For a person whose trigeminal nerve
                                                      menstruation). Reproductive effects on                  behavior, hearing impairment, speech                  is affected there is an emotional and
                                                      males can be decreased potency,                         impairment, encephalopathy, impaired                  mental toll as they wonder what is
                                                      gynaecomastia, impotence, and                           executive and motor function and                      wrong and visit doctors in order to
                                                      decreased testosterone levels, or low T                 attention deficit (Ref. 3).                           determine what is wrong. Depending on
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      levels. Approximately 2.4 million men                      The impacts of neurotoxic effects due              the severity of the impact to the nerve
                                                      age 40 to 49 have low T levels, with a                  to TCE exposure can last a person’s                   they may be unable to work. Doctor
                                                      new diagnosis of about 481,000                          entire lifetime. Changes in vision may                visits and any inability to work will
                                                      androgen deficiency cases a year. Other                 impact a person’s ability to drive, which             have a monetary impact to the person.
                                                      estimates propose a hypogonadism                        can create difficulties for daily life.               There are varying costs (emotional,
                                                      prevalence of about 13 million                          Impaired learning or memory,                          monetary, and impacts to a person’s
                                                      American men (Ref. 58). Low T levels                    aggressive behavior, hearing                          quality of life) from the neurotoxicity
                                                      are associated with aging; an estimated                 impairment, speech impairment,                        effects due to TCE exposure. However,
                                                      39% of men 45 or older have                             encephalopathy, impaired executive                    while neither the precise reduction in


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00025   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91616                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      individual risk of developing this                      function enzymes, and in rare cases,                  workers are Hispanic (of any race),
                                                      disorder from reducing TCE exposure or                  acute liver failure developed within as               compared to 16% of the national
                                                      the total number of cases avoided can be                little as 2–5 weeks of initial exposure to            population, indicating that these two
                                                      estimated, this is not a reason to                      TCE (Ref. 3).                                         populations are over-represented.
                                                      disregard their impact.                                    Chronic exposure to TCE can also                   Because they are disproportionately
                                                         6. Liver toxicity. The TCE risk                      lead to liver cancer. There is strong                 over-represented in the dry cleaning
                                                      assessment identified liver toxicity as an              epidemiological data that reported an                 industry, these populations are
                                                      adverse effect of chronic TCE exposure.                 association between TCE exposure and                  disproportionately exposed to TCE
                                                      There are increased health risks for liver              the onset of various cancers, including               during spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      toxicity to the approximately 10,800                    liver cancer. The estimated value of the              facilities and disproportionately at risk
                                                      workers occupational bystanders at                      annualized benefit is $493,000 to                     to the range of adverse non-cancer
                                                      commercial aerosol degreasing                           $811,000 for aerosol degreasing and $2.5              effects and cancer.
                                                      operations and the up to approximately                  million to $6.7 million for spot cleaning
                                                      168,000 workers and occupational                        in dry cleaning facilities at 3% over 15              B. Monetized Benefits of the Proposed
                                                      bystanders in dry cleaning operations                   years; and $252,000 to $436,000 for                   Rule and the Alternatives That EPA
                                                      (Ref. 1).                                               aerosol degreasing and $1.3 million to                Considered
                                                         Specific effects to the liver can                    $3.6 million for spot cleaning in dry                    The benefits that can be monetized
                                                      include increased liver weight, increase                cleaning facilities at 7% over 15 years.              from risk reductions due to the
                                                      in DNA synthesis (transient), enlarged                     Additional medical and emotional                   proposed prohibitions on manufacture,
                                                      hepatocytes, enlarged nuclei, and                       costs are associated with non-cancer                  processing, and distribution in
                                                      peroxisome proliferation (Ref. 1). In                   liver toxicity from TCE exposure,                     commerce of TCE for aerosol degreasing,
                                                      addition, workers exposed to TCE have                   although they cannot be quantified.                   and the prohibition on commercial use
                                                      shown hepatitis accompanying                            These costs include doctor and hospital               of TCE in aerosol degreasing are
                                                      immune-related generalized skin                         visits and medication costs. In some                  estimated to be $1.5 million to $2.7
                                                      diseases, jaundice, hepatomegaly,                       cases, the ability to work can be                     million (annualized at 3% over 15
                                                      hepatosplenomegaly, and liver failure                   affected, which in turn impacts the                   years) and $700,000 to $1.4 million
                                                      (Ref. 1).                                               ability to get proper ongoing medical                 (annualized at 7% over 15 years). The
                                                         Some form of liver disease impacts at                care. Liver toxicity can lead to jaundice,            monetized benefits from similar
                                                      least 30 million people, or 1 in 10                     weakness, fatigue, weight loss, nausea,               prohibitions to mitigate the risks from
                                                      Americans (Ref. 61). Included in this                   vomiting, abdominal pain, impaired                    TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning
                                                      number is at least 20% of those with                    metabolism, and liver disease.                        facilities are estimated to be $7.8
                                                      nonalcoholic fatty liver disease                        Symptoms of jaundice include yellow or                million to $22.3 million (annualized at
                                                      (NAFLD) (Ref. 61). NAFLD tends to                       itchy skin and a yellowing of the whites              3% over 15 years) and $3.7 million to
                                                      impact people who are overweight/                       of the eye, and a pale stool and dark                 $11.4 million (annualized at 7% over 15
                                                      obese or have diabetes. However, an                     urine. These symptoms can create a                    years). The total monetized benefits for
                                                      estimated 25% do not have any risk                      heightened emotional state as a person                the proposed rule range from
                                                      factors (Ref. 61). The danger of NAFLD                  tries to determine what is wrong with                 approximately $9.2 million to $24.8
                                                      is that it can cause the liver to swell,                them.                                                 million on an annualized basis over 15
                                                      which may result in cirrhosis over time                    Depending upon the severity of the                 years at 3% and $4.4 million to $12.6
                                                      and could even lead to liver cancer or                  jaundice, treatments can range                        million at 7%. The alternatives
                                                      failure (Ref. 61). The most common                      significantly. Simple treatment may                   considered are unlikely to result in the
                                                      known causes to this disease burden are                 involve avoiding exposure to the TCE;                 same health benefits as the proposed
                                                      attributable to alcoholism and viral                    however, this may impact a person’s                   rule for the reasons discussed in Units
                                                      infections, such as hepatitis A, B, and C.              ability to continue to work. In severe                VI and VII. However, EPA was unable
                                                      In 2013, there were 1,781 reported acute                cases, the liver toxicity can lead to liver           to quantify the differences in benefits
                                                      cases of viral hepatitis A and the                      failure, which can result in the need for             that would result from the alternatives.
                                                      estimated actual cases were 3,500 (Ref.                 a liver transplant, if a donor is available.
                                                      62). For hepatitis B in 2013 there were                 Liver transplantation is expensive (with              C. Costs of the Proposed Rule and the
                                                      3,050 reported acute cases, while the                   an estimated cost of $575,000) and there              Alternatives That EPA Considered
                                                      estimated actual incidence was 19,800,                  are countervailing risks for this type of                The details of the costs of the
                                                      and the estimated chronic cases in the                  treatment (Ref. 63). The mental and                   proposed approach for use of TCE in
                                                      United States is between 700,000 to 1.4                 emotional toll on an individual and                   aerosol degreasing are discussed in Unit
                                                      million (Ref. 62). For hepatitis C, in                  their family as they try to determine the             VI.C.1 and the details of the costs of the
                                                      2013 there were 2,138 reported cases;                   cause of sickness and possibly                        proposed approach for spot cleaning in
                                                      however, the estimated incidence was                    experience an inability to work, as well              dry cleaning facilities are discussed in
                                                      29,700 and the estimated number of                      as the potential monetary cost of                     Unit VII.C.1. Under the proposed
                                                      chronic cases is between 2.7 to 3.9                     medical treatment required to regain                  option, costs to users of aerosol
                                                      million (Ref. 62). These known                          health are significant.                               degreasers are negligible as substitute
                                                      environmental risk factors of hepatitis                    7. Disproportionate impacts on                     products are currently available on the
                                                      infection may result in increased                       environmental justice communities. An                 market and are similarly priced. Total
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      susceptibility of individuals exposed to                additional factor that cannot be                      costs of aerosol degreasing product
                                                      organic chemicals.                                      monetized is the disproportionate                     reformulations are estimated to be
                                                         Effects from TCE exposure to the liver               impact on environmental justice                       approximately $416,000 in the first year
                                                      can occur quickly. Liver weight increase                communities. Asian and Hispanic                       and $32,000 per year (annualized at 3%
                                                      has occurred in mice after as little as 2               populations are disproportionately                    over 15 years) and $41,000 (annualized
                                                      days of inhalation exposure (Ref. 3).                   represented in dry cleaning facilities.               at 7% over 15 years). Costs of
                                                      Human case reports from eight countries                 13% of dry cleaning workers are Asian,                downstream notification and
                                                      indicated symptoms of hepatitis,                        compared to 5% of the national                        recordkeeping are estimated to be
                                                      hepatomegaly and elevated liver                         population, and 30% of dry cleaning                   $51,000 in the first year and on an


