Fact Check: "The Environmental Protection Agency, under President Joseph R. Biden, adopted a ban on the use, manufacture, and import of chrysotile asbestos in 2022."
What We Know
The claim that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Biden adopted a ban on chrysotile asbestos in 2022 is incorrect. While the EPA did propose a ban on the ongoing uses of asbestos in April 2022, the finalization of this ban did not occur until March 18, 2024. This rule prohibits ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, marking it as the first rule finalized under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 2016 (EPA News Release).
Chrysotile asbestos is the only type of asbestos that was still being imported and used in the United States as of 2022, primarily in the chlor-alkali industry (EPA Asbestos Actions). The proposed ban aimed to protect public health by addressing the risks associated with this carcinogen, which has been linked to various cancers and thousands of deaths annually in the U.S. (EPA News Release).
Analysis
The assertion that a ban was adopted in 2022 conflates the proposal stage with the finalization stage of regulatory processes. The EPA's proposal in April 2022 was a significant step, but it did not constitute an official ban until the rule was finalized in March 2024 (EPA Asbestos Actions).
The reliability of the sources used to verify this claim is high. The EPA is a government agency responsible for environmental protection and public health, and its announcements are considered authoritative. The news release detailing the finalization of the ban provides clear timelines and context regarding the legislative and regulatory processes involved (EPA News Release).
Additionally, the claim's timeline is crucial. The final rule was part of a broader initiative to enhance chemical safety and public health protections, which reflects the administration's commitment to addressing environmental health issues (EPA News Release). Thus, while the Biden administration has taken significant steps toward banning chrysotile asbestos, the claim that such a ban was enacted in 2022 is misleading.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that the EPA adopted a ban on the use, manufacture, and import of chrysotile asbestos in 2022 is inaccurate. The ban was proposed in 2022 but was not finalized until March 2024. This distinction is critical in understanding the regulatory timeline and the actions taken by the Biden administration regarding asbestos.
