EPA Report: Queens Has The Dirtiest Air Of Five Boroughs

[Guest guest]

EPA Report: Queens Has The Dirtiest Air Of Five Boroughs

(Queens-WABC, August 19, 2002) - The borough of Queens received a dubious

distinction from a new report Monday: It has the dirtiest air in the city.

The report shows there are more toxic chemicals pumped into the air in

Queens than in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island combined.

Art McFarland reports from Astoria with details.

There are distinctions that the five boroughs of New York City like to

compete for, but this isn't one of them. The higher level of pollution in

Queens is largely due to the fact that the borough has more of its share of

power plants. That and the other factors are leading community activists to

call it a toxic cocktail.

It is clear that something is released into the air from the various power

plants around the borough of Queens. At least some of the emissions are

acidic chemical pollution according to the federal Environmental Protection

Agency.

But that is no surprise to some Queens political leaders, including the

borough president.

Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President: " I'm angered for the residents of

Queens, hard working people, that they should have to live under these

circumstances. And why should Queens have to provide 60 percent of the

power. "

The plants in Queens do generate most of the city's power. And the EPA's

study revealed that almost 510,000 pounds of toxins were released during the

year 2000. During the same period, just over 189,000 pounds were released in

Brooklyn, just over 43,000 in Staten Island, just under 30,000 in Manhattan,

and nearly 17,000 pounds in the Bronx.

State Assemblyman Gianaris, Astoria (D): " When you see the smoke

rising out of the smoke stacks, that what we are talking about. It's

particular matter, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxides, things that have been

proven to have a very harmful effect of the health of people living in the

surrounding communities. "

The decades old Palletti power plant is said to be the borough's worst

polluter, along an industrial strip in Astoria.

Vallone Jr., NYC Council (D): " The study that was just released, this

corroborates what we have been saying. It doesn't surprise us at all. We

need to close this old plant immediately. "

The EPA's study on pollution also points to the airports and extensive

highway system in Queens as contributors to the problem.

Marshall: " Now we have the concrete evidence that says we must move ahead. "

Borough President Marshall is calling for no new generating plants in

Queens, and wants the ones that remain to burn cleaner. She is also calling

for cleaner planes that fly over Queens as they head to or leave from

LaGuardia and JFK Airports.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the state power authority, which runs the

Palletti plant, says they are working with environmentalists, trying to

address their concerns.

Last Updated: Aug 19, 2002