Mayor Says Search for Remains Will Not Delay Construction

Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that construction will not be halted while city officials search for additional human remains at the World Trade Center site.

Days after Con Ed workers accidentally stumbled upon dozens of human bones and other remains in Lower Manhattan, Mr. Bloomberg said there was no need to stop rebuilding in the area. Families have expressed anger that the job was not done more thoroughly. But, Mr. Bloomberg praised those who conducted the recovery and dismissed a question about whether the city should be embarrassed that the discovery came more than five years after the attacks. He said the city would continue searching manholes and other areas and said it has the expertise itself to finish the job without federal help. Last night, a deputy mayor, Edward Skyler, said the city will conduct "air and material sampling" as workers look for human remains. He said if asbestos is detected workers will use proper protective gear. The statement comes as more of the workers from the 2001 recovery have now come forward with illnesses.

Also yesterday, the Associated Press reported that several city officials warned in 2002 that the recovery of human remains was moving too fast, but that was overruled.

Officials at the city's Fire Department, which was in charge of the recovery, told the AP those objections were exaggerated.