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00026   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           91617

                                                      annualized basis over 15 years are                      requirements would not address the                    ability to earn a living, the ability to
                                                      $3,900 and $5,000 using 3% and 7%                       identified unreasonable risks. EPA                    participate in sports and other activities,
                                                      discount rates respectively. Agency                     estimated the costs of this option to be              and the impacts on a person’s family
                                                      costs for enforcement are estimated to                  $166,000 annualized over 15 years at                  and relationships.
                                                      be approximately $112,000 and                           3% and $178,000 annualized over 15                       Thus, considering costs, benefits that
                                                      $109,000 annualized over 15 years at                    years at 7%.                                          can be monetized (risk of cancer), and
                                                      3% and 7%, respectively. The total cost                                                                       benefits that cannot be quantified and
                                                                                                              D. Comparison of Benefits and Costs                   subsequently monetized (risk of
                                                      of the proposed approach for the aerosol
                                                      degreasing use is estimated to be                          The monetized benefits for preventing              developmental toxicity, kidney toxicity,
                                                      $37,000 to $40,000 and $46,000 to                       the risks resulting from TCE exposure                 immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity,
                                                      $49,000 annualized over 15 years at 3%                  from both these uses significantly                    neurotoxicity, and liver toxicity),
                                                      and 7%, respectively. Annual recurring                  outweigh the estimated costs. Even                    including benefits related to the severity
                                                      costs to the Agency for enforcement are                 though simply comparing the costs and                 of the effects and the impacts on a
                                                      estimated to be $121,000 per year.                      monetized benefits of prohibiting the                 person throughout her/his lifetime in
                                                         Under the proposed approach, dry                     manufacture, processing, and                          terms of medical costs, effects on
                                                      cleaners are expected to switch to                      distribution in commerce of TCE as an                 earning power and personal costs,
                                                      alternatives because they are readily                   aerosol degreaser; prohibiting its use as             emotional and psychological costs, and
                                                      available at similar cost and                           an aerosol degreaser; and requiring                   the disproportionate impacts on Asian
                                                      performance. Blenders of TCE spot                       downstream notification demonstrates                  and Hispanic communities, the benefits
                                                      cleaners are expected to reformulate                    that the monetized benefits of this                   of preventing TCE exposure outweigh
                                                      their products. Total costs of                          proposed action outweigh the costs,                   the costs. Further, if EPA were to
                                                      reformulation are estimated to be                       EPA believes that the balance of costs                consider only the benefits that can be
                                                      $286,000 in the first year and                          and benefits cannot be fairly described               monetized in comparison to the cost,
                                                      annualized costs are approximately                      without considering the additional, non-              the monetized benefits from preventing
                                                      $22,000 per year (annualized at 3% over                 monetized benefits of mitigating the                  kidney and liver cancer and non-
                                                      15 years) and $28,000 (annualized at 7%                 non-cancer adverse effects as well as                 Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the use of
                                                      over 15 years). Costs of downstream                     cancer. As discussed previously, the                  TCE in aerosol degreasing (the
                                                      notification and recordkeeping are                      multitude of potential adverse effects                annualized monetized benefits on a 15
                                                      estimated to be $51,000 in the first-year               associated with TCE exposure can                      year basis range from approximately
                                                      and on an annualized basis over 15                      profoundly impact an individual’s                     $1.5 million to $2.7 million at 3% and
                                                      years are $3,900 and $5,000 using 3 and                 quality of life. Some of the adverse                  $700,000 to $1.4 million at 7%) and the
                                                      7 percent discount rates respectively.                  effects associated with TCE exposure                  use of TCE in spot cleaners in dry
                                                      Agency costs for enforcement are                        can be immediately experienced and                    cleaning facilities (the annualized
                                                      estimated to be approximately $112,000                  can affect a person from childhood                    monetized benefits on a 15 year basis
                                                      to $109,000 annualized over 15 years at                 throughout a lifetime (e.g., cardiac                  range from approximately $7.8 million
                                                      3% and 7%. Annual recurring costs to                    malformations, developmental                          to $22.3 million at 7% and $3.7 million
                                                      the Agency for enforcement are                          neurotoxicity, and developmental                      to $11.4 million at 3%) far outweigh the
                                                      estimated to be $121,000 per year. The                  immunotoxicity). Others (e.g., adult                  costs of the proposed approaches for use
                                                      total cost of the proposed approach for                 immunotoxicity, kidney and liver                      of TCE in aerosol degreasing (the
                                                      the dry cleaning spotting use is                        failure or cancers) can have impacts that             annualized costs on a 15 year basis
                                                      estimated to be $130,000–$133,000 and                   are experienced for a shorter portion of              range from approximately $37,000 to
                                                      $135,000–$137,000 annualized over 15                    life, but are nevertheless significant in             $40,000 at 3% and $46,000 to $49,000
                                                      years at 3% and 7%, respectively.                       nature.                                               at 7%) and for use of TCE in spot
                                                         Total costs of the proposed rule for                    While the risk of non-cancer health                cleaners in dry cleaning facilities (the
                                                      both uses are estimated to be $170,000                  effects associated with TCE exposure                  annualized costs on a 15 year basis
                                                      annualized over 15 years at 3% and                      cannot be quantitatively estimated, the               range from approximately $130,000 to
                                                      $183,000 annualized over 15 years at                    qualitative discussion highlights how                 $133,000 at 3% and $135,000 to
                                                      7%.                                                     some of these non-cancer effects                      $137,000 at 7%).
                                                         Alternatives that EPA considered                     occurring much earlier in life from TCE
                                                      include the use of PPE as well as an                    exposure may be as severe as cancer’s                 IX. Overview of Uncertainties
                                                      option that would prohibit the use of                   mortality and morbidity and thus just as                A discussion of the uncertainties
                                                      TCE in aerosol degreasing and as a spot                 life-altering. These effects include not              associated with this proposed rule can
                                                      cleaner at dry cleaning facilities,                     only medical costs but also personal                  be found in the TCE risk assessment
                                                      without the companion prohibition on                    costs such as emotional and mental                    (Ref. 1) and in the supplemental
                                                      manufacture, processing, or distribution                stress that are impossible to accurately              analysis (Refs. 23, 24, 25) for use of TCE
                                                      in commerce for these uses or the                       measure.                                              in aerosol degreasing and use of TCE for
                                                      downstream notification requirements.                      While the impacts of non-cancer                    spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.
                                                      As discussed in Unit VI., EPA assumed                   effects cannot be monetized, EPA                      A summary of these uncertainties
                                                      that no users would adopt PPE because                   considered the impacts of these effects               follows.
                                                      the per-facility costs were prohibitively               in making its determination about how                   EPA used a number of assumptions in
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      expensive. The estimated annualized                     best to address the unreasonable risks                the TCE risk assessment and supporting
                                                      costs of switching to a respiratory                     presented by TCE use in aerosol                       analysis to develop estimates for
                                                      protection program requiring PPE of                     degreasing and as a spot cleaner in dry               occupational and consumer exposure
                                                      10,000 are $8,200 at 3% and $9,000 at                   cleaning facilities. Considering only                 scenarios and to develop the hazard/
                                                      7% per dry cleaning facility and $8,300                 monetized benefits would significantly                dose-response and risk characterization.
                                                      at 3% and $9,100 at 7% per aerosol                      underestimate the impacts of TCE-                     EPA recognizes that the uncertainties
                                                      degreasing facility over 15 years. EPA                  induced non-cancer adverse outcomes                   may underestimate or overestimate
                                                      also found that a use prohibition alone                 on a person’s quality of life to perform              actual risks. These uncertainties
                                                      without downstream notification                         basic skills of daily living, including the           include: (1) Releases of and exposures to


