EPA Requests Nominations for Experts to Review White Paper to Be Used in the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2 under TSCA

On June 22, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called for public nominations of scientific and technical experts to review the “2023 White Paper on the Quantitative Human Health Approach to be Applied in the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2.” 88 Fed. Reg. 40819. EPA states that it will release the white paper for public review and comment in late July 2023 and subsequently submit it for letter peer review. EPA currently anticipates selecting approximately ten to 15 expert reviewers and plans to make a list of candidates under consideration as prospective letter reviewers for this review available for public comment by early August 2023. Nominations are due July 24, 2023.
 
As reported in our July 11, 2022, memorandum, EPA published the final scope of the risk evaluation to be conducted for Asbestos Part 2 in June 2022. EPA will evaluate the conditions of use (COU) of asbestos, including other types of asbestos fibers in addition to chrysotile, that EPA had excluded from Part 1 as legacy uses and associated disposals, as well as any COUs of asbestos-containing talc. The final scope of the Part 2 risk evaluation includes the COUs, hazards, exposures, and potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations (PESS) that EPA plans to consider in conducting the risk evaluation.