State Attorneys General Push for Tougher Asbestos Reporting Rule

A coalition of 15 attorneys general are calling for a tougher asbestos reporting rule as part of the recently-revised Toxic Substances Control Act. Maine’s newly elected Attorney General Aaron Frey said last week the coalition wants to eliminate the exemptions for asbestos within the current Chemical Data Reporting guidelines. The attorneys general have asked U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to initiate a new rulemaking process, helping it comply with their interpretation of the legislation. “This [new] rule would allow the EPA to comply with the Act by giving it the information it needs to properly regulate asbestos,” Frey said in a news release from the Office of the Maine Attorney General. “The evidence is clear that asbestos is a deadly substance, and the Toxic Substances Control Act is an important tool for protecting people.” Coalition Strong Across the Country The coalition of attorneys general is led by Xavier Becerra (California) and Maura Healey (Massachusetts). Other members are from Connecticut, Minnesota, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Asbestos is a toxic, naturally occurring mineral used ubiquitously through much of the 20th century. Inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers can lead to serious health problems, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. An estimated 15,000 people in the United States die each year...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news