Document XO9NXqa4Y7OpxkBnoBzvvQamy

FILE NAME: Z< DATE: DOC#: Z< DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Federal Register - WZZZEZWZ - - Federal Register! VoL 49. No. 245-!,Wednes- d-al. December. 19... 1984 I Proposea Kwes . _. . -- 40 CFR Part 763 commence a civil action in a district court of the UnitedStates to compel (OPTS-211D15; TSH-RlL Z721-t) EPA to initiate a rulemakjD8 proceeding A8bestoa; Reaponae to CItJzMIa' caisvrileaqcuteiostnedm' iunstthbee preuteidtiowni.'tAhinny6' 0sudcahys PeUUon AGPCY: Environmental Protection aitet' EPA's denial of the petition or. if EPA faila to grant or deny the petition Agency,lEPA}. - within'SO days aftet' the petition ia filed. ACTION: Response to Citizens' Petition. within aa-days following expiration of SU".IIY: The Environmental Protection the 900day responae period. n. Agency {!PA) ia granting a petition filed Eval"'DoD onbe PetitiOn under section 21 of the Toxic ~Ilbatances Control Act (TSCA) by the A. Introduction. me.. Natural RelOurceI Deiense Council. On September12.198f. EPA received to prohibit the UN of ubestos in- me. automobUe aDd truck brakes. EPA h a a petiticm from the Natural Resources Dei8D18 Council. (NRDC). commenced an appropriate 'proceeding to ac:idrus the riaka which may be posed requesting that EPA prohibit the further use of asbestol iD automobile and truck by thia use of asbestos. OATl:Submit written comments on or. brakQ mdet' HCti0Jf8 of"l'SCA. The petition requested a prohibition of befora March-18, 1985. . IIIIU: Submit written comments in aansbdatrtuoc.k. isn.abnodthinbrreapkleascmfonr ennetwbrcaakress ADD triplicate identified by the document for existing yehiclaa. The petition argued control number (OP'1"S-mOlS) to: T'SCJ . Public Information Office {TS-793}. that the riaka poaed by -asbestos iD brakes are unreaaonable aud that . office of Toxic Substances. economically ami techuically feasible EEn-Iv0i7ro. n40m1eMntoalSPt.,roStWec.t.iWonuAlUi8DDgCtYoD. R. Dm..e subatituta a&1t available. . In order to promulgate any rules UDder- Z048O. . . A copy of the petitioJl aud related. - !SeA MCt1on.6. the Agency must CODIider a D1IIIlber of facton. including. infOlllll.ticm (with any couiIdeDtial . buIiueu iDformaticm daleted) fa locate 1. IIDOII8 ot cbeaiica1 her tbiDp. nbatulClt the effects cm humarl of a health . iD:. Room E-101. EzniroJuDeata1 ad the mqattude of expoiure; the ProtectioD. Apncy, 401' M St.. SW.. ". t.Wlta of uttltzinl the aubatanCe: and WulUDgtoD. DC 20480. Thia material ia available for viewiD. ~ t~h,e..av.oaifltabbailsituybottf annbca:teitbuetiaD1ao.r.t.h.e.HUdH. - a.ad copyiDairom.8 a.m. onday through Friday. to .. p.m... nci1Jdins I q . L 1! U.s.c. 28D5(c)(1J. The Asency 1w ccmduded a nMew of the available M _holiday.. infarmatiaa pertaiDiDc to the UN of .~ PUll'naIMlORMA"J'IOII COIITAC'r': Edwud A. 10_ Direc:taro TSCA aab8ltol ill brakes. IDchJdin, the iafcnmaticm iD NRDC'. petit1an. A AAiItam:beaOtafuficcae.(ETaSv-i1r9o9D)m. OeDfftiacle of . I.1"UaIlUuDa8ti1c7moof tfhtahterreivIkieawp.oisnecdlubdiyDtgbiaanuae- Toxic Su Protecticm Ageacy. Rm. E-M3. 401 M ~ ,t.. SW.. WaJhinstoa. D.e.. Z068O. To1lfre, ~ a.ad the availability of lubstitutes. is - pnnutecl below.. . (800-424-9085)r In Wuhiqtoa. D.e: (551-140&). B.1liJJt P18NDtMi by Mbato. O u t l i d e t h e U S A : (Opera~- . 1406)~ Asbestos fa a demcmstrated human ' CIIJ:Cinosml that cau.aea lung cancer and .......'