Today, the EPA announced a finalized rule to ban trichloroethylene (TCE) and seriously limit the use of perchloroethylene (PCE) to highly controlled workplace settings. Both of these petroleum-derived products are known to contribute to various cancers and illnesses.

Statement from Heather McTeer Toney, executive director of Beyond Petrochemicals:

“This rule is a critical step in protecting the health and livelihoods of the workers and small business owners who have been exposed to these harmful chemicals, and we applaud our partners and all the organizers who have worked long and hard to sound the alarm. 

“But just as important, the EPA is also taking a meaningful step to protect the long-suffering communities that live in the toxic shadow of petrochemical facilities and inhale harmful, carcinogenic pollution from the manufacture of substances like TCE and PCE every single day. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA can and should do more to reduce our exposure to these poisonous, wasteful petrochemicals. We look forward to a speedy review of the additional petrochemicals currently under TSCA risk assessment.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Smelser, [email protected] 

About Beyond Petrochemicals:

Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in September 2022, Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution aims to halt the rapid expansion of petrochemical and plastic pollution in the United States. The campaign draws on the success of the Beyond Coal campaign, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Bloomberg’s Beyond Carbon campaign, to turbocharge existing efforts led by frontline communities to block the rapid expansion of 120+ petrochemical projects concentrated in three target geographies – Louisiana, Texas, and the Ohio River Valley. The campaign also works to establish stricter rules for existing petrochemical plants to safeguard the health of American communities. To date, Beyond Petrochemicals has helped raise awareness and lead timely collaboration efforts using its four pillars of community leadership, data and research, legislation and litigation, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate its goals. For more information, please visit us at beyondpetrochemicals.org and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.