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00027   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91618                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      TCE can vary from one aerosol                           expected to contribute most to the                    on implementation timeframes. This
                                                      degreasing activity to the next. EPA                    uncertainty in the estimates.                         includes public comments, scientific
                                                      attempted to quantify this uncertainty                     There are also uncertainties in the                publications, and other input submitted
                                                      by evaluating multiple scenarios to                     estimates of the number of affected                   to EPA during the comment period.
                                                      establish a range of releases and                       facilities, particularly those for the
                                                                                                              aerosol degreasing use and for numbers                X. Analysis Under Section 9 of TSCA
                                                      exposures. In estimating the risk from                                                                        (Other Authorities) for Aerosol
                                                      aerosol degreasing, there are                           of processors and distributors of TCE-
                                                                                                              containing products not prohibited by                 Degreasing and Spot Cleaning in Dry
                                                      uncertainties in the number of workers                                                                        Cleaning Facilities and TSCA Section
                                                      exposed to TCE and in the inputs to the                 the proposed rule who are required to
                                                                                                              provide downstream notification and/or                26(h) Considerations
                                                      models used to estimate exposures. (2)
                                                      Although EPA found information about                    maintain records. The estimate for                    A. Section 9 Analysis
                                                      TCE products intended for consumer                      number of facilities using TCE-
                                                                                                                                                                       1. Section 9(a) analysis. Section 9(a)
                                                      use, there is some general uncertainty                  containing aerosol degreasers is based
                                                                                                                                                                    of TSCA provides that, if the
                                                                                                              on EPA calculations using data derived
                                                      regarding the nature and extent of the                                                                        Administrator determines in her
                                                                                                              from the California Air Resources Board
                                                      consumer use of aerosol products                                                                              discretion that unreasonable risks may
                                                                                                              Initial Statement of Reasons for the
                                                      containing TCE. (3) Releases of and                                                                           be prevented or reduced to a sufficient
                                                                                                              Proposed Airborne Toxic Control
                                                      exposures to TCE can vary from one dry                  Measure for Emissions of Chlorinated                  extent by action taken under a Federal
                                                      cleaning facility to the next. EPA                      Toxic Air Contaminants from                           law not administered by EPA, the
                                                      attempted to quantify this uncertainty                  Automotive Maintenance and Repair                     Administrator must submit a report to
                                                      by evaluating multiple scenarios to                     Activities (Ref. 2). To estimate the                  the agency administering that other law
                                                      establish a range of releases and                       number of processors, EPA relied on                   that describes the risk and the activities
                                                      exposures. There is also uncertainty in                 public 2012 CDR data. The number of                   that present such risk. If the other
                                                      the number of workers exposed to TCE                    sites is reported in the CDR data as a                agency responds by declaring that the
                                                      for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                       range. The midpoint of the reported                   activities described do not present
                                                      facilities. There are uncertainties in the              ranges was used to estimate the total                 unreasonable risks or if that agency
                                                      model and inputs used to model the                      number of sites using the chemical.                   initiates action under its own law to
                                                      exposures to TCE from these uses.                       Furthermore, the CDR data only include                protect against the risk, EPA is
                                                                                                              processors immediately downstream of                  precluded from acting against the risk
                                                         In addition to the uncertainties in the
                                                                                                              those reporting to CDR. Finally, EPA                  under sections 6 or 7 of TSCA.
                                                      risks, there are uncertainties in the cost
                                                                                                              estimated the number of wholesaler                       Section 9(d) of TSCA instructs the
                                                      and benefits. The uncertainties in the
                                                                                                              firms distributing products containing                Administrator to consult and coordinate
                                                      benefits are most pronounced in                                                                               TSCA activities with other Federal
                                                      estimating the benefits from preventing                 TCE by taking a ratio of the number of
                                                                                                              Chemical and Allied Products Merchant                 agencies for the purpose of achieving
                                                      the non-cancer adverse effects because                                                                        the maximum enforcement of TSCA
                                                      these benefits generally cannot be                      Wholesaler firms to Basic Chemical
                                                                                                              Manufacturing firms and applying it to                while imposing the least burden of
                                                      monetized due to the lack of                                                                                  duplicative requirements. For today’s
                                                      concentration response functions in                     the estimated number of manufacturers
                                                                                                              and processors of TCE (Ref. 2).                       proposed rule, EPA has consulted with
                                                      humans leading to the ability to                                                                              CPSC and OSHA.
                                                      estimate the number of population-level                    Another uncertainty concerns the
                                                                                                              estimate for the cost of reblending                      CPSC protects the public from
                                                      non-cancer cases and limitations in                                                                           unreasonable risks of injury or death
                                                                                                              products and the time required to
                                                      established economic methodologies.                                                                           associated with the use of consumer
                                                                                                              reblend those products. EPA used a
                                                      Additional uncertainties in benefit                                                                           products under the agency’s
                                                                                                              study on the automotive aftermarket
                                                      calculations include the reliance on                                                                          jurisdiction. There are no CPSC
                                                                                                              parts products industry that provided a
                                                      professional judgment to estimate the                                                                         regulations on use of TCE in aerosol
                                                                                                              range of costs for product reformulation
                                                      alternatives that users might choose to                 and used the mean value of $26,000                    degreasers and for spot cleaning at dry
                                                      adopt and the potential risks for adverse               from that study. EPA contacted both dry               cleaning facilities (Ref. 64).
                                                      health effects that the alternatives may                cleaners and blenders of aerosol                         OSHA assures safe and healthful
                                                      pose. While there are some products                     degreasing products for additional                    working conditions for working men
                                                      that have comparable risks, there are a                 information and received a few                        and women by setting and enforcing
                                                      number of alternatives that are likely to               estimates from the aerosol degreasing                 standards and by providing training,
                                                      be of lower risk, although EPA is unable                product blenders which ranged from                    outreach, education and assistance.
                                                      to estimate the incremental change in                   $15,000 to $30,000. However, EPA                      OSHA adopted an eight-hour time
                                                      the risk. To account for this uncertainty,              received no information from dry                      weighted average PEL of 100 ppm along
                                                      EPA includes a lower and a higher                       cleaning spot cleaning product blenders,              with a ceiling limit in 1971 shortly after
                                                      estimate for the benefits from                          so there is some uncertainty as to how                the agency was formed. It was based on
                                                      eliminating exposure to TCE. The lower                  representative the estimate is for that               the American Conference of
                                                      benefits estimate does not include any                  industry.                                             Governmental Industrial Hygienists
                                                      benefits for firms that switch to                          EPA also assumes that companies are                (ACGIH) recommended occupational
                                                      anything other than water-based, methyl                 generally able to reblend products                    exposure limit that was in place at that
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      ester (soy-based) cleaners, or acetone                  within 6 months following publication                 time. OSHA recognizes that the TCE
                                                      degreasers. The higher benefits estimate                of the final rule; however, it is not                 PEL and many other PELs issued shortly
                                                      includes the benefit from entirely                      certain whether they may experience                   after adoption of the OSHA Act in 1970
                                                      eliminating TCE exposure for all                        additional costs if they are not able have            are outdated and inadequate for
                                                      alternative compliance strategies and                   a product available to market at that                 ensuring protection of worker health.
                                                      assumes that no risks are introduced by                 time.                                                 OSHA recently published a Request for
                                                      alternatives. This inability to adequately                 EPA will consider additional                       Information on approaches to updating
                                                      account for adverse health effects of                   information received during the public                PELs and other strategies to managing
                                                      alternatives in the benefits analysis is                comment period, including comments                    chemicals in the workplace (Ref. 9).


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00028   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         91619

