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EC_dwtn t1_j8eya1u wrote

Reply to comment by HockeyMusings in Ohio toxic air in DMV? by ghostofhogan

I’m not worried about this at all here, but if I were in Ohio I’d be taking that statement with a grain of salt. EPA is the same agency that said the air near ground zero was safe.

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HockeyMusings t1_j8f5del wrote

It’s a little more nuanced than that:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-12/documents/wtc_report_20030821.pdf

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EC_dwtn t1_j8f7zmm wrote

How so? The first takeaway in that report confirms what I said, they stated the air was safe without the proper evidence that was required to do so.

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HockeyMusings t1_j8fcrvb wrote

You were being vague, maybe unintentionally, when you say that EPA stated air near Ground Zero was safe and you didn’t say anything about a lack of proper evidence.

Regardless, that was 20 years ago.

Did you look at the extensive information they have posted to the site I linked regarding the current event?

Don’t get me wrong. I have no doubt that immediate area is a pollutant shitshow. And we will probably learn that while getting exposed to chemicals X, Y, or Z at certain levels isn’t going to kill you, getting exposed to the XYZ cocktail at the dose the poor people who live next to the tracks won’t be so good.

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[deleted] t1_j8ft4us wrote

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HockeyMusings t1_j8fxrlb wrote

See. That’s the thing. You’re conflating things. The EPA was explicit that the air at Groud Zero, specifically, the “pile”, was unsafe and that respirators should be worn. It was NYC that had jurisdiction in that regard.

The surrounding neighborhoods, yeah, maybe they didn’t have enough data to say the air was safe when they did. But even the majority of those people disregarded the instructions they were given for decontaminating indoor areas.

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[deleted] t1_j8g0zj7 wrote

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HockeyMusings t1_j8g32br wrote

Where’s the report that said they were saying the air was safe at Ground Zero?

They weren’t. They said the air at Ground Zero was dangerous and respirators should be worn. That was disregarded or poorly addressed by NYC and FDNY brass who had jurisdiction.

Since you haven’t provided a single link, here’s another for you for ProPublica ripping the EPA for telling the community the air was safe but: > Officials seemed to be sending two distinct messages: telling office workers and residents the air was safe, while repeatedly warning first responders and crews working right on the debris pile to wear protective gear. Those conflicting assurances and warnings given by federal officials left workers and residents unsure what steps to take to protect themselves.

OSHA and NYOSH failed the FDNY there. Not the EPA.

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