On March 30, 2020, the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) issued its long-awaited draft risk evaluation for asbestos. In it, EPA preliminarily concludes that certain uses of asbestos pose unreasonable risks to human health. If those conclusions are made final, EPA will issue regulations addressing those risks in what would arguably be the most significant action the agency has taken to regulate asbestos since its 1989 ban was successfully challenged by industry groups.
Continue Reading EPA Sets Stage for Future Asbestos Regulations in New Draft Risk Evaluation

On April 17, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final “significant new use rule” (SNUR) prohibiting over one dozen uses of asbestos from returning to the marketplace without EPA review and approval.
Continue Reading EPA Issues Significant New Use Rule Banning Certain Uses of Asbestos and Foreshadows Forthcoming Asbestos Risk Evaluation