EPA press release on WTC cleaning hotline launch, June 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

McCall says Pataki 14^ didn't monitor air •s. after Sept. 11 .A

the collars of workers at' the ■ Gubernatorial World Trade Center site. —candidatesays None of the air samples ■ b^ted ___ ; higher than.l.percent. asbestos, the private testing has leyeri^mCd^hazardoasifiTederal. indicated the worksafetystaridards. presenceof " McCall added that while tfe U.S. Environmental Protection several Agency monitored outdoor air contaminants quality, it passed the task of moni­ toring indoor air quality to the city Department of Environ­ ASSOCIATED PRESS mental Protection. “The EPA passed the buck, the Democratic gubernatorial can­ governor dropped the ball; and the didate H. Carl McCall accused Re­ retidents have suffered,” he said. publican Gov. George Pataid of not doing enough to monitor lower He said the city, was not Manhattan’s air quality after Sept equipped to handle such a large 11- cleanup and that it should have “Gov. Pataki failed to fight to been carried out by the federal government. “ make sure the air of lower Man­ hattan is safe to breathe,” said A message left with the EIM McCall, the state Comptroller. was not immediately returned. ® “The govemor needs to use his in­ Polls show Pataki with a com­ fluence to insist the federal gov- erament take the steps needed to fortable lead over either-oif his p«s tential Democratic challengers — protect the residents and employ- -McCall and former .federal Hous­ ees Oflower Manhattan. ” ing Secretary Andrew Cuomo; Jennifer Farina, a spokes­ woman for Pataki, said McCall McCall received the backing of was using people’s fears for politi­ Democratic delegates at the par­ cal gain. ty’s state convention last month after Cuomo, the elder son of for­ “It’s unfortunate that Carl mer Gov. Mario Cuomo, boycotted McCall is using partisan politics the gathering and vowed to use pe­ to scare people,” she said. titions to force a Sept. 10 primary. McCall Mid little information about indoor air quality has been On the Net: Environmental PfeteeBon , Agency; trttpV/www.epa.gov released by city, state or federal officials, but that private testing has indicated the presence of as- bestos, fiberglass, mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York City Health Department released the findings from a study that included air samples taken from Sept. 18 to Oct. 4, mostly by clipping filters to

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