                                                      OSHA’s current regulatory agenda does                   benefits expected from the rule bear a                such risk under TSCA. In making such
                                                      not include revision to the TCE PEL or                  reasonable relationship to its costs.’’ 15            a public interest determination, section
                                                      other regulations addressing the risks                  U.S.C. 2058(f)(3)(E). Additionally,                   9(b)(2) of TSCA states: ‘‘the
                                                      EPA has identified when TCE is used in                  recent amendments to TSCA reflect                     Administrator shall consider, based on
                                                      aerosol degreasing or for spot cleaning                 Congressional intent to ‘‘delete the                  information reasonably available to the
                                                      in dry cleaning facilities (Ref. 9).                    paralyzing ‘least burdensome’                         Administrator, all relevant aspects of
                                                         EPA has determined that risks from                   requirement,’’ 162 Cong. Rec. S3517                   the risk . . . and a comparison of the
                                                      the use of TCE in aerosol spray                         (June 7, 2016). However, a consumer                   estimated costs and efficiencies of the
                                                      degreasers and as a spot cleaner in dry                 product safety rule under the CPSA                    action to be taken under this title and
                                                      cleaning facilities are best managed by                 must impose ‘‘the least burdensome                    an action to be taken under such other
                                                      regulation under TSCA rather than by                    requirement which prevents or                         law to protect against such risk.’’
                                                      referral to other agencies. Today’s                     adequately reduces the risk of injury for               Although several EPA statutes have
                                                      proposed rule addresses risk from TCE                   which the rule is being promulgated.’’                been used to limit TCE exposure, as
                                                      exposure to populations in both                         15 U.S.C. 2058(f)(3)(F). Analogous                    discussed in Unit III.A, regulations
                                                      workplaces and consumer settings. With                  requirements, also at variance with                   under these EPA statutes have
                                                      the exception of TSCA, there is no                      recent revisions to TSCA, affect the                  limitations because they largely regulate
                                                      Federal law that provides authority to                  availability of action under the FHSA                 releases to the environment, rather than
                                                      prevent or sufficiently reduce these                    relative to action under TSCA. 15 U.S.C.              direct human exposure. SDWA only
                                                      cross-cutting exposures. No other                       1262. Gaps also exist between OSHA’s                  applies to drinking water. CAA does not
                                                      Federal regulatory authority, when                      authority to set workplace standards                  apply directly to worker exposures or
                                                      considering the exposures to the                        under the OSH Act and EPA’s amended                   consumer settings where TCE is used.
                                                      populations and within the situations in                obligations to sufficiently address                   Under RCRA, TCE that is discarded may
                                                      its purview, can evaluate and address                   chemical risks under TSCA. To set PELs                be considered a hazardous waste and
                                                      the totality of the risk that EPA is                    for chemical exposure, OSHA must first                subject to requirements designed to
                                                      addressing in this proposed rulemaking                  establish that the new standards are                  reduce exposure from the disposal of
                                                      under TSCA. For example, OSHA may                       economically feasible and                             TCE to air, land and water. RCRA does
                                                      set exposure limits for workers but its                 technologically feasible. (79 FR 61387,               not address exposures during use of
                                                      authority is limited to the workplace                   October 10, 2014). But under TSCA,                    products containing TCE. Only TSCA
                                                      and does not extend to consumer uses                    EPA’s substantive burden under TSCA                   provides EPA the authority to regulate
                                                      of hazardous chemicals. Further, OSHA                   section 6(a) is to demonstrate that, as               the manufacture (including import),
                                                      does not have direct authority over state               regulated, the chemical substance no                  processing, and distribution in
                                                      and local employees, and it has no                      longer presents an unreasonable risk,                 commerce, and use of chemicals
                                                      authority at all over the working                       with unreasonable risk being                          substances.
                                                      conditions of state and local employees                 determined without consideration of                   B. Section 26(h) Considerations
                                                      in states that have no OSHA-approved                    cost or other non-risk factors.
                                                      State Plan under 29 U.S.C. 667. Other                      TSCA is the only regulatory authority                In proposing this rule under section 6
                                                      Federal regulatory authorities, such as                 able to prevent or reduce risk from these             of TSCA, the EPA has made a decision
                                                      CPSC, have the authority to only                        uses of TCE to a sufficient extent across             based on science. EPA has used
                                                      regulate pieces of the TCE risk, such as                the range of uses and exposures of                    scientific information, technical
                                                      consumer products. And neither agency                   concern. In addition, these risks can be              procedures, measures, methods,
                                                      has authority to bar the manufacture,                   addressed in a more coordinated,                      protocols, methodologies, and models
                                                      processing or distribution for these uses               efficient and effective manner under                  consistent with the best available
                                                      and require downstream notification of                  TSCA than under two or more different                 science. Specifically, EPA based its
                                                      restrictions like EPA proposes to do.                   laws implemented by different agencies.               preliminary determination of
                                                         Moreover, recent amendments to                       Accordingly, EPA determines that                      unreasonable risk presented by the use
                                                      TSCA, Public Law 114–182, alter both                    referral to other Federal authorities for             of TCE in aerosol degreasing products
                                                      the manner of identifying unreasonable                  risk management would not necessarily                 and as a spot cleaner in dry cleaning
                                                      risk under TSCA and EPA’s authority to                  address the unreasonable risk. As noted               facilities on the completed risk
                                                      address unreasonable risk under TSCA,                   previously, there are key differences                 assessment, which followed a peer
                                                      such that risk management under TSCA                    between the newly amended finding                     review and public comment process, as
                                                      is increasingly distinct from analogous                 requirements of TSCA and those of the                 well as using best available science and
                                                      provisions of the Consumer Product                      OSH Act, CPSA, and the FHSA. For                      methods (Ref. 1). Additional
                                                      Safety Act (CPSA), the Federal                          these reasons, in her discretion, the                 information on the peer review and
                                                      Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), or                     Administrator does not determine that                 public comment process, such as the
                                                      the OSH Act. These changes to TSCA                      unreasonable risks from these uses of                 peer review plan, the peer review
                                                      reduce the likelihood that an action                    TCE may be prevented or reduced to a                  report, and the Agency’s response to
                                                      under the CPSA, FHSA, or the OSH Act                    sufficient extent by an action taken                  comments, can be found on EPA’s
                                                      would reduce the risk of these uses of                  under a Federal law not administered by               Assessments for TSCA Work Plan
                                                      TCE so that the risks are no longer                     EPA.                                                  Chemicals Web page at https://
                                                      unreasonable under TSCA. Whereas (in                       2. Section 9(b) analysis. If EPA                   www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      a TSCA section 6 rule) an unreasonable                  determines that actions under other                   chemicals-under-tsca/assessments-tsca-
                                                      risk determination sets the objective of                Federal authorities administered in                   work-plan-chemicals.
                                                      the rule in a manner that excludes cost                 whole or in part by EPA may eliminate                   The scientific information and
                                                      considerations, 15 U.S.C. 2605(b)(4)(A),                or sufficiently reduce unreasonable                   technical measures and models used in
                                                      subject to time-limited conditional                     risks, section 9(b) of TSCA instructs                 the risk assessment and supplemental
                                                      exemptions for critical chemical uses                   EPA to use these other statutes unless                analyses are consistent with the
                                                      and the like, 15 U.S.C. 2605(g), a                      the Administrator determines in the                   intended use for risk reduction by
                                                      consumer product safety rule under the                  Administrator’s discretion that it is in              regulation under section 6 of TSCA. The
                                                      CPSA must include a finding that ‘‘the                  the public interest to protect against                degree of clarity and completeness of


