FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2019
STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF ASBESTOS DISEASE AWARENESS ORGANIZATION ON THE COURT’S DENIAL OF EPA’S MOTION TO DISMISS
ADAO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CHALLENGE OF EPA’S REFUSAL TO REQUIRE ASBESTOS REPORTING
San Francisco, CA–– Linda Reinstein, president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest asbestos-victim advocacy organization, released the following statement today after Judge Chen issued his opinion denying EPA’s motion to dismiss the ADAO case against the Agency in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. ADAO sued the EPA earlier this year after it rejected ADAO’s petition to require the asbestos industry to report who is importing asbestos, where asbestos is being transported, and how asbestos is being used. 
“The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is pleased that Judge Chen denied EPA’s motion to dismiss our claims under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This decision gives us the green light to press ahead with our suit to hold EPA accountable for refusing to require simple and straightforward reporting by the asbestos industry. We filed the suit because we believe Americans deserve the ‘Right to Know’ which companies are importing and using deadly asbestos and where it is being put in our country. We believe EPA cannot protect public health and safety without accurate and transparent reporting from the industry that is using this deadly chemical.”
“Nearly 40,000 Americans die every year from preventable asbestos-caused diseases, yet imports and use continue. ADAO will use every legal and legislative opportunity to hold EPA accountable to protect public health from deadly asbestos.
“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 EPA Administrator, who argued against EPA’s motion to dismiss on September 5, 2019.”