An anonymous coward writes

"NYC Environmental Groups to Protest Karl Rove Visit"

President Bush's top advisor Karl Rove is scheduled to be in New York on
Wednesday, Feb. 18th, for a campaign fundraiser at Eugene's at 27 West 24th Street between 5th and 6th Av. RNCWatch has learned that the Sierra Club and 9/11 Enviromental Action are planning to stage protests outside at 5 p.m. to demand full disclosure of how the warnings about World Trade Center dust and fumes were withheld as well as to demand a proper cleanup and healthcare assistance for people who got sick.If anyone missed the series of chilling articles detailing how the White
House forced the EPA to lie to New Yorkers about the health and
environmental effects of the collapse of the towers please take the time
to read them: "EPA Misled Public on 9/11 Pollution" (Newsday) and "It's
Public Be Damned At the EPA" (N.Y.Daily News).

Here's how Democracy Now! reported the story last summer on Aug. 26:


            An Environmental Protection Agency report released Friday reveals
that the National Security Council pressured EPA officials to
downplay the health hazards caused by the collapse of the World
Trade Center.


            The public was lied to about the extensive presence of asbestos from
the two buildings, toxic dioxins floating in the downtown air, and
increased amounts of lead found in the atmosphere. The report
reveals the trail of public misinformation began in the White House.


            For example, one statement from the initial draft revealed that
asbestos levels in some areas were three times higher than national
standards. This was changed to say "slightly above the 1 percent
trigger for defining asbestos material."


            In another case, despite warnings by EPA scientists, a sentence was
added to a Sept. 16 news release concluding "Our tests show that it
is safe for New Yorkers to go back to work in New York's financial
district."


            And a statement which raised concerns about "sensitive populations"
such as asthma patients, the elderly and people with underlying
respiratory diseases was deleted.


            In the Daily News Juan Gonzalez reveals that the man in charge of
the Council on Environmental Quality is James Connaughton. Before
his appointment by President Bush Connaughton was an industry lawyer
who represented major asbestos and toxic polluters.>