NEW YORK, NY December 14, 2005 —The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has dissolved an advisory panel on testing and cleanup in the area around the World Trade Center. But members did not go quietly. At a heated meeting yesterday, scientists and advocates blasted the EPA for ignoring their advice. WNYC's Fred Mogul has more.

REPORTER: The 19-member panel had experts from various government agencies, academic institutions and advocacies. Almost all of them objected to the Agency's plan to test for contaminants. Queens College Biology Professor Dr. Steven Markowitz.

MARKOWITZ: I don't think we accomplished anything. The plan that they're ending up with is very similar to what they started with previously. I don't see that we've improved it, and I think it was a waste of time.

REPORTER: The EPA's Timothy Oppelt says the Agency has accepted advice from the panel over the last two years.

OPPELT: Based on the input from this panel it was concluded that just looking at asbestos was insufficient. We've taken advice on sampling methods, we've taken advice on a whole assortment of things that's been incorporated into the plan.

REPORTER: Several participants said the plan was inherently flawed, because it only covered the area below Canal Street, relied on voluntary compliance and addressed only homes, not workplaces. The E.P.A is set to begin enrolling volunteers next month and start testing apartments for contaminants shortly after. For WNYC, I'm Fred Mogul.