.IY'AIIY"INIIOIIIIATION: mesotbelloma (a cancer of the chest and abdcmrin'lllDinp)....well u other lung LlDtmducdon Sectimt 21 of the-Toxic. Substances . d1I~ People are expoNd. to aabutaa tbroushout the life cycle .# o f the CantrolAct (1'SCA). lSU.s.C. 2820, provides that any person may petitio 1 subttance wheD ubeatoa ia mined. milled. ~Hd. fabricated into the Adminiatrator ofEPA to initiate I. . prac:eeding for the iuuance. iDduatrial. CODIUQl8l' producta. and - when thole producta are u.aed. repaired. &lDeudment. or repeal of a rule w:u.leI ' various aectiona of the-Act. EPA mal . and d1tpoHcl cf.. . to the 8 .of uGeatoa in hold a public !:iearins or may CODduc: an appropriate investigation to determiJ ut b r With alcu. re it prd hu. betm \11 aUmated. that a b o u t repotentially expoled. . whether-the p,~tion Ihould be grant Id.. EPA muat either grant or deny the 2.1SO peopl~a durins primar y m a n u f a c t u r i n g of brake a.nd that about 550.000 .petition within 90 days. If EPA gran11' the petition. EPA shall promptly "friotioll materia1J. people are potentially exposed to and repair oC cEoPmAmdeenncieesatnheapppertoitpiornia.tethperroecaeseodni!r .gfo. rI-f asbelto vehicle s b during servici rakes (Re!. 6). ng Fo r example. and repair denial mUlt be published in the Fed n.l ll-utar., and the petitioner may . persona in brake service shops typically are exposed to ubesto8 f VI 49312 Federal Register / Vol. 49. ~o. 245 / V\ ednesday. December 19. 1984 J Proposed Rules when dust is blown out of brake drums being replaced. when brake linings are products. but ve rification of this information as' leH as infonnaiion on discs brak1!s in the original equipment roughened to increase friction properties. and when brake shoes are ,elined. price and effical y of the products are needed bef~re EPA can cietennin1! whether eontinu ~d use of asbestos in market are asbestos and 50 percent are semimetallic. In the replacement brakes after-market approximately 70 per-cent of disc brakes are asbestos and 30 LTse of aabastos in vehicle brakes may dlso resuit in increased asbestos fiber brake blocks ptf sents aB unreaaonabie risk. percent are semimetallic. concentrations in the ambierrt ;ur. For -:,\<iffiCJle. SPA has ev;cence char motor 2. L.";Jht and .'1l ?dium ~'ehicie drum brake i:nings. D urn brake SemimetalUc disc brakes cost dDoro;';lmlite!\, :; ;Jmes as much as ,h~ . 2,';;.;;e ornku:g IDest likely conmoutes ')e!ween 0.23 to 1.3 percent of the ';aneentration of asbestos in the ambient limm!s are ~acie or frlet:cn :r.ate:-..ais whie!l co\'er curved metal Srilles in a drum braka. About 46 percen. of ail asbestos ~ed in usbeslc:, d.t!ic~:al\e ;Jads. ~UI :hey 'd1>l ",bout ..0 pereen: :cr:ger etan [he asbestos pads. Serrumetallic disc brake dir (Ref. 7). Both general population and workplace exposures to asbestos fibers :rom Its use in brakes may result in an brakes is in this ;ategory of use. Light \'etucle asbestos drum brake linings may be used in bom ttIe front ilnd rear pad.. c;.alUlot substituLe for asbestos dISC brake pads in e\'ery applicatIOn bei:ause of lnierlOr periormance charactensttcs. EPA has information l.Il.dicating thdt incre85ed number of asbestos-related illnesses. including cancer. brakes of light aJ Ld medium veJ:W;l.es. plima:r.ily on the :ront wheels. HOWe<.'er. semunetallic ciisl;: bra~ should be use.d ,~ .