Document Dva96nQzr6wpG5YVbayaBj00a

On January 23, 1986, the Environmen tal Protection Agency proposed to ban the use of five major asbestos prod ucts and to phase out all remaining uses of asbestos in this country over the next ten years. Friction products, such as automotive brake and clutch linings, would be banned in five years. On July 15, 1986, EPA opened a two-week long series of public meet ings to hear from all concerned. EPA says that 240,000 metric tons of asbestos were used in the U.S. dur ing 1984, and that asbestos causes 3300 to 12,000 cancer cases per year, almost all of which are fatal. The EPA proposed ban and phase-out is expected to save 1900 cancer deaths over the next fifteen years. EPA Administrator Lee Thomas said "No level of expo sure is without risk," as he announced the total ban and phase-out. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, a can cer of the chest and abdominal lining, and has several other dreadful capa bilities as well. This regulatory action, which of course would cripple the asbestos mining and manufacturing industries, will certainly be hotly argued, and will probably end up in the court systems. The White Lung Association cites the death and misery asbestos has caused in the past and present, and calls for a complete ban on all asbestos use immediately. They say too that as many as 35 percent of spouses and children of asbestos workers contract respiratory disease. The Asbestos Information Associa tion (industry) agrees that the health hazard posed by the uncontrolled use of asbestos cannot be refuted, and that high and prolonged exposure of workers to asbestos dust in the workplace some 30 to 40 years ago by Donald Reed, Washington Editor has left an unparalleled legacy of disease. However, it claims that great progress has been made in the con trolled use of asbestos, to the point where now, and continuing into the future, asbestos workers are faced with no higher health risks than any other workers. Moreover, it states that prod ucts which were used in the past which released asbestos dust are no longer used today, such as asbestos insulation boards. Where asbestos is used, new chemical and manufactur ing techniques are used to encapsulate, or lock in, asbestos fibers. Also, The Occupational Safety and Health Ad ministration has just established more stringent workplace standards. The U.S. is not alone in trying to deal with asbestos hazards, but we are the only country in the world pro posing a total ban. The rest of the world, recognizing the superior per formance qualities of asbestos, the fact that substitutes are not available for all asbestos products, and that some substitute fibers may prove to be just as hazardous, have opted instead for the controlled continued use of asbestos. The Quebec Minister of State of Mines said .. The EPA proposal is not only regrettable but it is a con tradiction with the results of the most recent studies on the effects of asbes tos use." The asbestos product most closely associated with our industry is fric tion materials. Many motor vehicle brake systems rely on asbestoscontaining friction material to meet performance requirements of the Na tional Highway Traffic Safety Admin istration (NHTSA) as well as custom er expectations. General Motors says the task of engineering systems that use non-asbestos friction materials is enormous. No effective substitute has 27 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT Aabestoa Exeoutive branch activities 28 yet been found for a sizeable number of these systems. Especially difficult problems are heavy truck brakes and replacement linings for systems al ready in the field. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence that brake dust poses any harm to mechanics or bystanders. Wagner, a division of Coo per Industries, and a major distribu tor of friction materials, tells EPA "There is considerable evidence that this debris contains little, if any, as bestos since the asbestos fibers origi nally contained in the resin bonded brake lining are converted to an inert material as a result of the heat gener ated by the braking process. This in ert material, termed forsterite, has not been demonstrated to be dangerous to individuals or the environment. Industry says EPA has overestimated the risk arising from asbestos friction products. As a result, the urgency of a total and expedited phase-down of asbestos in these uses is not warranted. Whether EPA will back down from the hard line position it has taken remains to be seen. One thing seems imperative, however--they must con sult with NHTSA to be sure that one set of problems is not simply traded for another^ Occupant crash protection--The June 17, 1986 Federal Register (page 21912) contained NHTSA Docket 74-14, No tice 44, a final rule responding to pe titions for reconsideration of the com fort and convenience performance re quirements for manual and automatic seat belt assemblies under FMVSS 208, Occupant Crash Protection, (November 6, 1985 Federal Register). The petitions requested changes re garding webbing tension-relieving devices, torso belt body contact force, belt retraction, and folding armrests. For further information contact Dick Strombotne, NHTSA Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 426-2264. Seating systems--The July 2, 1986 Federal Register (page 24176) con tained NHTSA Docket 86-04, Notice 1, an FMVSS 207, Seating Systems, NPRM proposing that a specific re lease control (i.e., a