Asbestos

WCAX by Rachel Mann

Eden, VT – It looks like a pile of rocks from afar, but the Belvidere Asbestos Mine was once a community staple in the Northeast Kingdom. The Belvidere Asbestos Mine has operated under many different names and owners since mining attempts started in 1902. It finally got off the ground in the 1930’s and continued operating until 1993. It closed once people found out about the health risks associated with asbestos, and there was no longer demand for the product. Although the Department of Health did studies in 2008 and 2009 stating there were no asbestos-related deaths connected to the mine. For the full text, click here.

ADAO Washington, DC

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through education, advocacy, and community initiatives, today held its 17th Congressional Staff Briefing, “Impact of Asbestos on Public Health, Environment, and Economy.” Experts in medicine, science, and public health shared the latest updates with Congressional staffers and members about the need to ban asbestos imports and use in the United States. Click here to access the briefing video. For the full text of the press release, email info@eia-usa.org.

Washington Post by Andrew Jeong

International – Johnson & Johnson will stop selling its talc-based baby powder worldwide starting next year, in what it called a “commercial decision” aimed at ensuring long-term growth. The company discontinued sales of such products in the United States and Canada just over two years ago, citing declining demand for the baby powder after thousands of consumer lawsuits were filed against the firm alleging that the powder contained carcinogens. Johnson & Johnson said Thursday that it remains “firmly behind” the view that its talc-based goods are safe, do not cause cancer and do not contain asbestos. For the full text, click here.

Washington State Attorney General Olympia, WA

Derrick Boss, the owner of Above and Beyond Asbestos Removal in Bothell, was sentenced to 105 days in jail and ordered to pay full restitution to his victims for environmental crimes he committed in his asbestos abatement business. Boss duped his clients by posing as a properly licensed and trained asbestos removal expert. In fact, he was unlicensed and unqualified — and repeatedly exposed his customers and workers to asbestos. Boss must pay full restitution to four people who paid him for his services, a total of $13,350. For the full text, click here.

Department of Justice Las Vegas, NV

A CA man was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and 36 months of supervised release for renovating two apartment complexes in violation of federal Clean Air Act regulations intended to prevent human exposure to toxic airborne asbestos fibers. Bobby Khalili was indicted by a grand jury sitting in the District of Nevada in September 2019, in connection with asbestos-related Clean Air Act violations at a Las Vegas apartment complex. The grand jury later returned a superseding indictment against Khalili in July 2021, in connection with new Clean Air Act asbestos violations at a second apartment complex, which Khalili committed while on pretrial release for the first set of charges. Khalili pled guilty on March 11, to failing to safely remove asbestos prior to renovation at each complex. For the full text, click here.

ADAO Washington, DC

ADAO announces the organization is pleased with EPA’s Asbestos Part 2 Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos; Final Scope of the Risk Evaluation To Be Conducted Under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Unlike EPA’s disappointing Part 1 Chrysotile Asbestos rule which only proposed banning six conditions of use, EPA’s Part 2 evaluation includes all six asbestos fibers and the Libby Amphibole (winchite and richterite); however, the evaluation will not lead to banning these additional fibers. Under a consent decree negotiated by EPA and ADAO, the Part 2 risk evaluation must be completed by December 1, 2024. For the full text, email info@eia-usa.org.

National Law Review

National – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 24, 2022, that it is extending the public comment period for the April 12, 2022, proposed rule that would prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos to give stakeholders more time to review the proposed regulation and prepare comments. EPA is extending the comment period an additional 30 days, from June 13, 2022, to July 13, 2022. For the full text of the release, click here.

NPR/MT Public Radio by Aaron Bolton

Libby, MT – Federal environmental regulators will hold a meeting in Libby on Wednesday, June 1 at 5 p.m. to talk about the future cleanup of the nearby defunct vermiculite mine. Asbestos from the mine led to a public health emergency in Libby. The meeting will outline the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s response for determining what the clean-up process for the former mining site near Libby and Troy will look like. For the full text and audio, click here.

Chemical and Engineering News

Washington, DC – EPA wants to know how much asbestos, including asbestos in mixtures and products, was imported or processed in the US over the last 4 years. It also wants information on how asbestos was used and on worker exposure. Asbestos manufacturers, processors, and importers would need to report such information under a proposed rule the EPA announced May 5. The proposed rule is open for comment until July 25 and can be found here. For the full text of the article, click here.

The National Law Review

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 24, 2022, that it is extending the public comment period for the April 12, 2022, proposed rule that would prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos to give stakeholders more time to review the proposed regulation and prepare comments. EPA is extending the comment period an additional 30 days, from June 13, 2022, to July 13, 2022. For the full text of the release, click here.