Trichloroethylene (TCE); Regulation of Use in Vapor Degreasing under TSCA §6(a)

To Whom It May Concern: Attached is a document containing the signatures of 33,363 Environmental Defense Fund supporters from across the country who have submitted electronic comments regarding EPA's Regulation of Certain Uses under Toxic Substances Control Act: Trichloroethylene; Vapor Degreasing. The comment they each submitted reads: "I'm writing today to strongly urge EPA to finalize its rules to ban high-risk uses of trichloroethylene (TCE), methylene chloride (DCM), and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These chemicals are extremely toxic. TCE is carcinogenic and can cause heart defects in the developing fetus. DCM is a very lethal chemical over the past few decades, dozens of workers have died from using DCM-based paint stripping products. NMP is often used as a substitute for DCM in paint stripping products, yet it also presents major health risks ranging from developmental and reproductive toxicity to neurotoxicity to liver and kidney damage. EPA had not successfully banned a chemical under the original TSCA in nearly three decades. Now, with its greater authority under the new TSCA as amended by the Lautenberg Act, EPA can score an early public health victory by banning these toxic chemicals for these high-risk uses. But the chemical industry is complaining and pressuring EPA to back off, delay, or weaken these much needed rules. Some in industry are suggesting that measures like putting a simple label on these deadly products or requiring workers to wear protective gear would suffice. But labels, personal protective equipment, and concentration limits are not enough to protect my family and community. I strongly urge the Agency to stay on track and promptly ban TCE used as a spot cleaning agent in dry cleaning, as an aerosol spray degreaser in commercial and consumer settings, and as a vapor degreaser in commercial settings, and both DCM and NMP used for commercial and consumer paint stripping. Safer alternatives are already widely available. There is simply no excuse to continue putting my family's and my community's health at risk by delaying or weakening these rules." Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns about this submission. Thank you for your consideration, Heather Shelby Manager, Grassroots Organizing & Activism Environmental Defense Fund hshelby@edf.org

Comments submitted by Dr. Jennifer McPartland, Senior Scientist, on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund.

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

Letter from Environmental Defense Fund opposing comment period extension.