knob, lever, push button, etc.) would not be required on folding seats equipped with a self locking device for restraining the seat back, if there are no seats behind the folding seat. The standard currently requires a specific control for releas ing the seat back whether there are seats behind or not. Comments were due September 2, 1986. For further information contact Guy Hunter, NHTSA Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 426-2264. Seating reference point--The June 5, 1986 Federal Register (page 20536) contained NHTSA Docket 82-05, No tice 2, a proposed amendment to the definition of seating reference point (SRP) to make it clear that the SRP is independent of the length of the manikin's legs. In addition, NHTSA terminated consideration of a proposal to require manufacturers to specify the location of a vehicle's SRP by placing permanent marks or points on the ve hicle structure; and a proposal to amend several safety standards contain ing visibility requirements, by chang ing the reference to a driver's eye range. Comments were due August 6, 1986. For further information contact Ken Rutland, NHTSA Office of Crash Avoidance, (202) 426-2154. Controls and displays--The June 18, 1986 Federal Register (page 22092) contained a NHTSA notice denying a petition for rulemaking submitted by a private individual requesting that the location of motor vehicle controls and displays be standardized (FMVSS 101, Controls and Displays). The petitioner argued that standardization would avoid driver confusion when driving different vehicles. For further information contact Kevin Cavey, NHTSA Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 426-2153. Lighting--The June 13, 1986 Federal Register (page 21696) contained NHTSA Docket 81-11, Notice 19, a supplemental notice to an earlier pro posed rule (May 13, 1985) for three new types of standardized replaceable light sources for use in replaceable bulb headlamp systems. Two of the new light sources, HB3 and HB4, were recently adopted in a final rule published in the May 2, 1986 Federal Register. For the third light source, HB2, NHTSA requested comments on an amendment to the proposal, which contained additional figures to de- Automotive F.nsineerins IQRfi Asbestos ban Mill force neMr brake linings THOMAS' AGENCV already has Ofliaels is the oomesuc euto incur- prorrem to remove asbestos materials try said Teureday that the Environ- from the muon's public school; raentaJ Protection Agency's proposed Rep John Dingell. D-Mich.. chair til \ nneseout ot asbestos over the text men ol tht House Energv end Com , .,1 decide will meet) the eod of asbestos merce oversight end mvesugauons linings to car and truck brakes and subcommittee and a longtime EPA clutches enuc. called the acuon"iobg overdue" A Genera! Motors Corp. official also The acuon announced Thursday predicted the change will increase the launches a process to rid Amtnca of the price of vehicles However, the amount aubiunce. which "is present In the of the increase cannot be determined embiem air end presents e serious yet. laid Richard Kbmisch. executive health risk to thr American people." director of the GM environments) sc Uie administrator said ovine* naff The ioliiet ben would alien five "It depends od how fail we do It and produn categories thst now contain what material we use (to aubatitute lor from one-third to one-half of the ap the asbestos)," he said. The coat which proximately 340,000 metric Mu of could run into the millions of dollars for asbestos used by Ui. menu!anusers thr auto companies, would reflect stud each year. ies. redesgn and tooling costa for new Thomas laid effective substitute braaes, he said materials ere available for clothing Officials at Ford Motor Co. and used by firt fighters end workers Id Allied Automotive of Southfield, a ma higb-temperature areas, roofing mate jor brake supplier, downplayed the rials. flooring tells, floor tiles and effect of the asbestos phaseout, saying cement pipe end fittings it had been antibpated for several Over 10 years, he said, asbestos years and will sot disrupt the Industry. importation tad manufacture would be "We already have a program in phtaed out for all other products. In place to phase out asbestos." said Ford cluding auto brake tad clutch linings, spokeswoman Linda Lee. "Its just is substitutes ere developed. part of our new product development" GM's Klimisch said automakers She said she did not have an esti hive been working to eliminate asbes mate of the cost of the changes tos lor the last decade, end GM already John Coxrter. spokesman for Ai has gotten rid of asbestos linings in the led. said hit company la building a new from brakes of Its cars Plant in Florida to manufacture aabes- Ford's Lee said Ford his bets using tos-free products The price of the new brake materials u recently intro Mikes may increase, but that will duced vehicles such as the Aeroctar depend on what kind ol synthetic minivan. materials are used as substitutes for A Chrysler spokesman said the asbestos, he said, adding be could not company had no immediate comment. ihscsoee specifics about the materials All asbestos-containing products because they art proprietary. not coveted by the Initial ban would be required to carry warning labels, said THE SPA'S phaseout of asbestos, EPA's Thomas, predicting that "this proposed Thursdey. was prompted by phaseout will lead to total elimination concern that the substance causes up to of aabetio* at a production use