Abstract:
Starting July 8th, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a final
ruling to mitigate the unreasonable risk of injury associated with methylene chloride through
several key measures. The aerospace industry, which utilizes this chemical for various processes,
has been granted conditional allowed uses. Among the 13 permitted uses, one includes the
industrial and commercial application as a paint and coating remover for safety-critical,
corrosion-sensitive components of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace companies that continue to
use methylene chloride in an approved manner will be required to develop a Workplace
Chemical Protection Program (WCPP). This review provides a comprehensive approach for the
aerospace industry to comply with the regulatory requirements, leveraging my experience in the
field. It involves analyzing the aspects of meeting the EPA requirements and creating a WCPP
tailored to the aerospace industry. The review details the specific characteristics and applications
of methylene chloride within the aerospace industry. It outlines the plan to develop a WCPP for
my workplace, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative analyses of methods and specific
tasks. By integrating these elements, a compliance plan for the EPA’s final ruling on methylene
chloride is formulated, ensuring that the WCPP framework meets all regulatory requirements.