The U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent on Oct. 3 the "Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007" (S. 742). The bill, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the EPA to promulgate regulations prohibiting the importation, manufacturing, processing or distribution of asbestos-containing materials. The ban would include the use of asbestos in automotive brake pads and linings, roofing materials and cement.
The bill would also amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to establish an asbestos-related disease registry, and to require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish an asbestos-related disease research and treatment network.
If S. 742 becomes law, the EPA would be directed to issue rules to ensure that asbestos products are off the shelves within two years of the bill's enactment.
Copyright Hearst Business Publishing Nov 2007
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
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