EPA Proposes Expanding Asbestos Risk Assessment
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.
