Testing of FEMA trailers pressed

Rep. Charlie Melancon and another House Democrat are pressing the federal government to speed testing for formaldehyde in travel trailers being used by hurricane evacuees along the Gulf Coast after an environmental group reported finding high rates of the dangerous gas.

Melancon, D-Napoleonville, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., also have demanded an explanation from FEMA Director David Paulison about what he plans to do for the thousands of evacuees in trailers if formaldehyde levels are found to be as high as detected in a Sierra Club survey this spring.

"In providing housing for evacuees, FEMA has a responsibility to ensure that such housing does not threaten the health and safety of evacuees by exposing them to unnecessary health risks," the two congressmen wrote Thursday.

from the Times Picayune

read the Sierra Club report