BILL NUMBER: S6829

SPONSOR: KAMINSKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting certain uses of trichloroethylene

 
PURPOSE:

To prohibit the most harmful uses of trichloroethylene.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 prohibits the use of trichloroethylene as a vapor degreases,
an intermediate chemical to produce other chemicals, a refrigerant, or
an extraction solvent or in any other manufacturing cleaning process or
use as of January 1, 2021.

Section 2 effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Trichloroethylene ("TCE") is a toxic chemical and known human carcino-
gen. Its use creates unacceptable human health and environmental risks.
According to a report from the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency
("EPA"), TCE is one of the most frequently detected groundwater contam-
inants. TCE is the cause of some of the nation's most high-profile envi-
ronmental disasters, most notably detailed in the film and book "A Civil
Action" about Woburn, Massachusetts.

TCE is used as an industrial cleaning and degreasing agent in manufac-
turing, dry cleaning, and textiles. It readily evaporates into the
atmosphere, and is easily transported into groundwater. In these subsur-
face environments, TCE degrades slowly and becomes a persistent contam-
inant to groundwater resources.

The environmental and human health harms associated with TCE are severe
and well documented. TCE enters the body through air, water, food, and
soil - through ingestion, inhalation, or even skin contact.  Long-term
exposure is strongly linked to various types of cancer, including
kidney, liver, lymphoma, testicular, and leukemia. The U.S.  Department
of Human Health Services classifies TCE as "known to be a human carcino-
gen" and the EPA characterizes it as "carcinogenic in humans by all
routes of exposure." Some studies also indicate that TCE also causes
developmental disorders in children and infants.  Furthermore, short-
term exposure can cause harmful effects on the nervous system, liver,
respiratory system, kidneys, blood, immune system, and heart.

During the final months of the previous federal administration, the EPA
proposed to ban TCE for aerosol degreasing, dry cleaning, and vapor
degreasing. The agency's risk assessment provided overwhelming evidence
in support of a TCE ban. Since that time, the EPA has failed to finalize
its proposed rule. Instead, the federal government has reversed course
by commencing a new risk assessment.

This legislation will prohibit the most harmful uses of TCE, consistent
with the overwhelming body of scientific research. These actions are

necessary to protect human health and the environment, and to counter
the federal government's inaction.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S6829A

SPONSOR: KAMINSKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting certain uses of trichloroethylene

 
PURPOSE:

To prohibit the most harmful uses of trichloroethylene.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 prohibits the use of trichloroethylene as a vapor degreases,
an intermediate chemical to produce other chemicals, a refrigerant, or
an extraction solvent or in any other manufacturing cleaning process or
use as of January 1, 2021.

Section 2 effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Trichloroethylene ("TCE") is a toxic chemical and known human carcino-
gen. Its use creates unacceptable human health and environmental risks.
According to a report from the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency
("EPA"), TCE is one of the most frequently detected groundwater contam-
inants. TCE is the cause of some of the nation's most high-profile envi-
ronmental disasters, most notably detailed in the film and book "A Civil
Action" about Woburn, Massachusetts.

TCE is used as an industrial cleaning and degreasing agent in manufac-
turing, dry cleaning, and textiles. It readily evaporates into the
atmosphere, and is easily transported into groundwater. In these subsur-
face environments, TCE degrades slowly and becomes a persistent contam-
inant to groundwater resources.

The environmental and human health harms associated with TCE are severe
and well documented. TCE enters the body through air, water, food, and
soil - through ingestion, inhalation, or even skin contact.  Long-term
exposure is strongly linked to various types of cancer, including
kidney,liver,lymphoma, testicular, and leukemia. The U.S.  Department of
Human Health Services classifies TCE as "known to be a human carcinogen"
and the EPA characterizes it as "carcinogenic in humans by all routes of
exposure." Some studies also indicate that TCE also causes developmental
disorders in children and infants.  Furthermore, short-term exposure can
cause harmful effects on the nervous system, liver, respiratory system,
kidneys, blood, immune system, and heart.

During the final months of the previous federal administration, the EPA
proposed to ban TCE for aerosol degreasing, dry cleaning, and vapor
degreasing. The agency's risk assessment provided overwhelming evidence
in support of a TCE ban. Since that time, the EPA has failed to finalize
its proposed rule. Instead, the federal government has reversed course
by commencing a new risk assessment.

This legislation will prohibit the most harmful uses of TCE, consistent
with the overwhelming body of scientific research. These actions are

necessary to protect human health and the environment, and to counter
the federal government's inaction.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately