The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a webinar on November 14, 2023, on its proposal to ban trichloroethylene (TCE). In October 2023, EPA released its proposed risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for TCE. The rule would ban the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for all uses. If issued in final, most uses of TCE would be prohibited within one year, including TCE manufactured and processed for most commercial and all consumer products. EPA states that “[w]ithin this one-year timeframe, most people who are likely to be exposed to TCE from TSCA uses would be protected, including workers in many sectors, all consumers, and many communities.”

The webinar will provide an overview of the proposed rule and will provide the public an opportunity to share their perspective on the proposal. EPA states that it is “particularly interested in hearing from stakeholders who can provide their perspective on the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed requirements for their workplaces, and from stakeholders who can provide their perspective on the timeframes for the proposed prohibitions.” EPA is also interested in perspective from industry groups, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, Tribes, and other stakeholders.

Participants can register as listeners or to make prepared remarks. To provide remarks during the webinar, registration must be completed by November 10, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (EST). Stakeholders can register to listen until November 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (EST). EPA will send participants details on how to access the webinar and slides. EPA will provide the presentation materials on its website following the webinar.