EPA Proposes Ban on Asbestos Manufacturing
Written By: Atanu Das on Monday, May 2, 2022
In the proposed rule EPA justifies it reasoning as follows:
[The agency] is proposing a 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. Therefore, to address the unreasonable risk identified in the TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1 from chrysotile asbestos, EPA is proposing to prohibit manufacture (including import), processing, distribution in commerce and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos for chrysotile asbestos diaphragms for use in the chlor-alkali industry, chrysotile asbestos-containing sheet gaskets used in chemical production, chrysotile asbestos-containing brake blocks used in the oil industry, aftermarket automotive chrysotile asbestos-containing brakes/linings, other chrysotile asbestos-containing vehicle friction products, and other chrysotile asbestos-containing gaskets. EPA also is proposing to prohibit manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of aftermarket automotive chrysotile asbestos-containing brakes/linings for consumer use, and other chrysotile asbestos-containing gaskets for consumer use. EPA is also proposing disposal and recordkeeping requirements for these conditions of use.
EPA determined in the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos (Ref. 1), that chrysotile asbestos presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health based upon the following conditions of use:
- Processing and Industrial use of Chrysotile Asbestos Diaphragms in the Chlor-alkali Industry;
- Processing and Industrial Use of Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Sheet Gaskets in Chemical Production;
- Industrial Use and Disposal of Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Brake Blocks in Oil Industry;
- Commercial Use and Disposal of Aftermarket Automotive Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Brakes/Linings;
- Commercial Use and Disposal of Other Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Vehicle Friction Products;
- Commercial Use and Disposal of Other Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Gaskets;
- Consumer Use and Disposal of Aftermarket Automotive Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Brakes/Linings;
- Consumer Use and Disposal of Other Chrysotile Asbestos-Containing Gaskets.