EPA Extends Comment Period for Draft Scope Document for Part Two of Asbestos Risk Evaluation
(WASHINGTON, February 10, 2022) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period for the draft scope document for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos, to give stakeholders more time to review and comment.
The current comment period was set to close on February 14, 2022, and EPA is extending the comment period an additional 15 days. Comments can be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0254 by March 1, 2022.
The draft scope, released in December 2021, includes conditions of use of asbestos excluded from the part 1 asbestos risk evaluation that was completed in December 2020. For this asbestos part 2 risk evaluation, EPA has adopted the definition of asbestos as defined by TSCA Title II Section 202 as the “asbestiform varieties of six fiber types – chrysotile (serpentine), crocidolite (riebeckite), amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite), anthophyllite, tremolite or actinolite.” EPA will also consider Libby Amphibole Asbestos (and its tremolite, winchite and richterite constituents) in part 2 of the risk evaluation. Additionally, EPA will assess the relevant conditions of use of asbestos in talc or talc-containing products, because talc has been implicated as a potential source of asbestos exposure.
The draft scope also reflects EPA’s policy changes on risk evaluations announced in June, including the consideration of exposures from air and water, potential exposure to fenceline communities (i.e., communities near industrial facilities), and assumptions around the use of personal protective equipment.
EPA will use feedback received from the public comment process to inform the final scope document.
EPA will publish the final risk evaluation for asbestos, part 2 by December 1, 2024, as required by court order.