Month: April 2023

EPA Fines Kansas and Missouri Home Renovators for Lead-Based Paint Violations

EPA

Kansas & Missouri – Five home renovation companies in Kansas and Missouri have agreed to pay nearly $132,000 collectively in penalties to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. According to EPA, the following companies failed to comply with regulations intended to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint exposure during renovations. Companies that perform home renovations, or hire subcontractors to perform renovations, are required to comply with regulations under EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program. These regulations include requirements to obtain certification from EPA prior to performing renovations, as well as compliance with lead safety practices, records retention, and notification to homeowners about the hazards of renovation-related lead exposure. For the full text, click here.

Mold in Marijuana? CT’s Rules Are Less Strict Than Other States

CT Mirror by Kate Setzer

Hartford, CT – Alex London uses cannabis to help with lingering back pain and migraines that stem from a car crash. London said he used to buy it from medical marijuana dispensaries near his home. But now, because of changes in how Connecticut regulates cannabis, he’s back to using his “local guy” — a grower in Maine. Because marijuana isn’t legal at the federal level, it’s up to states to decide how much mold in the product is too much. And in Connecticut, that limit is 10 times higher than the threshold in most other states that have a numeric limit for mold in marijuana. For the full report, click here.

Lawmakers Have Renewed the Effort to Ban Asbestos

ProRepublica

National – Citing ProPublica’s reporting, lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced a bill that would ban the use of asbestos in the United States, bringing it in line with dozens of countries that have outlawed the carcinogenic substance. Even though asbestos is known to cause deadly diseases, the U.S. still allows companies to import hundreds of tons of the raw mineral. It is primarily used by two chemical manufacturers, OxyChem and Olin Corp., in the production of chlorine. The legislation, called the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023, would ban the import and use of all six types of asbestos fibers. It would give OxyChem and Olin two years to transition its asbestos-dependent chlorine plants to newer, asbestos-free technology. For the full text, click here.

ADAO Applauds the Bicameral Introduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023

EIN

Los Angeles, CA – The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, today applauds Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) for introducing the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2023. ARBAN will prohibit the importation and commercial use of all six asbestos fibers and transition plants in the chlor-alkali industry using asbestos diaphragms to non-asbestos technology within two years. For the full text, click here.

EPA Asks for More Public Input on Asbestos After New Information Revealed

ProPublica

National – The Environmental Protection Agency took an unusual step last week: It opened a new period in which the public can comment on its proposed asbestos ban. The agency had gotten new information, officials said, including a series of ProPublica reports on dangerous working conditions in factories that use asbestos to make chlorine. ProPublica’s report detailed how chlorine companies have quietly fought against a ban for decades, even though they use modern, asbestos-free technology in some of their plants.  For the full text, click here.

Olin Chlor Alkali Commits to End Use of New Asbestos Diaphragms within 2 Years and Fully Transition All Facilities Away from Asbestos Within 7 Years in a Letter to EPA

EIA applauds the decision and subsequent communication by Olin Corporation to immediately cease imports of Chrysotile asbestos for use in its chlor-alkali plants. This commitment on the part of Olin will further the efforts of EPA and Congress to initiate a complete ban on asbestos. The members of EIA are involved daily in the identification and remediation of asbestos from schools, homes, and businesses throughout the US. We know all too well that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. A ban on this deadly mineral is long overdue in our nation. EIA will continue to work with our partner organizations, ADAO, APHA, and others, to increase awareness of the dangers of asbestos and to move forward with legislation to ban asbestos and end the legacy of asbestos-related disease.

A copy of Olin’s letter to EPA Administrator Regan, as shared with ADAO. is available to review here.