In 12.000 cancer cases ennually In the America" United Suits Thomas estimated the proposed Aato industry official* uid brake rule would con the U.S. ecooomy liniogi ere not dengerous to drivers or about 12 billion through 2000. "Spread workers in euto plants who install across the population this would aver them ot the vehicles age less then CIO per consumer over IS nevertheless, the EPA's proposed years," he laid. pbeeeoui which (tint with e ben on five major categories of asbestos prod THE AGENCV estimates that asbes ucts. include* tliminatioc of asbestos tos is responsible etch year for 3.300 to from hreke linings 12004 new cancer caeca, nearly all of Tht Ef>A proposed an Immediate them fatal within live yean ban on asbestos use in five uiegorits. mostly covering construction producu. Over the next decade. EPA said, it wants to cleanse the environment of ell products containing the carcinogen. Tne decision, attacked by an indus try group as unwarranted, culminated more then Mi yean of regulatory deoate within the government and months of Infighting between EPA and the Office of Management end Budget ERA Administrator Lee Thomas said it would take about a year for she ageacy to complete public bearings and Thomas laid be aspects the pro posed rule to be "widely end actively" debited over the next year, but be added: "Ultimately, 1 don't think there can be debate about the health riaki of asbestos." The proposal was attacked by the Asbestos infonnition Aseodetion, which teld It was unwarranted and inconnstent with e cootroUed-uae ap proach fevored by European nations end the United Nttiona' International Libor Organisation. administrative review of the proposed "Under controlled use, eibeatoa asbestos rule, which has been in the does tot present significant risk to the works eince iste 1S7S. public end the workers." said Ken The ban, when fully implemented, Nyquist, a spokesman for the amocstwould avert u many as 1,900 deaths bon from asbestos-related hmg cancer over Nyqulst also questioned the safety the next IS yean, Thomas laid of asbestos substitutes. "We ere liking this anion because Thomas uid tubetitutes "appear to of the significant and well-documented present lower risk" end that EPA threat to health that axnesios repre- would be testing the tilery of other tenu." ne uid "No level of exposure is meieritls developed to replace asbes without risk." tos Asbestos: Risks and remedies Bv DAVID EVERETT fria rU Wrftf* Q. Whet is eshtetos' A. Asbestos is tht name for any of e group of nsturilly occurring ainerils made up of thin, strong fibers It is chemlcxlly men end rtxineni to bee: end thus is useful, but it also can be hermtui to humans Q. How is h need1 A. Asbestos wes ooce e popular fireproofing, eoundprooftog end insu lating material Asbestos products in clude roofing materials, automotive brake linings, protective clothing, end various types ol Iniulttioi lor ceUinga wells, floors and pipes. From 1940 until 1973, asbestos was sprayed on ceilings and other pens of thousands of schools and other public and private buildings in tht United States Q. How tee asbestos efleet aa? A. Asbestos can break down Into tiny fibers much smeller then ordinary dust. This can occur when maeufenur ing or construction work involves as bestos. when ubesios-conuimng en teritis dtterioraie, or when asbestos u not properly bonded to s material The dust floats In the sir and Is easily school in t building wnere the duspresent Tne mere presence olesoes: materials in s building ms> pot . dangerous Tne nsk comes only wm asbestos liners get into the ai; 0 Whit's being done? A. Besides the new proposal to bt many current uses of asbestos, theere federal limits on worker eiporjand bens on tpreyeo esoestos mereels Because children ere thought to b more susceptible to asbestos dust, tf federal government requires acne* districts to inspect tor potential asbe.tos problems in schools Q. is the danger over? A. No. Many school districts acres the nation, including some in Michigar have ool completed the inspection! Last year, the Environmental Protec bon Agency charged the Detroit Pubti Schools tad 21 other Michigan ecboe districts with various program viols tioai. Removal of asbestos in school1 and other buildings is proceeding slou. ly. primarily because of the con T> iron schools spent more thin 1240.00. in recent yeers on eibenos remove, but millions may be seeded sutewioi before tht cleanup is complete. Q. Whet tax 1 do If 1 hive qiastions aboil my home, eebool or workplace? Q. Whei art the health risks from this dttf! A. Studies have shown that breath ing asbestos libers can cause various types of cancer, including fatal cancers of the lung, stomach tod eheft. Anoth er risk Is aibeiucis. e chronic, often fatal, lung disease which makes it difficult to breathe Asbestos it espe cially harmful to cigtret smokers- It can affect workers who use the maierieleethejob, or ft can be e risk to anyone who works, bvts or gods to A. At work, talk to your union or managemeol. For schools, contact your local ichool district For your home, contact your local or cute health de partment. or the U-S. Consumer Prod uct Safety Commission (toll-free num ber: i-SOO-638-2772) The EPa also has e toll-free toxic eubetence Informstioc hotline. 1-800-424-9065 The VS. Cimroiunemal Protetlio* A/tncy and the American Lung Atsoeianon vert the loyrcti for ihn ttpon. Injudicious jeans are shown door in Wayne County court JEANS, from Pftpe 1A fn---------- 1___ v-:i__