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00029   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91620                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      the science used in the risk assessment                 the first year and $3,900 and $5,000 on                    managing-chemicals-under-tsca/tsca-
                                                      and supplemental analyses are                           an annualized basis over 15 years using                    work-plan-chemical-risk-assessment-0
                                                      described in the risk assessment (Ref. 1)               3 and 7 percent discount rates                        2. EPA (US Environmental Protection
                                                                                                                                                                         Agency). 2016. Economic Assessment for
                                                      and Unit IX. Similarly, the variability                 respectively.                                              Trichloroethylene (TCE) under TSCA
                                                      and uncertainty in the information or                                                                              Section 6. Office of Chemical Safety and
                                                                                                              C. Enforcement
                                                      models and methods used are described                                                                              Pollution Prevention, Washington, DC.
                                                      in the risk assessment (Ref. 1) and Unit                   Section 15 of TSCA makes it unlawful               3. EPA. Toxicological Review of
                                                      IX.                                                     to fail or refuse to comply with any                       Trichloroethylene (CAS No. 79–01–6).
                                                                                                              provision of a rule promulgated under                      EPA/635/R-09/011F. Integrated Risk
                                                      XI. Major Provisions of the Proposed                                                                               Information System, Washington, DC.
                                                      Rule                                                    section 6 of TSCA. Therefore, any
                                                                                                                                                                         2011.
                                                                                                              failure to comply with this proposed                  4. International Agency for Research on
                                                      A. Prohibitions on TCE Manufacturing,                   rule when it becomes effective would be                    Cancer. Monographs on the Evaluation of
                                                      Processing, Distribution in Commerce,                   a violation of section 15 of TSCA. In                      Carcinogenic Risks to Humans:
                                                      and Commercial Use                                      addition, section 15 of TSCA makes it                      Cadmium, Trichloroethylene,
                                                        The rule would prohibit (1) the                       unlawful for any person to: (1) Fail or                    Tetrachloroethylene, and Some
                                                                                                              refuse to establish and maintain records                   Chlorinated Agents. Volume 106. World
                                                      manufacture, processing, distribution in                                                                           Health Organization, Lyon, France.
                                                      commerce, and commercial use of TCE                     as required by this rule; (2) fail or refuse
                                                                                                                                                                    5. National Toxicology Program. 13th Report
                                                      in aerosol degreasers; and (2) the                      to permit access to or copying of                          on Carcinogens. 2014. Available at
                                                      manufacture, processing, distribution in                records, as required by TSCA; or (3) fail                  http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/annualreport/
                                                      commerce, and use of TCE for spot                       or refuse to permit entry or inspection                    2015/glance/roc/index.html.
                                                      cleaning in dry cleaning facilities.                    as required by section 11 of TSCA.                    6. EPA. Protection of Stratospheric Ozone:
                                                                                                                 Violators may be subject to both civil                  Listing of Ozone-Depleting Substances-n-
                                                      B. Downstream Notification                              and criminal liability. Under the penalty                  Propyl Bromide in Solvent Cleaning.
                                                                                                                                                                         Final Rule. Federal Register (72 FR
                                                        EPA has authority under section 6 of                  provision of section 16 of TSCA, any                       30142, May 30, 2007) (FRL–8316–8).
                                                      TSCA to require that a substance or                     person who violates section 15 could be               7. Occupational Safety and Health
                                                      mixture or any article containing such                  subject to a civil penalty for each                        Administration (OSHA). Occupational
                                                      substance or mixture be marked with or                  violation. Each day of operation in                        Safety and Health Standards, Toxic and
                                                      accompanied by clear and adequate                       violation of this proposed rule when it                    Hazardous Substances. Code of Federal
                                                      minimum warnings and instructions                       becomes effective could constitute a                       Regulations 29 CFR 1910.1000. 1998.
                                                      with respect to its use, distribution in                separate violation. Knowing or willful                8. OSHA. Permissible Exposure Limits—
                                                      commerce, or disposal or with respect to                                                                           Annotated Tables. https://
                                                                                                              violations of this proposed rule when it
                                                                                                                                                                         www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/.
                                                      any combination of such activities.                     becomes effective could lead to the                        Retrieved February 26, 2016.
                                                      Many TCE manufacturers and                              imposition of criminal penalties for                  9. OSHA. Chemical Management and
                                                      processors are likely to manufacture or                 each day of violation and imprisonment.                    Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).
                                                      process TCE or TCE containing products                  In addition, other remedies are available                  Federal Register 79 FR 61384 (October
                                                      for other uses that would not be                        to EPA under TSCA.                                         10, 2014). http://www.regulations.gov/
                                                      regulated under this proposed rule.                        Individuals, as well as corporations,                   #!documentDetail;D=OSHA-2012-0023-
                                                      Other companies may be strictly                                                                                    0001
                                                                                                              could be subject to enforcement actions.              10. National Institute for Occupational Safety
                                                      engaged in distribution in commerce of                  Sections 15 and 16 of TSCA apply to                        and Health (NIOSH). Pocket Guide to
                                                      TCE, without any manufacturing or                       ‘‘any person’’ who violates various                        Chemical Hazards. U.S. Department of
                                                      processing activities, to customers for                 provisions of TSCA. EPA may, at its                        Health and Human Services, Public
                                                      uses that are not regulated. EPA is                     discretion, proceed against individuals                    Health Service, Centers for Disease
                                                      proposing a requirement for                             as well as companies. In particular, EPA                   Control and Prevention. Cincinnati, OH.
                                                      downstream notification by                              may proceed against individuals who                        1997.
                                                      manufacturers, processors, and                          report false information or cause it to be            11. American Conference of Governmental
                                                      distributors of TCE for any use to ensure                                                                          Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH),
                                                                                                              reported.                                                  Threshold Limit Values & Biological
                                                      compliance with the prohibition on
                                                                                                              XII. References                                            Exposure Indices for 2003, ACGIH,
                                                      manufacture, processing, distribution in                                                                           Cincinnati, OH, 2003.
                                                      commerce, and commercial use of TCE                        The following is a listing of the                  12. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17, § 94509 (2013).
                                                      for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                       documents that are specifically                       13. Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI).
                                                      facilities and in aerosol degreasers.                   referenced in this document. The docket                    http://www.turi.org/TURI_Publications/
                                                      Downstream notification is necessary                    includes these documents and other                         TURI_Chemical_Fact_Sheets/
                                                      for effective enforcement of the rule                                                                              Trichloroethylene_TCE_Fact_Sheet.
                                                                                                              information considered by EPA,
                                                      because it provides a record, in writing,                                                                          2013.
                                                                                                              including documents referenced within                 14. Minnesota Department of Health.
                                                      of notification on use restrictions                     the documents that are included in the                     Chemicals of High Concern List. July 1,
                                                      throughout the supply chain, likely via                 docket, even if the referenced document                    2013. http://www.health.state.mn.us/
                                                      modifications to the Safety Data Sheet.                 is not physically located in the docket.                   divs/eh/hazardous/topics/toxfreekids/
                                                      Downstream notification also increases                  For assistance in locating these other                     chclist/mdhchc2013.pdf.
                                                      awareness of restrictions on the use of                                                                       15. LawAtlas: The Policy Surveillance Portal.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              documents, please consult the technical
                                                      TCE for spot cleaning in dry cleaning                   person listed under FOR FURTHER                            http://lawatlas.org/. Retrieved April 4,
                                                      facilities and in aerosol degreasers,                                                                              2016.
                                                                                                              INFORMATION CONTACT.
                                                      which is likely to decrease                                                                                   16. European Chemicals Agency. Substance
                                                      unintentional uses of TCE by these                      1. EPA. 2014. TSCA Work Plan Chemical                      Information: Trichloroethylene. http://
                                                                                                                  Risk Assessment. Trichloroethylene:                    echa.europa.eu/da/substance-
                                                      entities. Downstream notification                           Degreasing, Spot Cleaning and Arts &                   information/-/substanceinfo/
                                                      represents minimal burden and is                            Crafts Uses. CASRN: 79–01–6. EPA/740/                  100.001.062. Retrieved February 25,
                                                      necessary for effective enforcement of                      R1/4002. Office of Chemical Safety and                 2016.
                                                      the rule. The estimated cost of                             Pollution Prevention, Washington, DC.             17. Environment Canada. Priority Substances
                                                      downstream notification is $51,000 in                       https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-                     List Assessment Report-



                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00030   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                              91621

