Document O3zz50j9dLe4B9YNQzYxVDMnv

t 6/12/84 . FOR: MEMBERS "1 This excerpt will be of particular interest and--is invited ta--your attention X' BJP DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENTINDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 1985 May 23,1984.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. Boland, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT together with ADDITIONAL VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 5713] The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September SO, 1985, and for other purposes. INDEX TO BILL AND RETORT Title I--Department of Housing and Urban Development Title II--Independent Agencies: American Battle Monuments Commission---------------Consumer Product Safety Communion------------- ----- Cemeterial Expenses, ArmyTM...-------- ----------------------Environmental Protection Agency------------ .-------------Council on Environmental Quality .....TM,,..TM.TM------ Office of Science and Technology PolicyTM.---------.. Federal Emergency Management Agency ------------- Consumer Information Center ..--- ------------- ----- ----- -Office of Consumer Affairs----------------------- ---- ------- 34-897-0 hit numbtr Bill JRepoti 23 14 15 15 16 16 17 16 17 19 25 19 26 20 27 22 32 22 32 CAP CO JEN 0010333 19 ^The committee generally supports EPA's increased empnasis on risk assessment in regulatory decisions, recognizing that some level of risk is inherent in virtually every substance and every activity. However, a marked departure from this balanced and well-rea soned approach to managing risk appears to be EPA's treatment of . asbestos. In past decades, extremely nigh occupational exposures to asbestos have had catastrophic health consequences to exposed -workers. These effects are well-known and have led the public to automatically associate asbestos with disease and death. In fact asbestos is not a single substance, but a group of minerals with different physical and chemical characteristics and biological activities. Many researchers believe that '`white'* asbestos, which comprises 95 percent of all uses in this country, presents far less risk than other types. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence of measurable adverse health effects produced by the inhalation of "white'' asbestos at low nonoccupational exposures or from inges tion even at high concentrations. Recently, the asbestos-in-schools program has received wide at tention. However, EPA's handling of this problem has not encour aged rational or responsible risk management. Regulations require that parents be notified if "friable" asbestos is found, but EPA technical guidance is lacking on how school officials are to evaluate risks and select appropriate corrective measures. The potential for panic and overreaction is tremendous--leading to wasted resources and possibly higher asbestos exposures if complete removal is un dertaken in schools where modest containment measures are ap propriate. The committee urges EPA to provide more balanced and complete technical information to encourage more rational and less emotional responses to asbestos in schools. 20 The Agency's recent regulatory' proposal for an immediate ban on asbestos in several major uses--with a complete phase-out over ten years--also perpetuates the "one fiber can kill" perception that is an anathema to rational decision-making on managing risks. This proposal to ban all forms of asbestos would impose a huge cost on society. Yet EPA has not seriously considered the approach being taken by Great Britain, Canada and the Common Market countries of differentiating among the types of asbestos and ban ning only those types believed to present higher health risks. The committee believes it is essential for EPA to reconsider its approach to asbestos regulation and directs that before taking any further regulatory action restricting asbestos uses, the Agency do tlie. following: ^--Clearly define the minerals classified as asbestos; --Fully evaluate the British, Canadian and European studies; --Develop mineral-specific assessments of relative health risk; --Evaluate epidemiological studies to identify the specific risks of "white" asbestos at low environmental exposures; and --Conduct animal studies to determine the biological activity and health risks of asbestos substitutes. CAP CO JEN 0010334 iT98th Congress ' 2d Session SENATE Jendar No. 967, { Report 98-506 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENTINDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 1985 June 7 (legislative day. June 6), 1984.--Ordered to be printed Mr. Garn, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H.R. S713] The Committee on Appropriations to which was referred the bill (H.R. 5713) making appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, com missions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending Septem ber 30, 1985, and for other purposes, reports the same to the Senate with various amendments and presents herewith an explanation of the contents of the bill. AMOUNT OF NEW BUDGET (OBUGATJONAL) AUTHORITY Fiscd year 1PS5 Amount of bill as recommended in House....................... 58,436,456.500 Amount of change by Committee...... --............... ............ --2,352,617,500 Amount of bill as reported to Senate................................ 56,083,879,000 Amount of appropriations to date, 1984............................ 56,111.731.000 Amount of budget estimates, 1985.................................... 54,668.498.000 Over estimates for 1985............................................... 1,415,381.000 Under appropriations for 1984.................................... 27,852.000 r- CAPCO JEN O 01 -The Committee strongly supports EPA's regulator)' decisions regard ing the uses of asbestos, particularly its increased emphasis on address ing the problem of asbestos in schools. Scientific studies begining in the 1930's, have documented the link between exposure to asbestos and var ious types of cancer and other diseases. The House report is critical of EPA for allegedly failing to consider the approach being taken by Great Britain, Canada, and the Common Market countries. The data on which this approach rests suggests that the degree of risk resulting from ex posure to chrysotile or white asbestos is not as great as that resulting from exposure to crbcidolitc or blue asbestos and amositc or brown asbestos. The Committee notes, however, dial other studies, such as the 1983 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report, have reached different conclusions. In fact, the CPSC report concluded that * evidence for a significant difference among the important commercial asbestos varieties in their ability to cause lung cancer is weak. The report also shows that animal studies consistently document that all three . I forms of asbestos are equally potent in producing lung cancer and mesothelioma. - In addition, there is no known threshold level below which exposure j | to asbestos is considered safe. Moreover, evidence shows that children ; may stand an increased risk of developing disease from asbestos ex posure due to the earlier period of life at which they are exposed. The i question of providing financial assistance to school districts is currently being considered. Should such legislation pass, EPA's role in the asbestos-in-schools program would be expanded. In the interim, the Committee believes that EPA should continue its present approach to the j j asbestos problem. The Committee is advised that EPA considers its ij regulatory and enforcement activities concerning asbestos to be among . j its top 10 priorities. The Committee directs that EPA continue its efforts, and that neither further regulatory actions restricting asbestos uses, nor its program of having school officials identify asbestos haz ards, should be delayed pending completion of further studies. Finally, the Committee provided an additional $1,000,000 to undertake additional asbestos-in-schools inspections. It is expected that these additional funds could increase the number of inspections by about i * ; i 1,000 over the proposed level CAP CO JEN 0010336