U.S. EPA Proposes Rule to Ban Uses of CTC Under TSCA

By Chelsea Lane, regulatory specialist, Supply Chain team, UL Solutions

On July 28, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule under Section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which would address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by carbon tetrachloride (CTC). CTC is a volatile organic compound mainly used as a reactant in the making of refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing agents.

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. This proposed risk management rule is based on EPA’s November 2020 TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation, as amended by the December 2022 revised unreasonable risk determination for CTC. EPA determined that CTC presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to cancer from chronic inhalation and dermal exposures and liver toxicity from chronic inhalation, chronic dermal, and acute dermal exposures in the workplace.

The actions that EPA is proposing under TSCA Section 6(a) include:

• Requiring a CTC workplace chemical protection program that includes an existing chemical exposure limit (ECEL) of 0.3 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA);
• Requiring use of a fume hood and dermal personal protective equipment (PPE) for the industrial and commercial use as a laboratory chemical;
• Prohibiting several uses of CTC that have already been phased out;
• Downstream notification requirements for manufacturers, importers, processors, and distributors; and
• Recordkeeping requirements. 

EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule until September 11, 2023. It is also hosting a webinar on the proposed rule on August 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM EDT. To register for the webinar, visit Eventbrite.

Recommended actions

• Review the proposed rule;
• Attend the webinar; and
• Consider submitting comments.

Reference

EPA Proposed Rule: Carbon Tetrachloride; Regulation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act