Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos
Following EPA’s June 2016 designation of asbestos as one the first ten chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under TSCA, as amended by Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, EPA initially focused the risk evaluation for asbestos on chrysotile asbestos as this is the only asbestos fiber type that is currently imported, processed, or distributed in the United States.
However, as a result of the November 2019 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Safer Chemicals Healthy Families v. EPA, EPA determined that the risk evaluation for asbestos would be issued in two parts. Part 1 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos was completed in December 2020. EPA is evaluating legacy uses and associated disposals, other types of asbestos fibers in addition to chrysotile, and conditions of use of asbestos-containing talc in Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos.
EPA is working expeditiously to complete Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos. EPA has entered into a consent decree to complete the final risk evaluation by December 1, 2024. A draft risk evaluation will be made available for public comment.
On this page:
- Background on/Uses of Asbestos for Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos
- Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment
- Supporting Documents
On other pages:
- Read about the steps in EPA’s risk evaluation process for asbestos.
- Learn more about EPA’s risk evaluation process.
- Learn about EPA's risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos.
- Learn about risk management for chrysotile asbestos
Background on/Uses of Asbestos for Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation
For Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, EPA will consider chrysotile (serpentine), crocidolite (riebeckite), amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite), anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and Libby Amphibole Asbestos (and its tremolite, winchite and richterite constituents). This expansion is consistent with the focus of part 2 of the risk evaluation for asbestos on legacy uses and disposal, particularly asbestos-containing building material. Additionally, EPA will assess the relevant conditions of use of asbestos-containing talc, because talc has been implicated as a potential source of asbestos exposure.
Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment
In June 2022, EPA released the final scope for Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos.
The final scope includes the conditions of use, hazards, exposures, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations that EPA plans to consider in conducting part 2 of the risk evaluation for asbestos.
As EPA continues to move through the risk evaluation process there will be additional opportunities for public comment, including on a draft of Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for asbestos. In addition to public comment periods, EPA will continue to engage with stakeholders as it develops part 2.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents for the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos are below.