Register for EPA’s Webinar on the Final Methylene Chloride Risk Management Rule
Released May 14, 2024
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. EDT for a webinar on the final methylene chloride risk management rule recently issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This webinar will provide an overview of EPA’s final regulatory action and implementation timeframes, as well as answer key questions submitted in advance by registered webinar attendees.
In April 2024, EPA finalized a ban on most uses of methylene chloride, a dangerous chemical known to cause liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, cancer of the blood, and cancer of the central nervous system, as well as neurotoxicity, liver harm and even death. Ending most uses of methylene chloride will save lives and complements President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, a whole-of-government initiative to end cancer as we know it. The final rule will protect people from health risks while allowing key uses to continue safely with a robust new worker protection program.
EPA’s methylene chloride rule also establishes landmark worker protections under the nation’s premier chemical safety law. For a handful of highly industrialized uses, EPA has created a Workplace Chemical Protection Program. This workplace chemical protection program has strict exposure limits, monitoring requirements, and worker training and notification requirements that will protect workers from cancer and other adverse health effects caused by methylene chloride exposure.
Uses that will continue under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program are highly industrialized and important to national security and the economy. Additionally, specific uses of methylene chloride required by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration will also continue with strict workplace controls because sufficient reductions in exposure are possible in these highly sophisticated environments, minimizing risks to workers.
If you would like to submit a question for EPA to consider for the webinar, you must register and send your question by Tuesday, May 28. Select “Yes” on the registration form when asked “Would you like to send your question to EPA?” and enter your question in the box provided. You may also send your question by email to [email protected]. You may register to attend and listen only at any time up to June 3, 2024. Information on how to connect to the webinar will be provided upon registration.