EPA Publishes Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos and Schedules Public Peer Review Meetings

On April 3, 2020, EPA published its draft risk evaluation for asbestos.  Under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), EPA is required to conduct risk evaluations to determine whether existing chemicals present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use.  In this draft risk evaluation, EPA is examining the only known form of asbestos, chrysotile, currently used by the chlor-alkali industry and in other products such as sheet gaskets, automotive parts among others.  In the draft risk evaluation, EPA found preliminary unreasonable risk of injury to human health for certain conditions of use to workers, occupational non-users, consumers and bystanders.  EPA, however, did not present any preliminary unreasonable risk findings to the environment for any of the evaluated conditions of use.  A final determination that a condition of use presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment will move the uses into the risk management phase under TSCA.  This means that the agency will have to regulate those risks, which can include use-restrictions or bans. 

EPA has submitted this evaluation for peer review through its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals.  The virtual peer review meeting is scheduled for April 27-30, 2020.  You can find more information and register for the meeting here.

Comments on the draft risk evaluation are due on June 2, 2020.  

Read the draft risk evaluation and other supporting documents and submit comments here.

Advocacy contact: Tabby Zeb at (202) 205-6790 or email at tayyaba.zeb@sba.gov.