Following the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, the towers collapsed, releasing thousands of tons of toxic debris and dust into the air, much of which became trapped inside the interior spaces of NYC offices and residences. Following the attack:
- The EPA erroneously claimed on countless occassions that the air in NYC was safe. These claims were based on EPA standards UNRELATED to human health or safety.
- The EPA used outdated methods to test for the presence of contaminants like asbestos.
- The White House dictated the contents of early EPA press releases, downplaying the risk to public health.
- The EPA concealed data from the public.
- The EPA ignored its responsibilities under the National Contigency Plan when it did not enforce the law with regard to the cleanup of building interiors and exteriors.
The timeline traces the EPA’s actions and statements, independent studies, other public documents, and media coverage following the 9/11 attacks and the effects of EPA’s inaction on the health of rescuers, residents, and those who work in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. To this day, the public still has no adequate assessment of how many buildings were affected by the toxic dust, nor how many neighborhoods are contaminated.
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