BlogLine

The EPA Acts, Kind of, on Asbestos

4/26/19

By: Koty Newman

On April 17, 2019, the EPA finalized a significant new use rule (“SNUR”) governing asbestos use. The SNUR ensures that any discontinued uses of asbestos will not re-enter the marketplace without the EPA’s review. The EPA explains that this will close a loophole in its regulatory scheme for asbestos. Thus, if a manufacturer or processor would like to reintroduce asbestos into any product that is now free of asbestos, but contained it in the past, the reintroduction of asbestos would be subject to EPA review. Under the SNUR, the following uses for asbestos are examples of uses subject to EPA review: adhesives, sealants, roof and non-roof coatings, cement products, high-grade electrical paper, pipeline wrap, and any other building material. The EPA characterizes these uses as neither ongoing nor already prohibited under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The SNUR keeps prior asbestos prohibitions in place and does not amend them in any way. The SNUR will be effective sixty days after the date it is published in the Federal Register.
Critics of the SNUR say it does not go far enough. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization likens the SNUR to a smokescreen, as it only applies if companies wish to reintroduce to the marketplace a product that is already obsolete. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization called for a complete ban of asbestos.
The SNUR is not likely to have a great impact on business because industries are already utilizing economically viable products without any significant need for the reintroduction of asbestos. Even so, if a company wishes to reintroduce asbestos to a product, it must notify the EPA at least ninety days prior to initiating manufacturing or processing of the product that falls under the SNUR.
Regarding ongoing uses of asbestos in the United States, the EPA is evaluating those uses in the context of its separate asbestos risk evaluation. Some uses that the EPA is looking at in the context of its risk evaluation, but that are not affected by the SNUR, are sheet gaskets, oilfield brake blocks, and aftermarket automotive brakes/linings. If the EPA finds that a use constitutes an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, the EPA could decide to prohibit the use.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Koty Newman at mnewman@fmglaw.com.