                                                           Trichloroethylene. Canada                               [RIN 2070–AK03]. Office of Chemical                   Commercial Drycleaning. Publication
                                                           Environmental Protection Act. 1993.                     Safety and Pollution Prevention.                      Number 97–158. Centers for Disease
                                                           http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/                   Washington, DC 2016.                                  Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
                                                           contaminants/psl1-lsp1/                            30. OSHA. Respiratory Protection. https://                 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/
                                                           trichloroethylene/index-eng.php.                        www.osha.gov/SLTC/                                    hazardcontrol/hc20.html.
                                                           Retrieved March 7, 2016.                                respiratoryprotection/index.html.                46. CDC. Facts about Congenital Heart
                                                      18. Environment Canada. Solvent Degreasing                   Retrieved March 16, 2016.                             Defects http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
                                                           Regulations (SOR/2003–283) http://                 31. Consumer Specialty Products Association                heartdefects/facts.html. December 22,
                                                           www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/                 (CSPA). Presentation by Steven Bennett                2015. Accessed March 1, 2016.
                                                           detailreg.cfm?intReg=76. Retrieved                      at the Expert Public Workshop on                 47. The National Academies Press,
                                                           March 7, 2016.                                          Alternatives and Risk Reduction                       Committee on Developmental
                                                      19. Incorporated Administrative Agency                       Approaches to Trichloroethylene. July                 Toxicology, Board on Environmental
                                                           National Institute of Technology and                    29, 2014.                                             Studies and Toxicology, Commission on
                                                           Evaluation. Chemical Risk Information              32. EPA. Analysis Report of Alternatives in                Life Sciences, National Research
                                                           Platform (CHRIP). http://                               Support of Risk Management Options for                Council. Scientific Frontiers in
                                                           www.safe.nite.go.jp/english/sougou/                     Use of TCE in Aerosol Degreasing and for              Developmental Toxicology and Risk
                                                           view/ComprehensiveInfoDisplay_                          Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning Facilities.             Assessment. Washington, DC. http://
                                                           en.faces. Retrieved March 7, 2016.                      Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution               www.nap.edu/read/9871/chapter/4.
                                                      20. Australian Government Department of                      Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.                      2000.
                                                           Health National Industrial Chemicals               33. Unintended pregnancy in the United                48. Mayo clinic. Chronic kidney disease.
                                                           Notification and Assessment Scheme.                     States: Incidence and disparities, 2006.              http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
                                                           AICS Listing. http://www.nicnas.gov.au/                 Contraception. 2011;84(5):478–485.                    conditions/kidney-disease/basics/
                                                           regulation-and-compliance/aics/aics-               34. EPA. Guidelines for Developmental                      definition/con-20026778. January 30,
                                                           search-page/chemical?id=1092.                           Toxicity Risk Assessment. Federal                     2015.
                                                           Retrieved March 7, 2016.                                Register 56(234):63798–63826. December           49. American Kidney Fund. 2015 Kidney
                                                      21. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals:                           5, 1991.                                              Disease Statistics. http://
                                                           Methods Document. Environmental                    35. EPA. Guidelines for Reproductive                       www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/assets/
                                                           Protection Agency Office of Pollution                   Toxicity Risk Assessment. Federal                     pdfs/kidney_disease_statistics_2015.pdf
                                                           Prevention and Toxics. Washington, DC                   Register 61(212):56274–56322. October            50. The Kidney Boy. The Cost of Dialysis.
                                                           February 2012. http://www.epa.gov/sites/                31, 1996.                                             http://thekidneyboy.blogspot.com/2011/
                                                           production/files/2014-03/documents/                36. Johnson, P.D., S.J. Goldberg, M.Z. Mays,               01/cost-of-dialysis.html. January 20,
                                                           work_plan_methods_document_web_                         and B.V. Dawson. 2003. Threshold of                   2011.
                                                           final.pdf. Retrieved February 25, 2016.                 Trichloroethylene Contamination in               51. Silman AJ, Hochberg MC. Cooper C, et al.
                                                      22. EPA. TSCA Work Plan Chemicals. Office                    Maternal Drinking Waters Affecting Fetal              Epidemiology of the Rheumatic Diseases.
                                                           of Chemical Safety and Pollution                        Heart Development in the Rat.                         Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press;
                                                           Prevention. June 2012. http://                          Environmental Health Perspectives,                    1993:192. Cited in Hinchcliff, M.; Varga,
                                                           www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/                     111(3), 289–292.                                      Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma: A
                                                           2014-02/documents/work_plan_                       37. EPA. The Effectiveness of Labeling on                  treatable multisystem disease. J. Am Fam
                                                           chemicals_web_final.pdf. Retrieved                      Hazardous Chemicals and Other                         Physician. 78(8):961–8. 2008.
                                                           February 25, 2016.                                      Products. Office of Chemical Safety and          52. Lawrence RC, Helmick CG, Arnett FC, et
                                                      23. EPA. Supplemental Occupational                           Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC                  al. Estimates of the prevalence of
                                                           Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical                   2016.                                                 arthritis and selected musculoskeletal
                                                           Report in Support of Risk Management               38. United States Consumer Product Safety                  disorders in the United States. Arthritis
                                                           Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use                 Commission (CPSC). Human Factors                      Rheum. 1998;41(5):778–799. Cited in
                                                           in Aerosol Degreasing. Office of                        Assessment of Strong Magnet Sets.                     Hinchcliff, M.; Varga, Systemic sclerosis/
                                                           Chemical Safety and Pollution                           Bethesda, MD. August 2, 2012.                         scleroderma: A treatable multisystem
                                                           Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.                   39. EPA. Recommendations for an Existing                   disease. J. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Oct
                                                      24. EPA. Supplemental Exposure and Risk                      Chemical Exposure Limit (ECEL) for                    15;78(8):961–8.
                                                           Reduction Technical Report in Support                   Occupational Use of Trichloroethylene            53. National Cancer Institute. SEER Stat Fact
                                                           of Risk Management Options for                          (TCE) and Sampling and Analytical                     Sheets: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
                                                           Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use in                          Methods for TCE. Office of Chemical                   Bethesda, MD. http://seer.cancer.gov/
                                                           Consumer Aerosol Degreasing. Office of                  Safety and Pollution Prevention.                      statfacts/html/nhl.html. Retrieved March
                                                           Chemical Safety and Pollution                           Washington, DC August 28, 2015.                       16, 2016.
                                                           Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.                   40. Hindin, David A., and Jon D. Silberman.           54. Mayo Clinic. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
                                                      25. EPA. Supplemental Occupational                           Designing More Effective Rules and                    Risk Factors. January 28, 2016. http://
                                                           Exposure and Risk Reduction Technical                   Permits. George Washington Journal of                 www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
                                                           Report in Support of Risk Management                    Energy & Environmental Law. 7.2 (2016):               conditions/non-hodgkins-lymphoma/
                                                           Options for Trichloroethylene (TCE) Use                 103–23.                                               basics/risk-factors/con-20027792.
                                                           in Spot Cleaning. Office of Chemical               41. EPA. Proceedings Report-Stakeholder                    Retrieved March 7, 2016.
                                                           Safety and Pollution Prevention.                        Roundtables. United States-Canada                55. Morton LM, Curtis RE, Linet MS, et al.
                                                           Washington, DC February 29, 2016.                       Regulatory Cooperation Council: Supply                Second Malignancy Risks After Non-
                                                      26. EPA. A Review of the Reference Dose and                  Chain Communication and the U.S.                      Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Chronic
                                                           Reference Concentration Processes. EPA/                 EPA’s SNUR and EC/HC’s SNAc                           Lymphocytic Leukemia: Differences by
                                                           630/P–02/002F. December 2002.                           Programs. November 30, 2015.                          Lymphoma Subtype. Journal of Clinical
                                                      27. EPA. Expert Public Workshop on                      42. Dry Cleaning Coalition. State Coalition                Oncology. 2010;28(33):4935–4944.
                                                           Alternatives and Risk Reduction                         for Remediation of Drycleaners:                       doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.29.1112.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                           Approaches to Trichloroethylene. July                   Chemicals Used In Dry Cleaning                   56. Sharma R, Biedenharn KR, Fedor JM,
                                                           29–30, 2014. EPA Docket Number EPA–                     Operations. 2009.                                     Agarwal A. Lifestyle factors and
                                                           HQ–OPPT–2014–0327–0001.                            43. EPA. November 13, 2014, Meeting with                   reproductive health: Taking control of
                                                      28. EPA. Regulatory Options Analysis Matrix                  The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute.                your fertility. Reproductive Biology and
                                                           for TCE Aerosol Degreasing [RIN 2070–              44. EPA. Evaluation of Water-Based Cleaners.               Endocrinology: RB&E. 2013;11:66.
                                                           AK03]. Office of Chemical Safety and                    Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution               doi:10.1186/1477–7827–11–66.
                                                           Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC                    Prevention. Washington, DC 2016.                 57. CDC. National Center for Health
                                                           2016.                                              45. NIOSH (National Institute for                          Statistics—Infertility. February 6, 2015.
                                                      29. EPA. Regulatory Options Analysis Matrix                  Occupational Safety and Health). Control              http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/
                                                           for TCE as a Spot Cleaner (Dry Cleaning).               of Spotting Chemical Hazards in                       infertility.htm Retrieved March 16, 2016.



