MN HF3376

Beginning June 1, 2022, facility owners or operators with air emissions permits from the Pollution Control Agency must cease using trichloroethylene in manufacturing, processing, or cleaning processes, with cessation made enforceable in permits or agreements by that date.

The Pollution Control Agency commissioner cannot issue new air emissions permits authorizing trichloroethylene use after January 1, 2022, except for specific exceptions or small businesses granted extended compliance schedules.

Small businesses with fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees may receive additional time to assess replacement chemicals until June 1, 2023, if they demonstrate compliance with health-based values and health risk limits established by the Department of Health as of January 1, 2019.

Replacement chemicals must be demonstrated as less toxic to human health and approved by the Pollution Control Agency commissioner.

Mandatory exceptions to the ban apply to closed systems with no emissions, distribution of trichloroethylene products to third parties, and licensed hospitals or academic medical facilities; discretionary exceptions through variance process apply to research and development facilities and waste disposal processing facilities.

$250,000 in interest-free loans shall be made available to small businesses to reduce trichloroethylene use, including for environmental consultant services.