-1 m;iai)llity of SUbStJtUleS most passenger' ehicles still use drum obench'a'uo:nSecaortsh.weirthw~oothweersebmrauknaetas.vlls1tcems The petitioner asserts that brake linings on .he rear wheels. At least 99 percent (If.drum brake linmgs orakes may not provide enough SlOppmg econollllcally and technically feaS1Gle .;uosu!Utes. most prominently are still asbestos . iJn.tll racently he only sl!bstitut.es for power. EPA also has informatIon that the semlmetailic brakes are sil!zhtl v to semunetallic frlction materials and aramid fibers. are available to replace asbestos brake li oings which appeared to ha\'e any pote ltiai wera semunetallic InferIor because the user has pu~h harder on them before they are warmed asbestos in brakes. EPA has an.hozed the availability of substitutes form&l1f brake iiniogs. He wever.. tlu!s.e products tend to perform f rratically ai difIer2llt up (0 set the same performance as WIth asbestos brakes. asbeatoa. products. im:ludiDg brakes. and that analysis is SIIrmna:ri?ed in temperatures. la..: eo and produce more noiae than alIbes os-based linfnga. ~ore EPA is aware that a good deal of product research is being done to Appendix A (l[ the "Regt1latBlY .Impact Analysm of Contrala an Asbestos recently, brake li lings made with aramid fiber haV!! ~en daveloped. develop effective sub'Stitntes for asbestos in brakes. EPA is seelcing Products" (Ref. 2.). which is ioonded la However. these Cl re mora expBDAive additional woanalioa oa subatituta for the pubiic: l8C01'd .estabLitDed for than the asllestm .product.aDd ther2 .la asbestos in brakes. NRDC'.a .aecUOD.Z1 pet.itioa.BPA ackn~ that DeW subid!ut.. few not curready eDO J.gb.iDiormaUon available to ~dIJl! the pedilrmaDce o Ilt C'AaGlutillla asbuta. WIe iD br.Mae . . beint f aramid fiber braJ. a ll.niDp. Purtlwmore. EPA hat decided to grant NRDC's .anal,. . deveioped.aad tbat EP.A'.a ma, (summarized baiGw~ QQt iDcJ.lWia. EPA's evideDca.iJ Idlcatu !hat large vohune'prod'uctic IJ ohramid fib8r . petition becu8'le.the A1'!DCy ~I!'S that the use of asbestos in brakes does recent d.eelopmesta.- . _ 1. Haavy v.a.hi.I:Mt bmiJJI ~ DAM brakes imrr reqai ~ .subItautial Mooq by brab 1IlBI!I1faI tarers; Thenfore. pnII8IIll'iai::a _ human bBahh. EPA a iaitiatiGg" pmcaeriio8 tAl gMdn!r blocb.am amlpaneuta t:A _ _.that aramid abet brak es may'not be lafonbatiOll 011 ~ ~Uy and are riveted Ql.bolted. tQ.the~.gf brake saou Jo pmwide~ availaOl_1Rti1Il qammteefol, several ~ . feasibilUy lli 1'8dudng ciIka .aaociat:ed with the use of asbestos iD brabs. EPA a..,. agaiDat the heat aDd wear caaed. hy _ 3; 1ffIIriQ "dUe JxuiI ptJt& wiU analyzethe exposure from uses of brilking Heavy v4b.ic1a ~ blocka:ara. Disc braD~ . . . . . p1a.tn tiRed asbestos. the rlsk presented ,by those' used onheavy..duty u:u.:ka..buau. _cl other heavy duty vehicl8L.Aboa.t34 . wSdl iricaioa.... naia wbidl1'Dla 'ascisut ,- a rotDr.lUny",aides D'D!iy u. dWc. . Wles. and the wbstitates far'Such uses. EPA wilt _ gather information ~ the percent of all ubestos used in brakes is in this cat..,. af,.... Aabeat. _~ brakes. About 0.1 percent of.a1l abet&oa used in brakea ia ~ n tlW~<Jf ue. price. efficacy. and availability of substitutes far asbestos in brakes. Aft vehicle brake blow accoUDi for about S '-Idlil: d:i c blab 'PSda. . anaiyaa.of tma informaGGIil. EPA will 99 percent of the market for heavy vehicle brake blocks. about-20 percent Itaare 8XpeDlive tla1IIl .the a.bes. . . . . . . ~'baIt..., deteftll:iu -what1m1ia.. ac:otiGo ia. ap~m addIa..tt.risIfa w8ida recently. ... .Uutil the cmtymnnnwaDy. .....mableRbltitutehllllbato..heny laat about 30 pare lilt lo~1laa. aemimetaillcs4ill: brakepada annat may_~b,_ oi _ _OL Sued OILiafanalaliaa1"llVi.8wwd. vehicle