US nuclear fuel makers get four more years to stop using a toxic chemical

US environmental regulators are extending the deadline for nuclear fuel manufacturers to stop using trichloroethylene (TCE), a toxic chemical. These companies now have until September 2028 to find alternatives, instead of the original 2024 deadline.

The US environmental regulators had banned TCE, a known carcinogen, for most uses. But nuclear fuel production facilities said they could not meet the original deadline. This extension means these facilities can continue using TCE for four more years, delaying the full phase-out of the chemical in this industry. It also means the US environmental regulators are willing to adjust deadlines when industries claim they cannot comply.