The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Asbestos Reporting Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
In March 2023, the EPA released additional data related to the proposed risk management rule for public comment. These additional data concern chrysotile asbestos diaphragms used in the chlor-alkali industry and asbestos-containing sheet gaskets used in chemical production.
Linda Reinstein, President of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) believes that “the only way to protect the American people from asbestos-caused illnesses — including mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovaries — is to prevent exposure to it in the first place. It is impossible to do that if the EPA and the public do not know where, by whom, and how asbestos is being used.”
The final rule from the EPA will allow the public to receive the information necessary to understand and protect themselves against asbestos exposure.
The new rule will help the EPA collect information for their risk evaluation and management of asbestos,