9/11 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
DEMANDS    CLEANUP NOW !!!!!   NOT COVERUP  !!!!!

Sierra Club Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Sondra Levin

Don't Forget Victims Of World Trade Center Dust Cloud

says Sierra Club Of New York City

During these times of memorial anniversaries for those who died in the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001, we must not forget a second wave of victims – those who were affected by the toxic dust cloud that blew out from the fall of the towers and from the fires that burned for over three months at the site.

Those who suffered from the toxic smoke from the fires include the heroes we honor firefighters, police officers and others who worked in the rescue effort. Because of the failure of the federal and local government to warn them, firefighters and other rescue workers were under the impression that it was safe to work during the cleanup without protective gear.

Sondra Levin, head of the Air Pollution Committee of the New York City Sierra Club, says, "the city essentially suffered one of the worst single environmental disasters in its history. Unfortunately, the federal government and the very administration that has taken such credit for leading the city after the disaster, the Giuliani administration, really failed to protect the health of the city and clean up the disaster properly."

"When the towers fell," Levin says, "a dust cloud mushroomed out, including asbestos, fiberglass and other hazardous material. The dust was drawn into the ventilations system of many surrounding buildings. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should have implemented a full cleanup after the disaster using the National Contingency Plan (NCP), which is an emergency cleanup plan required by law in the case of disaster. Instead following FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the EPA tested outdoor air and the city Health Department handled indoor air problems. EPA gave false assurances to the public that the air was safe, and the city told people to wipe down dust with wet rags and mops."

A year later at least 350 firefighters are on disability with respiratory ailments suffered during rescue work at Ground Zero. Buildings, including schools, businesses and apartment buildings, remain contaminated from dust from the cloud. Only a full cleanup of the dust inside and outside of the buildings will insure the safe health of the residents and avoid recontamination.

Levin concluded, "Let's not give the politicians political mileage when they failed to protect the health of New Yorkers from toxic fires and dust. A true memorial will be to honor the disaster's victims and heroes and to conduct a full cleanup of the toxic dust to stop continued health impacts."