that are tricky to find replacement material for (e.g., it was being used with brake pads for some vehicles).
The ban went into effect last year - Toxic asbestos is now fully banned, a move that EPA calls 'historic'
The EPA press release at the time - Biden-Harris Administration finalizes ban on ongoing uses of asbestos to protect people from cancer
These parts are notable for who was left still using it -
Chrysotile asbestos is found in products including asbestos diaphragms, sheet gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets. The use of asbestos in the United States has been declining for decades, and its use is already banned in over 50 countries.
Although there are several known types of asbestos, the only form known to be imported, processed, or distributed for use in the United States is chrysotile. Raw chrysotile asbestos was imported into the United States as recently as 2022 for use by the chlor-alkali industry. Most consumer products that historically contained chrysotile asbestos have been discontinued.
Chlor-alkali Sector
The chlor-alkali sector uses asbestos diaphragms to make sodium hydroxide and chlorine, a critical use of which is to disinfect drinking water and wastewater. There are other ways to disinfect water and other ways to produce chlorine; in fact, two-thirds of the chlorine produced in the U.S. is produced without using asbestos. While there are only eight chlor-alkali plants in the United States that still use asbestos diaphragms, EPA must still ensure that the eight facilities have a reasonable transition time for the phase out of asbestos that does not inadvertently adversely impact drinking or wastewater purification efforts.
EPA is banning the import of asbestos for chlor-alkali use immediately to close the door forever on the use of asbestos by this sector.
The above are probably the ones lobbying for the review (and probably repeal).
= new reply since forum marked as read