NYC-WTC_000147598

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

^available and has been used by the MTA in its entire diesel bus fleet for K the past year. "Diesel exhaust particles cause asthma attacks, trigger heart ailments and have been linked to lung cancer and premature death," said Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Thomas DiNapoli (D-Thomaston). "The health threats posed by these emissions for the residents of Lower Manhattan can be reduced dramatically by having all of the equipment operating on low-sulfur diesel fuel." The Assembly Environmental Conservation. Health and Labor committees convened a hearing in November on air quality issues in Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The eight-hour-long hearing included testimony from city, state and federal government officials, business owners, residents, labor, health, medical and environmental organizations and community groups. Based on testimony at the hearing. Silver wrote to Governor George Pataki in December to urge him to issue an executive order requiring that low-sulfur fuel be used in diesel trucks and equipment at ground zero. Because the governor did not take action. Silver chose to proceed with introduction of legislation. Silver is a life-long resident of the Lower Manhattan, and his legislative district includes the World Trade Center site and the downtown financial district. His office is located a few blocks from ground zero.

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NYC-WTC_000147599