EPA proposes additional TCE compliance delays

On October 14, 2026, EPA published a proposed rule to extend additional compliance dates for the trichloroethylene (TCE) risk management rule finalized in 2024 (2024 TCE final rule) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If finalized, the rule would delay compliance deadlines for certain chemical processors and refrigerant manufacturers.

Who’s impacted?

The 2024 TCE final rule applies to entities that manufacture (including import), process, distribute in commerce, use, or dispose of TCE or TCE-containing products.

The proposed rule specifically affects:

• Chemical processors;
• Manufacturers, processors, and distributors subject to downstream notification requirements; and
• Refrigerant manufacturers that process TCE to make HFC-134a.

What are the proposed changes?

For chemical processors, EPA proposes to move the prohibition compliance dates from December 18, 2026, to December 31, 2027, for:

• Processing TCE as a reactant/intermediate;
• Processing TCE for the industrial and commercial use of TCE as a processing aid in as well as the industrial and commercial use of TCE as a processing aid in:
  • Process solvent used in battery manufacturing;
  • Process solvent used in polymer fiber spinning, fluoroelastomer manufacturing, and Alcantara manufacturing;
  • Extraction solvent used in caprolactam manufacturing; and
  • Precipitant used in beta-cyclodextrin manufacturing.
• Disposing of TCE through wastewater from such processing and uses to industrial pretreatment, industrial treatment, or publicly owned treatment works.

For manufacturers, processors, and distributors in commerce, the proposed rule amends the compliance date for downstream notifications and the text required to be in the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) to reflect the new prohibition compliance dates. EPA would require affected manufacturers, processors, and distributors to update the SDSs with the new text 30 days after the publication date of a final rule.

For refrigerant manufacturers, EPA proposes extending the first phaseout reduction of processing TCE as an intermediate to manufacture HFC-134a. The 2024 TCE final rule requires manufacturers to reduce the annual amount of TCE feedstock they use to no greater than 75 percent of their baseline by June 7, 2027. This proposed rule would push the compliance date to December 31, 2027.

Key to remember: EPA proposes extending the TCE prohibition compliance deadline for certain chemical processors and the TCE feedstock phasedown date for specific refrigerant manufacturers.