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Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization President Linda Reinstein tweeted that the proposal was \"shocking\" and \"disgusting\" and said it would increase asbestos imports to the U.S.

Well done @archpaper! \"@EPA is now allowing #asbestos back into manufacturing.\" Shocking. Disgusting. Criminal in my #mesothelioma widow's book. https://t.co/WHKHiizWES #ToxicTrump

— Linda Reinstein (@Linda_ADAO) August 7, 2018

EPA officials pushed back on this criticism, saying that the chemical law passed in 2016 requires them to go through a risk evaluation process before they completely ban chemicals like asbestos. They said the rule does not encourage asbestos use at all but puts a rigorous review process in place where there previously wasn't any regulation.

\"The uses that are covered in the significant new use rule can come to market prior to the SNUR being proposed at any time with no knowledge, no evaluation,\" Charlotte Bertrand, acting principal assistant administrator in the EPA chemical office told ABC News. \"The SNUR prohibits that from happening, it cannot happen, and if somebody did want to go to market they have to notify the EPA and EPA evaluates the use that is being proposed for human health, public health, and environmental risk, and then it enables an opportunity to impose restrictions, prohibit, or limit a use that could happen now.\"

The full text of the EPA rule proposed on June 1 is available here for public comment until Aug. 10.

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