Safe Schools, Healthy Kids Act could give federal aid for schools contaminated with PCBs

By Rob Sgobbo

The fight to eliminate a dangerous toxin from city schools moved to Washington - with a new bill to have the federal government help pay for a massive cleanup.

The Safe Schools, Healthy Kids Act would allow states to compete for federal dollars to fund the removal from schools of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), known to cause chronic illness.

"While PCBs are found in schools across the country, the funding would really benefit New York City," said Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx/Queens), who co-sponsored the bill along with Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) and Jose Serrano (D-South Bronx).

The proposed legislation comes on the heels of a heated battle between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the city.

New York has been resisting federal pressure to remove old lighting ballasts containing the toxin from 740 schools built between 1950 and 1978, when PCBs were legal to use in their construction.

In a letter this month, the EPA demanded that the fixtures be removed and a plan made for taking out PCB-riddled caulking found in school windows and door frames.

"There is positively no excuse for taking chances with the well-being of hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren," said Nadler.

"The EPA has responded firmly to the city's failure to act quickly."

The EPA says prolonged exposure to the toxin can cause brain damage to students and their teachers.

"Despite the fact that these ballasts are in schools and buildings around the country, New York City is the only school district in the nation that the EPA is threatening with an enormous unfunded mandate," said Natalie Ravitz, spokeswoman for the city Department of Education, noting the cleanup would cost $1.18 billion.

The city has no plans for a full-scale remediation until it completes a field test it began in five schools last year. The test is the product of a lawsuit filed by Bronx mom Naomi Gonzalez against the city after her children were denied a transfer from Public School 178 in Co-op City - once tainted with dangerous levels of PCBs.

"I think it's reprehensible that the city is not moving quickly on this," said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) who will be introducing similar legislation in Albany next session.

"We have to acknowledge this is an issue, and put our heads together to figure out how to pay for this."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2010/12/22/2010-12-22_city_pupils__pcbs_bill_eyes_fed_aid_for_schools_fix.html#ixzz1A0LHa0he

CONTRIBUTE STAY INFORMED GET INVOLVED TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Connect Online

FLICKR FACEBOOK YOUTUBE




Togel Togel Togel Online Toto Slot Togel Online Togel178 Pedetogel Pedetogel Situs Togel Terpercaya Togel178 Togel279 Toto Macau Situs Togel Bandar Togel Agen Togel Bo Togel Daftar Togel Togel279 Toto Macau Bo Togel Terpercaya Toto Togel Sabatoto Slot Server Luar Negeri rote4d rote4d rote4d togel158 togel158 togel279 pedetogel togel178 rote4d sabatoto Togel279 Rote4d Togel Online togel sabatoto pedetogel Slot88 Situs Togel Prize 123 Bo Togel Terpercaya Togel Online Daftar Akun Togel Resmi Toto Macau Toto Togel Situs Togel Terpercaya Situs Togel Via Pulsa Tanpa Potongan Daftar Togel Via Pulsa Tanpa Potongan Daftar Togel Via Dana Togel Via Dana Toto Slot Bandar Togel Hadiah 4D 10 Juta Terpercaya Bandar Togel Hadiah 4D Bo Togel Hadiah 2D bo togel terpercaya pedetogel togel158 togel158 pedetogel togel178 togel178 togel158 PEDETOGEL PEDETOGEL PEDETOGEL pedetogel pedetogel Togel Via Dana Togel Situs Toto dana toto toto togel togel via pulsa bandar togel togel178 pedetogel sabatoto togel158 togel279 pragmatic178 novaslot88 result macau bo togel hadiah 2d 200rb daftar akun togel resmi dana toto togel158 pedetogel togel279 togel158 pedetogel rote4d rote4d sabatoto toto macau toto macau togel158 pedetogel sabatoto togel178 togel279 togel158 togel158 togel178 togel279 pedetogel togel158 sabatoto togel178 pedetogel