EPA Gives Nuclear Fuel Makers More Time to Ditch Toxic Trichloroethylene
Published Date: 9/17/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is giving more time for companies using Trichloroethylene (TCE) in making nuclear fuel and handling its disposal to meet new safety rules. The deadline to stop using TCE in nuclear fuel processing is now September 15, 2028, and the disposal ban starts December 18, 2026. These changes help businesses avoid rushing and costly mistakes while keeping everyone safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Nuclear-fuel TCE ban delayed to 2028
If your facility uses trichloroethylene (TCE) as a processing aid to make nuclear fuel, the EPA set the prohibition compliance date to September 15, 2028. This changes the deadline firms that manufacture, process, or distribute TCE to support that use must meet.
TCE wastewater disposal ban starts Dec 18, 2026
The EPA set the prohibition compliance date for disposal of TCE to wastewater by processors and by industrial and commercial users using TCE as a processing aid to begin on December 18, 2026. Processors and industrial/commercial users will need to stop disposing TCE to wastewater by that date.
90 days to update SDS and notifications
Manufacturers, processors, and distributors in commerce of TCE have 90 days after publication of the final rule to update downstream notifications and the required Safety Data Sheet text to reflect the new prohibition compliance deadline. The rule amends those compliance deadlines to match the new dates.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in