Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Vapor Degreasing Under TSCA Section 6(a); Methylene Chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA Section 6(a); Reopening of Comment Periods

In the Federal Register of January 19, 2017, EPA issued two proposed rules under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The first action proposed to prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of trichloroethylene (TCE) for use in vapor degreasing; to prohibit the use of TCE in vapor degreasing; to require manufacturers (including importers), 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. The second action proposed to prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride and N- methylpyrrolidone (NMP) for consumer and most types of commercial paint and coating removal; to prohibit the use of methylene chloride and NMP in these commercial uses; to require manufacturers (including importers), processors, and distributors, except for retailers, of methylene chloride and NMP for any use to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to require recordkeeping. This document reopens and extends the comment periods for each proposed rule for an additional 30 days. Commenters requested additional time to submit written comments for the proposed rules.