Environmental Protection Agency Claims New Rulemaking Will Strengthen Asbestos Regulations

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contrary to recent media reports, the agency is moving closer to closing loopholes on the importation and manufacturing of the deadly carcinogen, asbestos. The EPA cited its newly received powers under a bipartisan Obama-era law that gives the agency the authority to impose a new decision making process known as “significant new use rule,” or SNUR, which will create a “regulatory backstop where none existed before.”

Recent reports across the media indicated that the EPA was actually considering pulling back on strengthening federal regulations against the once-commonly used insulation material responsible for thousands of new cases of mesothelioma cancer each year. Specifically, safety experts asserted that the EPA was actually creating a process by which asbestos companies could submit requests for using the carcinogen in ways such as adhesive, roofing material, and floor tile.

The EPA gained this authority under a 2016 amendment to a decades-old chemical safety law that required the agency to periodically review the hazards posed by certain chemicals and toxic substances that could pose a danger to the public. According to an EPA spokesperson, the agency is currently reviewing the status of certain grandfathered exemptions to federal asbestos bans to determine if these methods are still in production, then closing the loopholes to halt any further production.

Asbestos is a naturally occuring mineral, once used in a variety of commercial, industrial, and military applications for its heat-resistant properties and ability to be molded into various shapes to fit the job. Some of the more common products manufacturers created with asbestos include brake pads, drywall, vinyl floor tiles, insulation, and pipe gaskets. Even after decades of heavy government regulation and little new production, thousands of innocent people are diagnosed with asbestos-related medical conditions every year.

One of the most serious medical conditions directly linked to asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer that commonly affects the thin linings of tissue surrounding the lungs, abdomen, and heart. To make matters worse, mesothelioma has a latency period of anywhere from 20 to 50 years, which can leave patients with diminished treatment options by the time their doctors make a diagnosis.

Although nothing can undo a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis, filing an asbestos lawsuit can help hold asbestos companies responsible for their greed and indifference to public safety and send a message that society will not tolerate such behavior. Furthermore, a mesothelioma lawsuit can recover compensation to pay for vital medical treatments, lost wages from being out of work during recovery, and the pain and suffering of living with the disease.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

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