FEDERAL POLICY · PROPOSED RULE

EPA proposes selected TCE deadline extensions: the Florida context

By Jose Linan · Published October 15, 2026

EPA published an October 14 proposal to extend selected compliance deadlines for industrial uses of trichloroethylene, or TCE. Public comments are due November 13, 2026. The proposed changes still require a final rule.

Which deadlines would change?

For specified chemical processing, industrial and commercial processing-aid uses, and associated wastewater disposal, EPA proposes moving the December 18, 2026 deadline to December 31, 2027.

A separate step in reducing TCE used to manufacture the refrigerant HFC-134a would move from June 7, 2027 to December 31, 2027. These are selected deadlines; EPA’s background page says the TCE ban remains in place and interim workplace protections continue.

What is the Florida relevance?

Our inference from the proposal’s national scope is that a Florida facility conducting one of the covered activities could be affected by these compliance dates. Applicability depends on its actual activity. We have not identified a particular Florida facility or utility affected by this proposal.

The action concerns chemical-use requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It does not announce contamination in a Florida water supply or establish that a household needs treatment. It should not be read as a Florida drinking-water alert.

What happens next?

The Federal Register notice provides the proposed text and comment instructions under docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-7327. Readers should distinguish the proposal from a finalized compliance extension.