EPA Eyes Split Chemical Risk Analyses to Address Court Ruling

The EPA may divide into two pieces its examination of whether asbestos and a group of flame retardants are too risky.

One part, which would be released by June, would review ongoing uses of the chemicals. A second supplemental analysis would come later, and would look at “legacy” risks from discontinued uses of the substances.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last November found the Environmental Protection Agency violated the Toxic Substances Control Act by categorically excluding legacy uses of substances like asbestos from those it is examining to decide whether a chemical has too great a ...