                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00031   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                      91622                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      58. Gruenewald DA, Matsumoto AM.                        2011), and any changes made in                        control number. The OMB control
                                                           Testosterone supplementation therapy               response to OMB recommendations                       numbers for the EPA’s regulations in 40
                                                           for older men: Potential benefits and              have been documented in the docket.                   CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
                                                           risks. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003;51(1):101–                                                                   Submit your comments on the
                                                                                                              EPA prepared an economic analysis of
                                                           115.
                                                                                                              the potential costs and benefits                      Agency’s need for this information, the
                                                      59. Dadona P, Rosenberg MT. A practical
                                                           guide to male hypogonadism in the                  associated with this action, which is                 accuracy of the provided burden
                                                           primary care setting. Int J Clin Pract.            available in the docket and summarized                estimates, and any suggested methods
                                                           2010;64(6):682–696.                                in Unit VIII. (Ref. 2).                               for minimizing respondent burden to
                                                      60. International Association for the Study of                                                                EPA using the docket identified at the
                                                           Pain. http://www.iasp-pain.org/files/              B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)                      beginning of this proposed rule. You
                                                           Content/ContentFolders/                               The information collection                         may also send your ICR-related
                                                           GlobalYearAgainstPain2/                            requirements in this proposed rule have               comments to OMB’s Office of
                                                           20132014OrofacialPain/FactSheets/                  been submitted to OMB for review and                  Information and Regulatory Affairs via
                                                           Trigeminal_Neuralgia.pdf. 2013.
                                                                                                              comment under the Paperwork                           email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov,
                                                      61. American Liver Foundation. Non-
                                                           Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).             Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.                 Attention: Desk Officer for the EPA.
                                                           http://www.liverfoundation.org/                    The Information Collection Request                    Since OMB is required to make a
                                                           abouttheliver/info/nafld/. January 14,             (ICR) document prepared by the EPA                    decision concerning the ICR between 30
                                                           2015. Retrieved April 4, 2016.                     has been assigned the EPA ICR number                  and 60 days after receipt, OMB must
                                                      62. CDC. Viral Hepatitis—Statistics and                 2541.01. You can find a copy of the ICR               receive comments no later than January
                                                           Surveillance. http://www.cdc.gov/                  in the docket for this proposed rule, and             17, 2017. The EPA will respond to any
                                                           hepatitis/Statistics/index.htm. May 31,            it is briefly summarized here.                        ICR-related comments in the final rule.
                                                           2014. Retrieved April 4, 2016.                        The information collection activities
                                                      63. United Network for Organ Sharing                                                                          C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
                                                           (UNOS) Transplant Living. Financing a
                                                                                                              required under the proposed rule
                                                                                                              include a downstream notification                        I certify that this action will not have
                                                           Transplant—Costs. December 28, 2011.
                                                           Available at http://transplantliving.org/          requirement and a recordkeeping                       a significant economic impact on a
                                                           before-the-transplant/financing-a-                 requirement. The downstream                           substantial number of small entities
                                                           transplant/the-costs/. Retrieved March             notification would require companies                  under the RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. The
                                                           16. 2016.                                          that ship TCE to notify companies                     small entities subject to the
                                                      64. United States Consumer Product Safety               downstream in the supply chain of the                 requirements of this action are blenders
                                                           Commission (CPSC). Letter to James J.              prohibitions of TCE in the proposed                   of TCE-containing dry cleaning spot
                                                           Jones from Patricia H. Adkins. April 19,                                                                 removers and aerosol degreasers, users
                                                           2016.
                                                                                                              rule. The proposed rule does not require
                                                                                                              the regulated entities to submit                      of dry cleaning spot removers and
                                                      65. Occupational Safety and Health
                                                                                                              information to EPA. The proposed rule                 aerosol degreasers, and manufacturers,
                                                           Administration (OSHA). Letter to James
                                                           J. Jones from David Michaels. April 4              also does not require confidential or                 processors, and distributors of non-
                                                           2016.                                              sensitive information to be submitted to              prohibited TCE-containing products.
                                                      66. EPA. Section 6(a) Rulemakings under the             EPA or downstream companies. The                      Users of these products are not expected
                                                           Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)                recordkeeping requirement mandates                    to experience costs as there are
                                                           Paint Removers & TCE Rulemakings E.O.              companies that ship TCE to retain                     currently a number of alternatives
                                                           13132: Federalism Consultation. May 13,            certain information at the company                    available that are similar in performance
                                                           2015.                                                                                                    and cost. There are no small
                                                      67. EPA. Notification of Consultation and
                                                                                                              headquarters for two years from the date
                                                                                                              of shipment. These information                        governmental jurisdictions or non-
                                                           Coordination on Proposed Rulemakings
                                                                                                              collection activities are necessary in                profits expected to be affected by the
                                                           under the Toxic Substances Control Act
                                                           for (1) Methylene Chloride and n-                  order to enhance the prohibitions under               proposed rule. Overall, EPA estimates
                                                           Methylpyrrolidone in Paint Removers                the proposed rule by ensuring                         there are approximately 51,000 small
                                                           and (2) Trichloroethylene in Certain               awareness of the prohibitions                         entities affected by the proposed rule.
                                                           Uses. April 8, 2015.                               throughout the TCE supply chain, and                     Comparing the total annualized
                                                                                                              to provide EPA with information upon                  compliance cost for companies to their
                                                      XIII. Statutory and Executive Order                                                                           revenue, the Agency has estimated that
                                                      Reviews                                                 inspection of companies downstream
                                                                                                              who purchased TCE. EPA believes that                  all companies are expected to have cost
                                                        Additional information about these                    these information collection activities               impacts of less than one percent of their
                                                      statutes and Executive Orders can be                    would not significantly impact the                    revenues, ranging from an estimated
                                                      found at http://www2.epa.gov/laws-                      regulated entities.                                   high of 0.3 percent of revenues to a low
                                                      regulations/laws-and-executive-orders.                     Respondents/affected entities: TCE                 of 0.01 percent of revenues. Details of
                                                                                                              manufacturers, processors, and                        this analysis are presented in the
                                                      A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
                                                                                                              distributors.                                         Economic Analysis for this proposed
                                                      Planning and Review and Executive
                                                                                                                 Respondent’s obligation to respond:                rule (Ref. 2).
                                                      Order 13563: Improving Regulation and
                                                      Regulatory Review                                       Mandatory.                                            D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                                                                                 Estimated number of respondents:                   (UMRA)
                                                        This action is a significant regulatory               697.
                                                      action because it may raise novel legal                    Frequency of response: On occasion.                  This action does not contain an
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      or policy issues arising out of legal                      Total estimated burden: 348.5 hours                unfunded mandate of $100 million or
                                                      mandates, the President’s priorities, or                (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR                more as described in UMRA, 2 U.S.C.
                                                      the principles set forth in Executive                   1320.3(b).                                            1531–1538, and does not significantly or
                                                      Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4,                       Total estimated cost: $16,848 (per                 uniquely affect small governments. The
                                                      1993). Accordingly, EPA submitted the                   year).                                                requirements of this action would
                                                      action to the Office of Management and                     An agency may not conduct or                       primarily affect manufacturers,
                                                      Budget (OMB) for review under                           sponsor, and a person is not required to              processors, and distributors of TCE. The
                                                      Executive Order 12866 and Executive                     respond to a collection of information                total estimated annualized cost of the
                                                      Order 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21,                    unless it displays a currently valid OMB              proposed rule is approximately


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00032   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                             91623

                                                      $170,000 at 3% and $183,000 at 7%                       66). In those meetings, EPA provided                  List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 751
                                                      (Ref. 2).                                               background information on the                           Environmental protection, Chemicals,
                                                                                                              proposed rule and a summary of issues                 Export notification, Hazardous
                                                      E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
                                                                                                              being explored by the Agency. These                   substances, Import certification,
                                                        The EPA has concluded that this                       officials expressed concern for TCE                   Trichloroethylene, Recordkeeping.
                                                      action has federalism implications, as                  contamination on tribal lands and
                                                      specified in Executive Order 13132 (64                  supported additional regulation of TCE.                 Dated: December 6, 2016,
                                                      FR 43255, August 10, 1999), because                                                                           Gina McCarthy,
                                                      regulation under TSCA section 6(a) may                  G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of               Administrator.
                                                      preempt state law. EPA provides the                     Children From Environmental Health
                                                                                                                                                                    ■ Therefore, it is that 40 CFR chapter I,
                                                      following preliminary federalism                        Risks and Safety Risks
                                                                                                                                                                    subchapter R, is proposed to be
                                                      summary impact statement. The Agency                       This action is not subject to Executive            amended by adding a new part 751 to
                                                      consulted with state and local officials                Order 13045 because it is not                         read as follows:
                                                      early in the process of developing the                  economically significant as defined in
                                                      proposed action to permit them to have                  Executive Order 12866. This action’s                  PART 751—REGULATION OF CERTAIN
                                                      meaningful and timely input into its                    health and risk assessment of TCE                     CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AND
                                                      development. EPA invited the following                  exposure on children are contained in                 MIXTURES UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE
                                                      national organizations representing state               Units VI.B.1.c and VII.B.1.c of this                  TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT
                                                      and local elected officials to a meeting                preamble. Supporting information on
                                                      on May 13, 2015, in Washington DC:                                                                            Subpart A—General Provisions
                                                                                                              the exposures and health effects of TCE
                                                      National Governors Association;                         exposure on children is also available in             Sec.
                                                      National Conference of State                                                                                  751.1 Purpose.
                                                                                                              the Toxicological Review of                           751.5 Definitions.
                                                      Legislatures, Council of State                          Trichloroethylene (Ref. 3) and the TCE
                                                      Governments, National League of Cities,                                                                       751.7 Exports and imports.
                                                                                                              risk assessment (Ref. 1).                             751.9 Enforcement and Inspections.
                                                      U.S. Conference of Mayors, National
                                                      Association of Counties, International                  H. Executive Order 13211: Actions                     Subpart B—[Reserved]
                                                      City/County Management Association,                     Concerning Regulations That
                                                                                                                                                                    Subpart C—[Reserved]
                                                      National Association of Towns and                       Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                      Townships, County Executives of                         Distribution in Commerce, or Use                      Subpart D—Trichloroethylene
                                                      America, and Environmental Council of                                                                         751.301 General.
                                                      States. A summary of the meeting with                      This proposed rule is not subject to               751.303 Definitions.
                                                      these organizations, including the views                Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355,                   751.305 Aerosol Degreasing.
                                                      that they expressed, is available in the                May 22, 2001), because this action is not             751.307 Spot Cleaning in Dry Cleaning
                                                      docket (Ref. 65). Although EPA                          expected to affect energy supply,                         Facilities.
                                                      provided these organizations an                         distribution in commerce, or use. This                751.309 [Reserved].
                                                      opportunity to provide follow-up                        rulemaking is intended to protect                     751.311 Downstream Notification.
                                                                                                              against risks from TCE, and does not                  751.313 Recordkeeping.
                                                      comments in writing, no written follow-
                                                      up was received by the Agency.                          affect the use of oil, coal, or electricity.              Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2605.

