Asbestos

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.

E&E News by E.A. Crunden

Washington, DC – Advocates are reiterating calls for a national ban on one of the world’s most notorious carcinogens, with data showing imports for asbestos are on the rise this year despite ongoing regulatory action. Tracking by the U.S. International Trade Commission shows that 114 metric tons of raw chrysotile asbestos have been imported in the first three months of 2022 — a number exceeding the 100 metric tons imported during the entirety of last year. Those imports are driven by the chlor-alkali industry, which uses asbestos diaphragms to make chlorine. Chrysotile asbestos, or “white” asbestos, accounts for the overwhelming majority of asbestos brought into the United States. For the full text, click here.

ADAO Washington, DC

ADAO applauds Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Suzanne Bonamici for their unwavering dedication, leadership and perseverance to protect Americans from deadly asbestos,” said Linda Reinstein, ADAO President and widow to the bill’s namesake. “ARBAN will take long-overdue action to stop hundreds of tons of raw asbestos imports and asbestos-containing products from entering the U.S. This legislation will protect all Americans — especially vulnerable workers, consumers, first responders, and children — from being exposed to this deadly carcinogen. For the full text of the release, email info@eia-usa.org.

Bonamici.house.gove

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley this week introduced the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2022, legislation to prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos. The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2022 will ban the importation and use of all six of the recognized asbestos fibers, expanding on the EPA’s recent proposed rulemaking which will only ban one. The full bill text can be found here. For the full text of the release, click here.

Federal Register

National – EPA has opened the 60-day comment period for the proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address the unreasonable risk of injury to health it has identified for conditions of use of chrysotile asbestos following completion of the TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos. TSCA requires that EPA address the unreasonable risks of injury to health and environment by rule and to apply requirements to the extent necessary so that chrysotile asbestos no longer presents such risks. Comments must be received on or before June 13, 2022.

For the full text and to submit comment, click here.