The US Environmental Protection Agency on Monday (Mar 18) finalised a rule that would ban using and importing cancer-causing chrysotile asbestos.&nbsp;

It is a material which is still used in some vehicles and industrial facilities in the US. Asbestos is the first chemical banned under a 2016 chemical safety law.&nbsp;

A report by the Washington Post mentioned that asbestos is part of hazardous minerals linked to lung cancer and other ailments, which the FDA estimates cause over 40,000 deaths in the US each year.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/believe-it-or-not-this-trust-is-hiring-people-tp-count-penguins-in-antarctica-701561">Believe it or not, this trust is hiring people to count penguins in Antarctica</a>&nbsp;

The federal prohibition comes more than 30 years after the EPA attempted to rid the country of asbestos. The ban on ongoing uses of asbestos is the first rule to be finalised under the 2016 amendments to the nation's chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).&nbsp;

The government in a statement that the action "marks a major milestone for chemical safety after more than three decades of inadequate protections and serious delays during the previous administration to implement the 2016 amendments".&nbsp;

The use of asbestos in manufacturing and construction has declined but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products and remains a significant health threat.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-3-year-old-child-in-uk-cant-stop-eating-foam-plaster-and-wool-heres-why-701550">This 3-year-old child in UK can’t stop eating foam, plaster, and wool. Here's why</a>&nbsp;

EPA administrator Michael Regan said, "Folks, it's been a long road. But with today's ban, EPA is finally slamming the door on a chemical so dangerous that it has been banned in more than 50 countries."&nbsp;

Regan said, "This historic ban is more than 30 years in the making, and it's thanks to amendments that Congress made in 2016 to fix the Toxic Substances Control Act".&nbsp;

In a statement by the White House, "President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot is accelerating progress to prevent, detect, and treat cancer while boosting support for families facing cancer, including by undertaking an aggressive effort to protect families and workers from hazardous chemicals like known carcinogens."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Monday (Mar 18) finalised a rule that would ban using and importing cancer-causing chrysotile asbestos. It is a material which is still used in some vehicles and industrial facilities in the US.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Monday (Mar 18) finalised a rule that would ban using and importing cancer-causing chrysotile asbestos. It is a material which is still used in some vehicles and industrial facilities in the US. Asbestos is the first chemical banned under a 2016 chemical safety law. A report by the Washington Post mentioned that asbestos is part of hazardous minerals linked to lung cancer and other ailments, which the FDA estimates cause over 40,000 deaths in the US each year. Also read: Believe it or not, this trust is hiring people to count penguins in Antarctica The federal prohibition comes more than 30 years after the EPA attempted to rid the country of asbestos. The ban on ongoing uses of asbestos is the first rule to be finalised under the 2016 amendments to the nation's chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The government in a statement that the action "marks a major milestone for chemical safety after more than three decades of inadequate protections and serious delays during the previous administration to implement the 2016 amendments". The use of asbestos in manufacturing and construction has declined but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products and remains a significant health threat. Also read: This 3-year-old child in UK can’t stop eating foam, plaster, and wool. Here's why EPA administrator Michael Regan said, "Folks, it's been a long road. But with today's ban, EPA is finally slamming the door on a chemical so dangerous that it has been banned in more than 50 countries." Regan said, "This historic ban is more than 30 years in the making, and it's thanks to amendments that Congress made in 2016 to fix the Toxic Substances Control Act". In a statement by the White House, "President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot is accelerating progress to prevent, detect, and treat cancer while boosting support for families facing cancer, including by undertaking an aggressive effort to protect families and workers from hazardous chemicals like known carcinogens." (With inputs from agencies)

US finalises rule that would ban using and importing cancer-causing asbestos

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is restoring parts of a bedrock environmental law, once again requiring that climate impacts be considered and local communities have input before federal agencies approve highways, pipelines and other major projects.

The administration has resurrected requirements of the 50-year-old National Environmental Policy Act that had been removed by President Donald Trump, who complained that they slowed down the development of mines, road expansions and similar projects.

The final rule announced Tuesday would require federal agencies to conduct an analysis of the greenhouse gases that could be emitted over the lifetime of a proposed project, as well as how climate change might affect new highways, bridges and other infrastructure, according to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The rule, which takes effect in 30 days, would also ensure agencies give communities directly affected by projects a greater role in the approval process.

Brenda Mallory, chairwoman of the council, described the regulation as restoring “basic community safeguards” that the Trump administration had eliminated.

“Patching these holes in the environmental review process will help projects get built faster, be more resilient, and provide greater benefits to people who live nearby,” she said in a statement.

Administration officials said the new rule would not have major immediate impacts since the Biden administration had already been weighing the climate change impacts of proposed projects. But it would force future administrations to abide by the process or undertake a lengthy regulatory process and possibly legal challenges to again undo it.

The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, after several environmental disasters.

Under the changes announced Tuesday, agencies would have to consider the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a decision — including the effect a new project would have on neighborhoods already burdened by pollution.

