EPA Publishes Draft Risk Evaluation for Perchloroethylene and Announces Public Peer Review Meetings

On May 4, 2020, EPA published its draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene (PCE).  Under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), EPA is required to conduct risk evaluations to determine whether existing chemicals present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use.  PCE has a wide variety of uses ranging from a solvent in dry cleaning and vapor degreasing and adhesives in consumer products, among others.  In the draft risk evaluation, EPA found preliminary unreasonable risk of injury to human health and the environment for certain conditions of use to workers, occupational non-users, consumers, bystanders and aquatic organisms.  A final determination that a condition of use presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment will move the uses into the risk management phase under TSCA.  This means that the agency will have to regulate those risks, which can include use-restrictions or bans. 

EPA has submitted this evaluation for peer review through its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals.  The virtual peer review meeting is scheduled for May 26-29, 2020.  You can register to attend and provide comments at the meeting here.

Comments on the draft risk evaluation are due on July 6, 2020.  

Read the draft risk evaluation and other supporting documents and submit comments here.

Advocacy contact: Tabby Zeb at (202) 205-6790 or email at tayyaba.zeb@sba.gov.