brab blac:bwa. sead:mItai1la' . coDJidBnld lD be~ DUd 81""""1 &IQ date. EPA is not prepared to ara.ke an brakebtock"Ulring braJ aad:zmc chip.in morpDic bindE.1t11 not coaideatd repiacamllDtl for 11Ibato. disc brab . padl for be..",.. :Iidee becaan . UJlreuonable risk finding for an immediw b8A Ill..u usu Qf aab8lKos in as good. ._&Stow bec:auae itl*fOiWl' e~ diffeumt tempetatmn. It is' semiDnrta1fica 1J8'l'I arm tmtar:tbm asbestos ou1yiDiI Dtfte. hish.fric1WD. brakes at this time. Effective substitutes ma,.not b.. availablefar 0IIlUia aDo COIlSidemliufericrr1D the ubataa brake block in resistiDS warad' . liigh-lmIt mvtrom IIeIIDo . . 4.l.irhtTZmi:m81 /ium WJlrir:JII df.sr: applicatiODl Gi 2'iIl;Ww la braIrr.u ad. ~ _ otlttr applicatiaaa,ca 'DOt minitnir.iR!'brHe fe._1t'8Cell'liy, aramid fiber~ lIIICh.u X. .lar. . . . . IJtttt1J. paS 'nteIe we'the usa. u ~ brake,*, farlm'!rf"lehidu.. except . available _ ....ilie.... qMaDtity beca2za8. of limited production capacity. RMool.,.. beeD iJatludwcect butaI'UIid:.&.r . _ prociaGta . . . . . . . . .ap..... dwI the7ae ..a.r.'J~-baat 20 -perceut'OfaB asbestos tI8IId in ~ rakn- is in this may be required to lDB;ke substitutes available iD large .....m ... nbetKos.pNdact.. . . . . . . is eot sufficieJlt ft'ideace w.dete:mine cat..".,vt,..; IntbtdDc braR marlcet. S1IIIIi.tMtaJ lie brak.. haft The Agency invite. the public to submit comments on issues matil11 wltetDenraealdm.r ~ riI be H akedy.mede 181'! ft'lmoeds., ami as in the petition. EPA m~ tI) effectiq ....be,toe" ttn. .."ticatiaft. InfOrmaGml . . . . . . that ftCh prMacts tbe<lras brake& inpmarket amnid- beteti brakes are 1nt besimUns to t,e ~terestad UU8c.eiving inf.omaatioll OR both the current availability of I1IIlY la.. longertftH ubesta.-baed Introduced. A{JPI'O lCimllltely 5U percent-of substitutes Cor asbestos in brakes and / - Federal Register I Vol. 49. No. ,45 I Wednesday. [lecember 19. 1964 I Proposed Rules 49313 on new substitute product:. that are currently being developed. The Agency has an ongoing wc.!l;.group which will review these comments. -w Jl continue to investigate the availabilit) of effective asbestos-free substitutes f, Ir use in vehicle brakes. and conaid er appropriate options to add ress the risk presented by asbestos in b~akes. IV. Record EPA has establiahed a Cl cord for information relating to the NRDC petition, The record includ !s information considered by EPA in developing this respouae a ld consists of the following categories of information: - (1) The NRDC petition. (2) Appendix A of the "I' egulatory Impa.ct.Analysis of Contro. s on Asbestos Products." (3) Other information on substitutes for asbestos in brakes. (4) Information received from the - public concerning the petit on. (S) Memoranda summari ang meetings and telephone ConversatiOlll with the public concerning the petit on. (6) Appendix Jof the "RE gulatory Impact Analysis of Contral , on Asbestos Products." (7) Appendix N of the toR ltgUlatory Impact Analysis of ControJ I 00. Asbestos Products." , A public version of the n :cord. without any confidential bllBiness information. is available to the public in the Office of Toxic SubataI ces Public Information Office. from 8 ,L.m. to 4 p~ Monday through Friday. ex cept-legal holidays. The Public Inforn ation Office is located in Rm. E-I07. 401 M St.. SW.. Washington. D.e. Dated: December 14. 1984. William D. RUIlk.llhaua. Administrator. rued [PR Doc.~33120 J 81WHG COOl .1ICIotO-fIt lZ-l?:-~: 1:14 pm]