Toxic Trailers Blame Game
By
Associated Press
Published: Mon, December 03, 2007 - 9:05 pm
Last Updated: Mon, December 03, 2007 - 9:07 pm
Last Updated: Mon, December 03, 2007 - 9:07 pm
Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a "detailed plan"
for testing the air quality in government-issued trailers that are
sheltering thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims.
U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt says FEMA and its top
administrator, R. David Paulison, have until December 17th to
respond to court papers filed by a group of trailer occupants who
want the air-quality tests to begin immediately.
Engelhardt issued the ruling last week. The judge also ordered
FEMA to have an agency lawyer attend a January 18th hearing on the
matter.
On November 2nd, federal scientists were scheduled to start
testing FEMA trailers in Mississippi for levels of formaldehyde.
FEMA postponed those tests, however, saying it needed more time to
prepare.
FEMA spokeswoman Mary Margaret Walker said today that the tests
are expected to begin "soon," but she couldn't elaborate and
wouldn't comment on the judge's order.
A group of hurricane victims has asked Engelhardt to order FEMA
to begin the tests. The judge hasn't ruled on that request.
Daniel Becnel Junior, a Reserve-based lawyer for some of the
plaintiffs in the case, applauded Engelhardt's ruling, calling it
significant.
Becnel and other lawyers for trailer occupants claim FEMA's
delay in testing the trailers is jeopardizing the health of
thousands of residents displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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