The administration’s changes also encourage agencies to study alternatives to projects that are opposed by local communities, and it says the law’s requirements are “a floor, rather than a ceiling” when it comes to environmental reviews.

Republicans and some business groups are hostile to the changes, arguing that additional reviews would delay the development of badly needed infrastructure.

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is restoring parts of a bedrock environmental law, once again requiring that climate impacts be considered and local communities have input before federal agencies approve highways, pipelines and other major projects.

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is restoring parts of a bedrock environmental law, once again requiring that climate impacts be considered and local communities have input before federal agencies approve highways, pipelines and other major projects. The administration has resurrected requirements of the 50-year-old National Environmental Policy Act that had been removed by President Donald Trump, who complained that they slowed down the development of mines, road expansions and similar projects. The final rule announced Tuesday would require federal agencies to conduct an analysis of the greenhouse gases that could be emitted over the lifetime of a proposed project, as well as how climate change might affect new highways, bridges and other infrastructure, according to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The rule, which takes effect in 30 days, would also ensure agencies give communities directly affected by projects a greater role in the approval process. Brenda Mallory, chairwoman of the council, described the regulation as restoring “basic community safeguards” that the Trump administration had eliminated. “Patching these holes in the environmental review process will help projects get built faster, be more resilient, and provide greater benefits to people who live nearby,” she said in a statement. Administration officials said the new rule would not have major immediate impacts since the Biden administration had already been weighing the climate change impacts of proposed projects. But it would force future administrations to abide by the process or undertake a lengthy regulatory process and possibly legal challenges to again undo it. The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, after several environmental disasters. Under the changes announced Tuesday, agencies would have to consider the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a decision — including the effect a new project would have on neighborhoods already burdened by pollution. The administration’s changes also encourage agencies to study alternatives to projects that are opposed by local communities, and it says the law’s requirements are “a floor, rather than a ceiling” when it comes to environmental reviews. Republicans and some business groups are hostile to the changes, arguing that additional reviews would delay the development of badly needed infrastructure.

Biden restores climate to landmark environmental law, reversing Trump

Amazon.com Inc will pay a $1.2 million penalty to settle nearly 4,000 alleged violations of U.S. law in a move to prevent harmful exposure to pesticides through illegal sales, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday.

Amazon agreed to closely monitor and remove illegal pesticide products from its website in an effort to &quot;significantly reduce the number of illegal pesticides available through the online marketplace,&quot; the EPA said.

Amazon&#39;s violations were for selling and distributing imported pesticide and insecticide products that had been not licensed for sale in the United States, the EPA said.

Amazon said third-party sellers had sold the products through its website.

Ed Kowalski, EPA&#39;s enforcement director for the region that includes Amazon&#39;s headquarters in Seattle, said the retailer was warehousing, packaging, shipping and profiting off the products.

&quot;They have a responsibility whether to determine whether the products that they&#39;re selling are pesticides and, if so, whether they&#39;re illegal pesticides.&quot;

Amazon immediately removed the products from its website, banned foreign sellers from selling pesticides and stepped up the monitoring of its website for illegal pesticides, the EPA said.

Amazon also asked customers who purchased the products in 2013-2016 to communicate safety concerns, urged them to dispose of the items and refunded customers the cost of the products, about $130,000, the EPA said.

&quot;Regulatory compliance is a top priority at Amazon. Third-party sellers are required to comply with all relevant laws and regulations when listing items for sale on Amazon,&quot; the company said.

Amazon agreed to closely monitor and remove illegal pesticide products from its website in an effort to "significantly reduce the number of illegal pesticides available through the online marketplace," the EPA said

Amazon.com Inc will pay a $1.2 million penalty to settle nearly 4,000 alleged violations of U.S. law in a move to prevent harmful exposure to pesticides through illegal sales, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday. Amazon agreed to closely monitor and remove illegal pesticide products from its website in an effort to "significantly reduce the number of illegal pesticides available through the online marketplace," the EPA said. Amazon's violations were for selling and distributing imported pesticide and insecticide products that had been not licensed for sale in the United States, the EPA said. Amazon said third-party sellers had sold the products through its website. Ed Kowalski, EPA's enforcement director for the region that includes Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, said the retailer was warehousing, packaging, shipping and profiting off the products. "They have a responsibility whether to determine whether the products that they're selling are pesticides and, if so, whether they're illegal pesticides." Amazon immediately removed the products from its website, banned foreign sellers from selling pesticides and stepped up the monitoring of its website for illegal pesticides, the EPA said. Amazon also asked customers who purchased the products in 2013-2016 to communicate safety concerns, urged them to dispose of the items and refunded customers the cost of the products, about $130,000, the EPA said. "Regulatory compliance is a top priority at Amazon. Third-party sellers are required to comply with all relevant laws and regulations when listing items for sale on Amazon," the company said.

Amazon to pay $1.2 million in settlement over pesticide sales, US says