
This past
April, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed banning the use, manufacture
and import of the most pervasive type of asbestos, chrysotile. Although
advocates continued to demand a complete ban of all forms of asbestos,
the EPA’s proposed rule was still considered a step in the right
direction.
Now the EPA has released “Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2”, which significantly expands upon the narrow chrysotile asbestos
proposed ban. Part 2 broadens the scope of the EPA’s asbestos risk
assessment by including all types of asbestos, including talc and
legacy asbestos exposure and disposal:
“For Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, EPA will consider
chrysotile (serpentine), crocidolite (riebeckite), amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite),
anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and Libby Amphibole Asbestos (and
its tremolite, winchite and richterite constituents). This expansion is
consistent with the focus of part 2 of the risk evaluation for asbestos
on legacy uses and disposal, particularly asbestos-containing building
material. Additionally, EPA will assess the relevant conditions of use
of asbestos-containing talc, because talc has been implicated as a potential
source of asbestos exposure.”
The EPA is scheduled to complete the final risk evaluation by December 1, 2024.
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