[CPEO-BIF] McKinney introduces Katrina environmental legislation

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 26, 2005
Contact: Michael Zmolek  <mike.zmolek@mail.house.gov>



TOXIC CLEAN-UP OF GULF REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
REP. CYNTHIA McKINNEY INTRODUCES BILL

(Washington, DC) ? Representative Cynthia McKinney of Georgia introduced
legislation this week that would establish a comprehensive plan to deal
with the Gulf Coast's environmental disaster in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.  A bewildering variety of hazardous materials were released
into the environment, including such harmful chemicals as mercury,
arsenic, chloroacetic acid, E. coli bacteria and over than 7 million
gallons of oil.  "There needs to be a plan, a transparent, overall plan
to deal with cleaning up the toxic hazards," said McKinney, "The EPA has
yet to provide one."  

The bill tasks the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
with setting up such a plan.  Title I, the "Gulf Coast Hurricane
Emergency Environmental Protection Act of 2005", establishes a
Comprehensive Environmental Sampling and Toxicity Assessment Plan
(CESTAP) to sample air, water, soil and human populations to identify
threats to public health.  This would be followed up with an aggressive
public information campaign to ensure that residents of New Orleans and
the Gulf Coast are completely aware of the threats they are facing.  An
independent review board made up of experts, citizens and officials
would monitor the plan and offer advice.

Title II, the "Habitability of Residential Homes, Schools, and
Commercial Buildings Affected by Hurricane Katrina Act of 2005",
establishes a program to inspect damaged buildings for toxic mold and
other environmental contaminants, and to certify them for habitability.
This title was previously introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jim Jeffords
of Vermont as the eleventh of 12 titles in Jeffords? "Gulf Coast
Infrastructure Redevelopment and Recovery Act of 2005" (S. 1836).  

Both titles include provisions for training of responders or contractors
and educating the public about the environmental hazards they face.  

"What this bill seeks to avoid," said McKinney, "is a repeat of 9/11,
when the public health and safety agencies of the government failed to
inform rescue and clean-up workers of the risk from toxic debris.  Had
workers been instructed to wear their respirators, hundreds or workers
might have been spared illnesses leading to disabilities.  Unless the
dangers are identified and Gulf Coast residents and disaster responders
are informed of the risks, we could be facing an even greater tragedy."




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Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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