The Zadroga Act, signed into law at the start of 2011, provides an opportunity for individuals who either resided near, worked near or attended school near the 9/11 terrorist attack sites ("crash sites") to receive some financial compensation for physical injury or death resulting from their exposure to the area between September 11th, 2001 and May 30th, 2002.

As many already know, the cloud of toxins and debris resulting from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers covered a large part of the New York metropolitan area -- with particular intensity across Lower Manhattan and northwest Brooklyn (depending upon the winds of the day).  In addition, individuals who worked with debris over time also experienced heightened exposure to dangerous situations.

To date, along with those Americans who died on that terrible day, our heroic first responders have been the primary subject of much discussion when it comes to compensation. The Zadroga Act expands the discussion to include many more people who may have been impacted.

The Special Master of the Victims Compensation Fund has proposed that the New York City (World Trade Center site) geographic cachement area for the VCF be much smaller than the area specified in the Zadroga Act itself. The Special Master's proposal would exclude Chinatown, Little Italy, a portion of the Lower East Side, and a large portion of northwest Brooklyn that might otherwise be included.

We do not think that this approach is true to the spirit of the Zadroga Act, and we encourage the Special Master to amend her proposed boundaries to conform more closely with the boundaries set forth in the Zadroga Act itself.

The Special Master has encouraged public comment on the draft rules and regulations, but the deadline for the submission of this commentary is August 5th.  Accordingly, we would like to collect 5,000 or more signatures by August 2nd so we can submit this mass appeal to the Special Master for consideration.

For more information, please visit www.advocatesforjustice.net