Methylene Chloride; Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Protection of human health or safety (TBT); Protection of the environment (TBT)

Methylene chloride (Dichloromethane); Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Protection against dangerous goods (ICS code(s): 13.300); Production in the chemical industry (ICS code(s): 71.020); Products of the chemical industry (ICS code(s): 71.100)

Link to ePing

13.020 - Environmental protection; 13.020 - Environmental protection; 13.300 - Protection against dangerous goods; 13.300 - Protection against dangerous goods; 71.020 - Production in the chemical industry; 71.020 - Production in the chemical industry; 71.100 - Products of the chemical industry; 71.100 - Products of the chemical industry

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is finalizing a rule to address the unreasonable risk of injury to health presented by methylene chloride under its conditions of use. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires that EPA address by rule any unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment identified in a TSCA risk evaluation and apply requirements to the extent necessary so that the chemical no longer presents unreasonable risk. EPA's final rule will, among other things, prevent serious illness and death associated with uncontrolled exposures to the chemical by preventing consumer access to the chemical, restricting the industrial and commercial use of the chemical while also allowing for a reasonable transition period where an industrial and commercial use of the chemical is being prohibited, provide a time-limited exemption for a critical or essential use of methylene chloride for which no technically and economically feasible safer alternative is available, and protect workers from the unreasonable risk of methylene chloride while on the job.This final rule is effective on 8 July 2024Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 751This final rule and the proposed rule notified as G/TBT/N/USA/1988 are identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0465. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0465/document and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number. 

1:File here 2:File here 3:File here 4:File here 5:File here

EN:File here

FR:File here

ES:File here

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