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Politics

: The Gavel

Chairmen Waxman, Thompson Demand Solutions on FEMA Trailers

By Jesse Lee

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FEMA Plans Trailer Exodus Over Chemical
Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press - February 14, 2007

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it will step up efforts to move Gulf Coast hurricane victims out of more than 35,000 trailers because tests indicate some of the temporary homes contain high levels of formaldehyde.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fumes from 519 tested trailer and mobile homes in Louisiana and Mississippi were ? on average ? about five times what people are exposed to in most modern homes.

FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison and CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said at a news conference they hope to get people out of the trailers before the warm summer months, when heat and a lack of ventilation in the trailers could make formaldehyde accumulations worse.

“The real issue is not what it will cost but how fast we can move people out,” Paulison said.

Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee wrote letters to FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison and three manufacturers of FEMA travel trailers demanding explanations for the high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and additional information about FEMA?s handling of the toxic trailers.

Full letter to Administrator Paulison (pdf):

February 14, 2008

Mr. R. David Paulison
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Mr. Paulison:

I am writing in regard to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform?s ongoing investigation into dangerous levels of formaldehyde in travel trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to victims of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.

First, I am concerned that FEMA has still not provided all responsive documents to the Committee. There is a striking absence of documents that would clarify how the agency?s approach to the formaldehyde hazard was developed and approved. In particular, FEMA has not produced documents which clarify how the chain of command functioned above the level of Patrick Preston, a trial attorney in the Office of General Counsel.

In order to resolve this matter, I request that you produce all remaining documents and personally certify that FEMA has provided all documents. Additionally, I request that Patrick Preston be made available for a transcribed interview no later than Friday, February 29, 2007. Please ensure that FEMA produces every document responsive to its requests up to the date of the subpoena, July 16, 2007, including every responsive document relevant to your role as FEMA Administrator.

Finally, I understand FEMA has decided to reimburse individuals who purchased a travel trailer through the General Services Administration. Please provide the Committee with information that explains FEMA?s decision to reimburse these individuals as well as how FEMA intends to make taxpayers whole for any defective products that may have been purchased with taxpayer funds. I also understand that the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) has been conducting an employee monitoring project with regard to the presence of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers. Please provide the results of this monitoring project.

Please provide the documents and information requested in this letter by Friday, March 7, 2008.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee in the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set forth in House Rule X.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Erik Jones with the Committee staff at (202) 225-4407.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman
Chairman

cc: Tom Davis
Ranking Minority Member

On July 19th, the Oversight Committee held a hearing, ?FEMA?s Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers.?

Chairman Henry Waxman gave opening remarks:

Chairman Waxman:
“Another FEMA official wrote, the office of general counsel has advised ‘We do not do testing, because it would imply FEMA’s ownership of this issue.’ Early in the process, due to the perseverance of a pregnant mother with a four month old child, FEMA did test one occupied trailer. The results showed that their trailer had formaldehyde levels 75 times higher than the maximum workplace exposure levels recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The mother evacuated the trailer. FEMA then stopped testing other trailers.”

Paul Stewart, a travel trailer occupant from December 2005 to March 2006, gave testimony:

Paul Stewart:
“One morning I found our pet cockatiel was very lethargic, unable to move, he was regurgitating, unable to keep his balance. I immediately called a veterinarian who told us to get him out of the camper immediately… The veterinarian told us that the camper was probably making him sick. He said there are many chemicals inside the camper, especially a new one. He said that formaldehyde was the likely cause. He said if we don’t get the bird out of there, the bird will probably die. He explained to us that birds, much like children, breathe much more rapidly than adults, and they take in much more of the toxins that are inside the camper, and that he’s going to show symptoms before we do, but that we should also get out.”

Chairman Bennie Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee also responded: (more…)

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 14, 2008 (boomark / email).