Landmark Chemical Safety Reform Signed Into Law
On June 22, 2016, President Obama signed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the first significant reform to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) since its original passage in 1976.
The law designated asbestos as one of the first 10 chemicals for EPA risk evaluation, setting the stage for potential federal regulation decades after a 1991 court ruling overturned the EPA’s previous ban attempt.
Why TSCA Reform Was Needed
The original 1976 TSCA required the EPA to use the “least burdensome” approach when regulating chemicals, a standard so restrictive that courts overturned the EPA’s 1989 asbestos ban in 1991.
Before reform:
- EPA had to prove chemicals posed “unreasonable risk” using the least costly regulatory approach
- Courts ruled even asbestos, a known carcinogen, couldn’t be banned under this standard
- More than 80,000 chemicals on the market had never been tested for safety
After reform:
- EPA must use health-based safety standards
- Cost-benefit analysis no longer the primary factor
- EPA given authority to require testing and regulate dangerous chemicals
Asbestos Among First Priority Chemicals
The Lautenberg Act required the EPA to evaluate existing chemicals for safety risks. Asbestos was designated as one of the first 10 priority chemicals for evaluation.
The initial 10 chemicals:
- Asbestos
- 1-Bromopropane
- Carbon tetrachloride
- 1,4-Dioxane
- Cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster
- Methylene chloride
- N-Methylpyrrolidone
- Pigment Violet 29
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene
The EPA was required to complete risk evaluations and determine whether these chemicals posed “unreasonable risks” to human health.
Senator Lautenberg’s Legacy
The law was named for Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, who championed chemical safety reform for years before his death in 2013. Lautenberg, who served five terms in the Senate, made TSCA reform a personal mission.
His efforts continued posthumously through bipartisan cooperation, with the final bill passing the Senate 93-1 and the House 403-12.
Path to the 2024 Asbestos Ban
The Lautenberg Act enabled the regulatory process that led to the EPA’s March 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Lautenberg Act signed; asbestos designated for evaluation |
| 2020 | EPA risk evaluation finds chrysotile poses unreasonable risks |
| 2022 | EPA proposes ban under TSCA Section 6 |
| 2024 | Final rule banning chrysotile asbestos issued |
Without the Lautenberg Act’s reform of TSCA’s legal standards, the 2024 ban would likely have faced the same court challenges that overturned the 1989 ban.
The Lautenberg Act’s health-based standards replaced the “least burdensome” requirement that courts used to overturn EPA’s 1989 asbestos ban. This reform enabled the EPA to finally ban chrysotile asbestos in 2024—over 30 years after the first ban attempt.
Limitations and Ongoing Concerns
While the Lautenberg Act enabled progress on asbestos, advocates noted limitations:
What the law allowed:
- Risk evaluation of asbestos
- Potential ban on new uses and imports
- Requirements for chemical testing
What the law did not address:
- Legacy asbestos already in buildings
- Removal or abatement requirements
- All six fiber types (only chrysotile was initially prioritized)
- Extended phase-out periods for industry
The EPA’s Part 2 rulemaking, initiated in 2024, addresses legacy asbestos and other fiber types.
Significance for Mesothelioma Patients
For the mesothelioma community, the Lautenberg Act represented:
- First legislative progress on asbestos in decades
- Recognition that existing law was inadequate
- A pathway toward eventual prohibition
- Validation of advocacy efforts by organizations like ADAO
The law demonstrated that comprehensive chemical safety reform was possible through bipartisan cooperation.
Why was TSCA reform needed?▼
The original 1976 TSCA required the EPA to use the “least burdensome” approach when regulating chemicals. This standard was so restrictive that courts overturned the EPA’s 1989 asbestos ban—even though asbestos is a known carcinogen. Over 80,000 chemicals had never been tested for safety.
How did the Lautenberg Act change things?▼
The law replaced the “least burdensome” standard with health-based safety standards. Cost-benefit analysis is no longer the primary factor. The EPA gained authority to require testing and regulate dangerous chemicals based on health risks rather than economic considerations.
Why was asbestos among the first 10 chemicals prioritized?▼
Asbestos was included because it’s a known carcinogen causing mesothelioma and other diseases, yet remained largely unregulated due to the 1991 court ruling. The law’s reform enabled the EPA to finally evaluate and regulate asbestos under modern health-based standards.
What didn't the Lautenberg Act address?▼
The law didn’t address legacy asbestos already in buildings, removal or abatement requirements, all six fiber types (only chrysotile was initially prioritized), or extended industry phase-out periods. The EPA’s Part 2 rulemaking initiated in 2024 addresses these gaps.