                                                      F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                  I. National Technology Transfer and                   Subpart A—General Provisions
                                                      and Coordination With Indian Tribal                     Advancement Act (NTTAA)
                                                      Governments                                                                                                   § 751.1    Purpose.
                                                                                                                This proposed rulemaking does not
                                                                                                              involve technical standards.                            This part sets forth requirements,
                                                         This action does not have tribal
                                                                                                                                                                    such as prohibitions concerning the
                                                      implications, as specified in Executive                 J. Executive Order 12898: Federal                     manufacture (including import),
                                                      Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9,                   Actions To Address Environmental                      processing, distribution in commerce,
                                                      2000). This rulemaking would not have                   Justice in Minority Populations and                   uses, and/or disposal of certain
                                                      substantial direct effects on tribal                    Low-Income Populations                                chemical substances and mixtures
                                                      government because TCE is not
                                                                                                                 Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629,                 under section 6(a) of the Toxic
                                                      manufactured, processed, or distributed
                                                                                                              February 16, 1994) establishes federal                Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.
                                                      in commerce by tribes. TCE is not
                                                                                                              executive policy on environmental                     2605(a).
                                                      regulated by tribes, and this rulemaking
                                                      would not impose substantial direct                     justice. Its main provision directs                   § 751.5    Definitions.
                                                      compliance costs on tribal governments.                 federal agencies, to the greatest extent                 The definitions in section 3 of the
                                                      Thus, E.O. 13175 does not apply to this                 practicable and permitted by law, to                  Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.
                                                      action. EPA nevertheless consulted with                 make environmental justice part of their              2602, apply to this part except as
                                                      tribal officials during the development                 mission by identifying and addressing,                otherwise established in any subpart
                                                      of this action, consistent with the EPA                 as appropriate, disproportionately high               under this part.
                                                      Policy on Consultation and                              and adverse health or environmental                      Act or TSCA means the Toxic
                                                      Coordination with Indian Tribes.                        effects of their programs, policies and               Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601
                                                         EPA met with tribal officials in a                   activities on minority populations and                et seq.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      national informational webinar held on                  low-income populations in the U.S.                       CASRN means Chemical Abstracts
                                                      May 12, 2015 concerning the                             Units VI.B., VII.B, and VIII. of this                 Service Registry Number.
                                                      prospective regulation of TCE under                     preamble address public health impacts                   EPA means the U.S. Environmental
                                                      TSCA section 6, and in another                          from TCE. EPA has determined that                     Protection Agency.
                                                      teleconference with tribal officials on                 there would not be a disproportionately                  Person means any natural person,
                                                      May 27, 2015 (Ref. 66). EPA also met                    high and adverse health or                            firm, company, corporation, joint
                                                      with the National Tribal Toxics Council                 environmental effects on minority, low                venture, partnership, sole
                                                      (NTTC) in Washington, DC and via                        income, or indigenous populations from                proprietorship, association, or any other
                                                      teleconference on April 22, 2015 (Ref.                  this proposed rule.                                   business entity; any State or political


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00033   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM    16DEP5


                                                      91624                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      subdivision thereof; any municipality;                  Subpart B—[Reserved]                                  degreasing products and TCE for use in
                                                      any interstate body; and any                                                                                  aerosol degreasing products.
                                                      department, agency, or instrumentality                  Subpart C—[Reserved]                                     (b) After [Date 270 calendar days after
                                                      of the Federal Government.                                                                                    the date of publication of the final rule],
                                                                                                              Subpart D—Trichloroethylene                           all persons are prohibited from
                                                      § 751.7   Exports and imports.                                                                                commercial use of TCE in aerosol
                                                                                                              § 751.301    General.                                 degreasing products.
                                                        (a) Exports. Persons who intend to
                                                      export a chemical substance identified                    This subpart sets certain restrictions
                                                                                                              on the manufacture (including import),                § 751.307 Spot Cleaning at Dry Cleaning
                                                      in any subpart under this part, or in any                                                                     Facilities.
                                                                                                              processing, distribution in commerce,
                                                      proposed rule which would amend any                                                                              (a) After [Date 180 calendar days after
                                                                                                              and uses of trichloroethylene (TCE)
                                                      subpart under this part, are subject to                                                                       the date of publication of the final rule],
                                                                                                              (CASRN 79–01–6) to prevent
                                                      the export notification provisions of                                                                         all persons are prohibited from
                                                                                                              unreasonable risks to health associated
                                                      section 12(b) of the Act. The regulations               with human exposure to TCE for the                    manufacturing, processing, and
                                                      that interpret section 12(b) appear at 40               specified uses.                                       distributing in commerce TCE for spot
                                                      CFR part 707, subpart D.                                                                                      cleaning at dry cleaning facilities.
                                                        (b) Imports. Persons who import a                     § 751.303    Definitions.                                (b) After [Date 270 calendar days after
                                                      substance identified in any subpart                       The definitions in subpart A of this                the date of publication of the final rule],
                                                      under this part are subject to the import               part apply to this subpart unless                     all persons are prohibited from
                                                      certification requirements under section                otherwise specified in this section. In               commercial use of TCE for spot cleaning
                                                      13 of the Act, which are codified at 19                 addition, the following definitions                   at dry cleaning facilities.
                                                      CFR 12.118 through 12.127. See also 19                  apply:
                                                                                                                                                                    § 751.309   [Reserved]
                                                      CFR 127.28.                                               Aerosol degreasing means the use of
                                                                                                              a chemical in aerosol spray products                  § 751.311   Downstream Notification.
                                                      § 751.9   Enforcement and Inspections.                  applied from a pressurized can to                        Each person who manufactures,
                                                        (a) Enforcement. (1) Failure to comply                remove contaminants.                                  processes, or distributes in commerce
                                                      with any provision of this part is a                      Distribute in commerce has the same                 TCE for any use after [Date 45 calendar
                                                      violation of section 15 of the Act (15                  meaning as in section 3 of the Act,                   days after the date of publication of the
                                                                                                              except that the term does not include                 final rule] must, prior to or concurrent
                                                      U.S.C. 2614).
                                                                                                              retailers for purposes of § 751.311 and               with the shipment, notify companies to
                                                        (2) Failure or refusal to establish and               § 751.313.                                            whom TCE is shipped, in writing, of the
                                                      maintain records or to permit access to                   Dry cleaning facility means an                      restrictions described in this subpart.
                                                      or copying of records, as required by the               establishment with one or more dry
                                                      Act, is a violation of section 15 of the                cleaning systems.                                     § 751.313   Recordkeeping.
                                                      Act (15 U.S.C. 2614).                                     Dry cleaning system means a dry-to-                   (a) Each person who manufactures,
                                                        (3) Failure or refusal to permit entry                dry machine and its ancillary                         processes, or distributes in commerce
                                                      or inspection as required by section 11                 equipment or a transfer machine system                any TCE after [Date 45 calendar days
                                                                                                              and its ancillary equipment.                          after the date of publication of final
                                                      of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2610) is a violation
                                                                                                                Retailer means a person who                         rule] must retain in one location at the
                                                      of section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2614).
                                                                                                              distributes in commerce a chemical                    headquarters of the company
                                                        (4) Violators may be subject to the                                                                         documentation of:
                                                                                                              substance, mixture, or article to
                                                      civil and criminal penalties in section                                                                         (1) The name, address, point of
                                                                                                              consumer end users.
                                                      16 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2615) for each                                                                       contact, and telephone number of
                                                                                                                Spot cleaning means use of a
                                                      violation.                                                                                                    companies to whom TCE was shipped;
                                                                                                              chemical to clean stained areas on
                                                        (b) Inspections. EPA will conduct                     materials such as textiles or clothing.               and
                                                      inspections under section 11 of the Act                                                                         (2) The amount of TCE shipped.
                                                      (15 U.S.C. 2610) to ensure compliance                   § 751.305    Aerosol Degreasing.                        (3) Downstream notification.
                                                      with this part.                                            (a) After [Date 180 calendar days after              (b) The documentation in (a) must be
                                                                                                              the date of publication of the final rule],           retained for 2 years from the date of
                                                                                                              all persons are prohibited from                       shipment.
                                                                                                              manufacturing, processing, and                        [FR Doc. 2016–30063 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                              distributing in commerce TCE in aerosol               BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:53 Dec 15, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00034   Fmt 4701   Sfmt 9990   E:\FR\FM\16DEP5.SGM   16DEP5



Document Created: 2018-02-14 09:07:12
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 09:07:12
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received on or before February 14, 2017.
ContactFor technical information contact: Toni Krasnic, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-0984; email
FR Citation81 FR 91592 
RIN Number2070-AK03
CFR AssociatedEnvironmental Protection; Chemicals; Export Notification; Hazardous Substances; Import Certification; Trichloroethylene and Recordkeeping

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR