EPA Issues Significant New Use Rule Banning Certain Uses Of Asbestos And Foreshadows Forthcoming Asbestos Risk Evaluation

On April 17, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final "significant new use rule" (SNUR) prohibiting over one dozen uses of asbestos from returning to the marketplace without EPA review and approval.

The uses of asbestos subject to the SNUR are:

• adhesives, sealants, and roof and non-roof coatings;
• arc chutes;
• beater-add gaskets;
• cement products;
• extruded sealant tape and other tape;
• filler for acetone cylinders;
• friction materials (with certain exceptions);
• high-grade electrical paper;
• millboard;
• missile liner;
• packings;
• pipeline wrap;
• reinforced plastics;
• roofing felt;
• separators in fuel cells and batteries;