Memos: NYC told Ground Zero air was unsafe (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The city allowed people to return to Manhattan after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers even though officials were told the
air was not yet safe, according to an internal memo from a New York City Health Department official.

The October 6, 2001, memo states that the city Office of Emergency Management -- called OEM -- and the Department of Environmental Protection --
referred to as DEP -- disagreed over the air quality following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. But it suggests commercial interests trumped safety
concerns.

Kelly McKinney, associate commissioner of the health department, wrote that the mayor's office was under pressure from building owners and business
owners to open more of the "red zone."

"According to OEM, some city blocks north and south of Ground Zero are suitable for re-occupancy. DEP believes the air quality is not yet suitable for
re-occupancy. I was told the mayor's office was directing OEM to open the target areas next week," McKinney wrote.

In a letter dated the day before the memo was written, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told the city's health department that there were concerns
about worker safety at the World Trade Center site.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/07/nyc.air/index.html

[maddezmom]

1. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2498902