On April 16, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register requesting comments on the “Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos.”
The draft risk evaluation covers legacy uses and associated disposals of chrysotile asbestos, 5 additional fiber types, asbestos-containing talc, and Libby asbestos. The EPA has preliminarily determined that disturbing and handling asbestos associated with legacy uses, and asbestos as a whole chemical, poses an unreasonable risk to human health.
The draft risk evaluation may be of particular interest to those involved in the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) including construction professionals and individuals completing do-it-yourself activities in buildings with ACMs.
The EPA has also announced a webinar to discuss the draft risk evaluation for May 13, 2024, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST. The deadline to register for the webinar is 5:00 PM EST on May 6, 2024.
Comments are due on the Draft Risk Evaluation on June 17, 2024.
- Register for the webinar.
- Read the Federal Register notice and submit comments.
- Advocacy contact: Send an email to Nick Goldstein at nick.goldstein@sba.gov.