FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 6th, 2019

Statement from the President of Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization on ADAO v. EPA Motion

San Francisco, CA–– Linda Reinstein, president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the largest asbestos-victim advocacy organization, released the following statement today after attending a hearing in the ADAO case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the District Court for the Northern District of California. ADAO sued the EPA earlier this year to demand they require the asbestos industry to report who is importing asbestos, where asbestos is being transported, and how asbestos is being used. Judge Chen heard argument from the lawyers, but did not issue a decision.   

“EPA has worked overtime to deny Americans the ‘Right to Know’ what companies are importing and using deadly asbestos. EPA cannot protect public health and safety without accurate and transparent reporting from the industry that is using this deadly chemical.

Today’s hearing was on an important procedural issue that will impact how our case proceeds. Our position is that the district court should review  our petition denial under section 21 of  the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) and section 704 of the Administrative Procedure Act. We believe we have a strong position on this issue and today’s hearing marked another landmark step forward in holding the EPA accountable for protecting the public from the unreasonable risk of asbestos.

ADAO is not alone in demanding EPA take action. Attorneys General from 17 states and the District of Columbia have a similar case before the same Court and we look forward to reading Judge Chen’s ruling on that matter as well.

The dire occupational health and safety threats asbestos poses have been common knowledge for decades and ADAO will use every legal and legislative avenue available to hold EPA accountable and remove asbestos from commerce. Thousands of Americans die every year from asbestos-related diseases and we will not rest until we ban asbestos once and for all.

On behalf of ADAO’s large and diverse community, I am grateful for the hard-work and legal expertise of Robert Sussman, ADAO counsel, former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, who argued against the EPA’s motion to dismiss today.”

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About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO is the largest non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice through our education, advocacy, and community initiatives. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure, advocate for an asbestos ban, and protect asbestos victims’ civil rights.  For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org