Former EPA Chief, says she was misunderstood when saying 911 air was safe.

[Guest guest]

Hearing in session on growing 9/11 health problems

Former EPA Chief, Todd Whitman blamed for saying the air was safe,

she says she was misunderstood

Eyewitness News

(Lower Manhattan-WABC, September 8, 2006) - Lawmakers are grilling federal

attacks today on the growing health problems facing first responders at Ground

Zero on September 11th. Former EPA Chief Christie Todd Whitman, who five

years ago said the air was safe, now says we all misunderstood her.

Eyewitness News' Colagrossi is live in Lower Manhattan with the latest.

This is the first 9/11 hearing and clearly the focus is on the health of the

first responders. Top politicians are now taking aim at former EPA Chief,

Christie Todd Whitman, but she says don't blame her.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney: " If our heros and heroines were misled as to the

affects on their health, this may very well, be a criminal act. "

Congressman Carolyn Maloney is calling for an independent investigation on

the federal government's and the city's toxicity of Ground Zero.

Christie Whitman says her reference to the air being safe a week after 9/11

was based on the Lower Manhattan in general, not Ground Zero. That distinction

is now being scoffed at.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler: " For her to try and make a distinction between the good

and bad air on the site and the healthy air across the street is absurd. She

started lying and misleading the public almost immediately. As a result of

that, thousands and thousands of people are sick. "

Whitman blames the Giuliani Administration for ignoring her warnings, that

workers wear respirators.

In an interview with 60 minutes she said, " EPA was very firm in what it

communicated and it did communicate up and down the line "

At today's hearing more stories of severe breathing problems were heard

because of the toxic dust. Congressman Shays says he doesn't understand

the

reluctance by some to accept the obvious.

Rep. Shays: " I love Giuliani and I love Christie Todd Whitman but

the bottom line to all of this is, the sooner we fess up to all of this, the

better it is for everyone. "

One bright spot is the federal government has decided to release $75 million

out of the money to treat ailing rescue workers and recovery workers.

Testimonies were still going on at noon, we'll have more on this story at

5:00 p.m.

As we approach the five year mark, we will bring you reports on the changes

since September 11th. Live coverage from Ground Zero begins Sunday. President

Bush will be in New York City on the morning of September 11th.

He will have breakfast with firefighters at Ladder-18 on the Lower East Side.

Their ranks were among the first responders to the disaster.

Bush and First Lady will observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. to

mark the time the first plane hit the North Tower.

They will then attend a ceremony in Shankesville, P.A. where United 93

crashed.

And the day will conclude with a memorial service at the Pentagon.

(WABC-TV, Copyright 2006)