Most Uses of Methylene Solvent Banned Under Final EPA Rule (1)

All consumer and most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride are prohibited under a final rule the EPA issued Tuesday as the first of several coming regulations restricting solvents.

The rule allows more businesses to keep using methylene chloride than the Environmental Protection Agency had proposed for national security or other purposes. Those industries and businesses must, however, comply with a workplace chemical protection program (WCPP) under the rule (RIN: 2070-AK70), which limits the amount of the solvent workers could inhale and requires additional employee protections.

Occidental Petroleum Corp., Olin Corp., SABIC Innovative Plastics US ...