NTEU CHAPTER 280 - U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,  NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
BOX 76082, WASHINGTON D.C. 20013 - PHONE 202-566-2788
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STATEMENT OF U.S. EPA LABOR UNIONS

ON IMPROPER WHITE HOUSE INFLUENCE
 ON EPA’S RESPONSE TO TERROR ATTACK OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

 

 

            We, the undersigned representatives of the workers who perform health and environmental protection duties at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency across America, express our anger and dismay over evidence of the White House’s improper actions in connection with communicating health risk information to emergency workers and residents in New York immediately following the terror attacks on that city on September 11, 2001.

 

            EPA’s dedicated Civil Service employees performed their duties swiftly and competently following the terror attack, assessing as accurately as possible the environmental health risks faced by the brave rescue workers and nearby residents from toxic substances released in the attack. These workers reported to senior EPA officials their best estimate of the risks, and they expected those estimates and the accompanying recommendations for protective measures to be released in a timely manner to those who needed the information.

 

The public was not informed of all of these health risks, some of which were avoidable. This information was withheld from the public under orders from the White House.  Instead, the Bush White House had information released, drafted by political appointees, that it knew to contradict the scientific facts.  It misinformed.  And many rescue workers and citizens suffered.  Some citizens now face the long-term risk of asbestos-related lung cancer as well as other debilitating respiratory ailments as a result.

 

            Little did the Civil Service expect that their professional work would be subverted by political pressure applied by the White House. This unwarranted and inexcusable interference with the professional work of the Civil Service by politicians reporting directly to President Bush caused rescue workers and residents to be exposed to health risks that could have been, indeed should have been, avoided.

 

            We express our solidarity with the rescue workers and residents who were affected adversely by this outrageous action of President Bush’s staff. There is no excuse for White House politicians imposing their values and overriding the Civil Service’s best advice on protecting those still digging in the wreckage and those whose homes and offices were covered with toxic debris.

 

            President Bush owes the rescue workers, residents, dedicated Civil Service workers and the American people more than an apology for his actions in this matter. President Bush should take steps to compensate the rescue workers and residents who were harmed by his administration’s actions. 

 

            The President’s political appointees’ interference with the professional work of the EPA Civil Service has seriously harmed EPA’s credibility.  Before there is another national emergency, that credibility must be restored.            

 

The President must pledge to never again order EPA to tell less than the whole truth about a public health emergency.

 

 

           /s/ Paul Sacker                                           /s/ Dwight Welch                               

President AFGE Local 3911, New York   President NTEU Chapter 280, Washington, DC

 

           /s/ Alan Hollis                                            /s/ Henry Burrell                    

President AFGE Local 3631, Philadelphia   President AFGE Local 3428, Boston

 

        /s/ Nancy Barron                                            /s/ Gretchen Helm                                       

President NAGE Local R5-55, Atlanta        President AFGE Local 3331, Washington, DC

 

        /s/ Charles Orzehoskie                                   /s/ Merrit Nicewander          

President AFGE Local 704 Chicago             President AFGE Local 1003, Dallas

 

         /s/ John C Anderson                                          /s/ Kevin Orendorf            

President NTEU Chapter 294 Kansas City    President AFGE Local 3607, Denver

 

          /s/ Wendell Smith                                               /s/ Patrick Chan                           

President ESC EPA-Unit San Francisco      President NTEU Chapter 295, San Francisco

 

           /s/ Mary St. Peter                                              /s/ Mark Coryell                  

President AFGE  Local 1110, Seattle            President AFGE Local 3907, Ann Arbor

 

               /s/ Larry Penley                                             /s/ Silvia Saracco                                    

President NTEU Chapter 279, Cincinnati      President AFGE Local 3347 Research Triangle Park

 

       /s/ Nita Tallent-Halsell                                               /s/ Lesley Mills                      

President NAGE R12-135, Las Vegas           President NAGE R1-240, Narragansett

 

                                                      /s/ Geraldine Cripe         

                                           President NAGE Local R5-95