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Trump EPA Drops Plan to Rewrite Biden-Era Chrysotile Asbestos Ban

EPA has withdrawn its June reconsideration notice in favor of defending the ban in court.

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Overview

  • EPA plans to issue guidance rather than use notice-and-comment rulemaking to clarify interim worker protections under the existing asbestos ban.
  • The 2024 rule bans the manufacture, processing, distribution and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
  • Asbestos exposure is linked to over 40,000 U.S. deaths each year and is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
  • In June the agency filed for a 30-month review to reconsider whether requiring workplace protections could replace parts of the prohibition.
  • Industry groups such as the American Chemistry Council supported staggered phase-outs of up to 12 years and have challenged the rule’s scope in federal court.