this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2024
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Summary

The EPA has banned TCE and perc, toxic chemicals linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage, and other severe health issues.

Widely used in dry cleaning, degreasers, and consumer products, these substances have contaminated groundwater and air, particularly near military bases.

The ban, which reverses Trump-era rollbacks and surpasses Obama-era proposals, has been welcomed by public health advocates but opposed by industry groups.

The four-year timeline to undo the ban makes it difficult for the incoming Trump administration to reverse, despite its intent to loosen chemical regulations.

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[–] anon6789 10 points 8 hours ago

Spent a year working at a dry cleaners. The first time I opened that machine and got blasted in the face with perc vapors I imagined it must be like being exposed on a planet with a methane atmosphere. That is some harsh stuff. After that job I inventoried hazardous chemicals at a pharma research site, and nothing they had hit my lungs and eyes like perc. The labs at least had good ventilation. Dry cleaning is a harsh business. It was disgusting and dangerous in all kinds of ways no other job I've had has been.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 10 hours ago (3 children)

Good job waiting until the last fucking minute. Now reversing this decision will be extremely simple because the new rule barely had time to take effect.

This is a PR move.

[–] TexasDrunk 12 points 9 hours ago (4 children)

Why are so many departments suddenly doing shit that should have been done years ago?

[–] Cornelius_Wangenheim 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

The rulemaking process has tons of mandatory waiting periods for feedback. If they didn't follow them to a T, some Trump judge will have an easy time reversing it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 hours ago

They can just make up whatever justification to reverse it anyway.

[–] dance_ninja 2 points 7 hours ago

Probably because studies and rule crafting to avoid rule conflicts and legal disputes take time.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Because both our political parties are pieces of shit (not equally shitty - one is clearly shittier) and neither one is motivated to actually improve the life of most Americans.

[–] TexasDrunk 4 points 9 hours ago

I know, I was asking more out of exasperation. And you're absolutely correct.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

So Democrats can point to deregulations for donations and votes.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

The ban would take about four years to undo, making it difficult for the Trump administration to reverse.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Am I supposed to believe that? They can just break the law. They control the Court.

The point of doing this years ago would be to get people used to the ban, so it'd already be locked in by inertia. Companies would have already made the shift and the public would be used to these protections.

This is politics, not bureaucracy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 hours ago

I wanted to reply and add on to the other comments about the generalized horsefuckery of politics before rulemaking, but everyone hit the bases real well!

[–] [email protected] 39 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

If Trump gets his way the whole EPA won't exist anymore, so any rules on undoing the ban would go with it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 hours ago

Agreed. I like where their head is, but when you're working with people trying to raze the government to the ground instead of actually governing, good luck enforcing anything.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

In theory, if this ban wasn't happening at the last moment, it might force manufacturers to transition off of current processes and they might simply not transition back because it'd be too expensive.

Given the short time frame most of those manufacturers would probably just prefer to suspend business until Trump takes office.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago

You mean eat the fines at best, not suspend business.

At best. Most likely they will get bogged down in court before a Trump judge rules the regulation unconstitutional.