NEW YORK, NY June 02, 2006 —A second round of surveys is getting underway for the World Trade Center Registry. The long-term project monitors the health of responders, residents and other people exposed to dust and debris on September 11th and after.

REPORTER: More than 70,000 people signed up in 2003 and 2004, and it's time to follow up. The first round found increased incidence of lung problems and mental distress.

Dr. John Howard, the federal government's 9/11 Health Czar, says the funding for medical screening and treatment will determine the results.

HOWARD: It is extremely important that we make the registry as robust as we can in terms of registrants following up it is the scientific platform that we will use for policy making.

REPORTER: The federal government has allocated only $9 million for the Registry for next three years, to do the new survey and analyze the data. There will be no advertising campaign as there was the first time around, and no trained phone interviewers. All surveys will be self-administered through mail or email.

The Health Department says the goal is to reach 80 percent participation - meaning 14,000 or so former Registrants are expected to drop off or be impossible to reach.