Posted on April 1, 2023

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has advocated for the public’s “Right to Know” for over a decade. This means we believe that all Americans should know where to find asbestos — where it is being imported and used, and what companies are responsible. Asbestos is a hazardous substance responsible for over 40,000 American deaths annually, making it an urgent public health concern. Most people do not know that asbestos is still legal in the United States, and there is little data available about the carcinogen. Without corporate responsibility, accountability, and transparency — Americans remain in danger. 

On April 26th, the ADAO and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) met with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the final “Asbestos Reporting Rule,” scheduled for release in the upcoming months. This rulemaking is the result of a settlement agreement stemming from litigation pursuant to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 21. See Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization v. EPA, No. 19-CV-00871; State of California et al. v. EPA, No. 19-CV-03807.

During the meeting, ADAO stressed the importance of corporate responsibility, accountability, and transparency to safeguard Americans from asbestos exposure. EPA has proposed to “require certain persons that manufactured (including imported) or processed asbestos and asbestos containing articles (including as an impurity) in the four years prior to the date of publication of the final rule to electronically report certain exposure related information.”  ADAO and others are urging EPA to require companies to have a more comprehensive reporting rule with a longer look-back, reporting in the future, and for all reporting to be publicly available.  

ADAO’s previous efforts led to the ADAO v. EPA lawsuit in September 2018, challenging the EPA’s failure to assess asbestos risks without accurate information on importation, use, and disposal. 

Securing the “Right to Know” final rule is a significant step towards protecting public health and the ADAO’s objective of preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating all asbestos-related diseases. However, a comprehensive ban on asbestos imports and use remains necessary and the only complete way to prevent asbestos exposure and death. While the EPA’s Part 1 Chrysotile Asbestos Rule is a landmark step forward, more work is required to ensure all Americans are safe from asbestos exposure. That’s why the ADAO team supports the passage of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2023. ARBAN is a comprehensive asbestos ban that would prohibit all asbestos fibers and the Libby Amphibole in all uses.

We extend special thanks to Mr. Bob Sussman for his legal representation and invaluable contribution to advancing the ADAO’s fight against asbestos exposure. Without his support, progress toward transparency and accountability regarding asbestos would have been challenging.

We are very proud that ADAO’s efforts toward transparency and accountability regarding asbestos have led to substantial progress in protecting public health. Still, more work is needed to secure comprehensive asbestos bans. We urge all readers to participate in our advocacy efforts by signing the Change.org petition and by sending a letter to Congress to ban asbestos in the United States today! Together, we are making change happen. 

Linda Reinstein
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