EPA Backs Off Plan to Revamp Chrysotile Asbestos Phase Out Rule

The EPA no longer wants to overhaul last year’s rule phasing out ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, asking a federal court to let litigation challenging that rule proceed.

In a motion filed on Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency told the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit it’s withdrawing a previous motion that had asked the court to pause a lawsuit challenging its 2024 regulation so that it could consider regulatory changes that could take two-and-a-half years to complete.

Instead of redoing the rule, the “EPA plans to explore whether guidance could provide further clarity to stakeholders” as they ...