Study Faults EPA for Misleading Public About Asbestos Levels

Source: WNYC-New York Public Radio

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) has released a report criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s asbestos-response to the tragic events of Septemper 11th. The GAO report says that the EPA “mis-led” the public regarding the presence of asbestos in apartments near the former World Trade Center. The EPA said that only a “very small” number of apartments had unsafe levels of asbestos – however, they only tested this after the professional company they hired had completed cleanup. The GAO also criticized the EPA for giving an “all-clear” to workers to return to the area before the necessary testing could be completed.