,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #gjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #aj1 #bjae ,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,markey7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,asbestos ,information ,act of #aihh to establish a public database of asbestos-containing products1 to require public disclosure of information pertaining to the manufacture1 processing1 distribution1 and use of asbestos-containing products in the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reducing ,exposure to ,asbestos ,database ,act of #bjae or the ,,read ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency has classified asbestos as a category ,a human carcinogen1 the highest cancer hazard classification for a substance2 7#b7 the ,international ,agency for ,research on ,cancer has classified asbestos as a class #a human carcinogen2 7#c7 despite the enactment of the ,asbestos ,information ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bfjg note2 ,public ,law #ajj-egg71 which sought to improve transparency and public awareness of the presence of asbestos in commercial materials and products1 many people in the ,united ,states still incorrectly believe that-- 7,a7 asbestos has been banned in the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 there is no risk of exposure to asbestos through the use of new commercial products2 7#d7 asbestos is still being imported and used1 and is otherwise present as a contaminant1 in some consumer and industrial products in the ,united ,states2 7#e7 according to the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the manufacture1 importation1 processing1 and distribution in commerce of many asbestos-containing products are not banned in the ,united ,states1 including-- 7,a7 cement corrugated sheet2 7,b7 cement flat sheet2 7,c7 clothing2 7,d7 pipeline wrap2 7,e7 roofing felt2 7,f7 vinyl floor tile2 7,g7 cement shingle2 7,h7 millboard2 7,i7 cement pipe2 7,j7 automatic transmission components2 7,k7 clutch facings2 7,l7 friction materials2 7,m7 disc brake pads2 7,n7 drum brake linings2 7,o7 brake blocks2 7,p7 gaskets2 7,q7 non-roofing coatings2 and 7,r7 roof coatings2 7#f7 consumers and workers are at risk of asbestos exposure1 and families of workers are also put at risk because of asbestos brought home by the workers on the shoes1 clothes1 skin1 and hair of the workers2 7#g7 the ,environmental ,working ,group estimates that as many as #aj1jjj citizens of the ,united ,states die each year from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases2 7#h7 the ,national ,institutes of ,health reported to ,congress that mesothelioma is a difficult disease to detect1 diagnose1 and treat2 7#i7 mesothelioma responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy1 and although new combination treatments for mesothelioma have demonstrated some benefits-- 7,a7 the median survival period for mesothelioma is only #a year after diagnosis of the disease2 and 7,b7 the majority of mesothelioma patients die within #b years of diagnosis of the disease2 and 7#aj7 until asbestos is completely banned from being used in or imported into the ,united ,states1 transparent and accessible information about the location and identity of asbestos and asbestos-containing products in the ,united ,states is necessary to better protect consumers1 workers1 families1 and the people of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,establishment of asbestos-containing product database ,the ,asbestos ,information ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bfjg note2 ,public ,law #ajj-egg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #d-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#g7 as paragraphs 7#d7 through 7#h71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 ,asbestos-containing product ,the term asbestos-containing product means any product 7including any part7 to which asbestos is deliberately or knowingly added or in which asbestos is deliberately used or knowingly present in any concentration4 2 7#b7 in section #b1 by inserting 7referred to in this ,act as the ,administrator7 after ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 #e4 ,asbestos-containing product database 7a7 ,in general ,using funds otherwise made available to the ,administrator1 the ,administrator shall1 in accordance with this section1 establish and maintain a database of asbestos-containing products 7referred to in this ,act as the database7 that is-- 7#a7 publicly available2 7#b7 searchable2 and 7#c7 accessible through the website of the ,administrator4 7b7 ,submission of detailed implementation plan to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed plan for establishing and maintaining the database1 including plans for the operation1 content1 maintenance1 and functionality of the database4 7#b7 ,integration ,the plan described in paragraph 7#a7 shall detail the integration of the database into the overall information technology improvement objectives and plans of the ,administrator4 7#c7 ,implementation ,the plan described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a detailed implementation schedule for the database2 and 7,b7 plans for a public awareness campaign conducted by the ,administrator to increase awareness of the database4 7c7 ,date of initial availability ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which the ,administrator submits the plan under subsection 7b77#a71 the ,administrator shall establish the database4 7d7 ,submission of information on asbestos-,containing products 7#a7 ,in general ,beginning on the date that is #bgj days after the date of enactment of this section1 and not less frequently than annually thereafter1 any person who manufactured1 processed1 distributed1 sold1 imported1 transported1 or stored an asbestos-containing product in the immediately preceding calendar year shall submit to the ,administrator a written report1 in a form to be determined by the ,administrator1 containing information sufficient to identify the characteristics and location of the asbestos-containing products4 7#b7 ,contents ,the report under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 the type or class of asbestos-containing product2 7,b7 the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product2 7,c7 any applicable import history of the asbestos-containing product2 7,d7 the name and street address of any location accessible by the public in which the person has reasonable knowledge that the asbestos-containing product has been present within the immediately preceding calendar year2 and 7,e7 any additional information the ,administrator determines is appropriate to enable consumers and workers to avoid exposure to asbestos-containing products4 7e7 ,organization of database ,the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 categorize the information available on the database-- 7,a7 in a manner consistent with the public interest2 and 7,b7 in such manner as the ,administrator determines will facilitate easy use by consumers2 and 7#b7 ensure1 to the maximum extent practicable1 that the database is sortable and accessible by-- 7,a7 the date on which information is submitted for inclusion in the database2 7,b7 the name of the asbestos-containing product2 7,c7 the model name2 7,d7 the name of the manufacturer2 7,e7 the name of the importer1 if applicable2 7,f7 the name of the reporting person2 7,g7 the name and street address of any location in which an asbestos-containing product is reported to have been present2 and 7,h7 any other element the ,administrator considers to be in the public interest4 #f4 ,penalties 7a7 ,in general ,any person who knowingly manufactured1 processed1 distributed1 sold1 imported1 transported1 or stored an asbestos-containing product in the immediately preceding calendar year and who did not submit a report to the ,administrator under section #e shall be liable for a civil penalty of #aj1jjj for each day after the deadline under section #e7;d77#a7 the report has not been submitted4 7b7 ,false or inaccurate information ,any person who knowingly provides false or inaccurate information in a report under section #e or who knowingly fails to provide information required in a report under section #e shall be liable for a civil penalty of #aj1jjj for each violation of this paragraph4 4 #d4 ,government ,accountability ,office report ,not later than #b years after the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency establishes the database of asbestos-containing products under section #e7;a7 of the ,asbestos ,information ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bfjg note2 ,public ,law #ajj-egg7 7referred to in this section as the database71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains-- 7#a7 an analysis of the utility of the database1 including-- 7,a7 an assessment of the extent of use of the database by consumers1 including-- 7i7 whether the database is accessed by a broad range of the public2 and 7ii7 whether consumers find the database to be useful2 and 7,b7 efforts by the ,administrator to inform the public about the database2 7#b7 recommendations for measures to increase use of the database by consumers2 and 7#c7 recommendations for measures to further reduce the harm caused by exposure to asbestos1 including bans on the importation and use of asbestos-containing products4