FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 7,  2023

ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ORGANIZATION APPLAUDS THE EPA’S FINAL ASBESTOS REPORTING RULE 

The rule will better protect public health by collecting data on where, when, and how much asbestos has been imported and used in recent years, but further work remains

WASHINGTON, DC — The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the release of their final Asbestos Reporting Rule under Section 8 of the Toxic Substances Control Act; but cautions that more work remains to fully protect public health from the threat of asbestos.

“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,” said Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of ADAO. “We are pleased that, following our successful lawsuit, this rule will give the EPA more comprehensive information on where asbestos has been and is being imported and used. Lives depend on it.”

The final rule, also called the “Right to Know” rule, is the outcome of a multi-year fight by ADAO and its allies to ensure that EPA and the public receive the information from industry necessary to understand and protect against pathways of asbestos exposure in this country. ADAO obtained a landmark legal decision in December 2020 that the EPA’s refusal to adopt asbestos reporting requirements was unlawful. 

This rule was developed to comply with the court decision.  The information the EPA will collect is critical for completing EPA’s Part 2 risk evaluation and risk management rulemaking for legacy asbestos. It will also inform the agency of additional active uses of asbestos outside the scope of the Part 1 risk management rule—information that plays a critical part in protecting public health. 

“While the final rule is a significant step forward, ADAO is disappointed that EPA did not adopt several of its recommendations for strengthening reporting, including a 10-year look back period, regular reporting updates and submission of information on environmental releases of asbestos,” said Bob Sussman, ADAO counsel and former EPA official. “While we are glad that our lawsuit against the EPA is finally yielding results and appreciate the EPA’s efforts, this rule could have gone farther in providing the EPA and the public with vital information about asbestos risks.”     

ADAO continues to advocate for the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023, a comprehensive asbestos ban that will end the importation and use of all asbestos fibers.

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