WASHINGTON – Congressman Leonard Lance today called for a full investigation into Sunday’s emergency landing of a Tokyo-bound Continental Airlines plane. According to news reports, 170,000 pounds of fuel oil had been released over Somerset and Middlesex counties during the plane's return trip to Newark Airport.

“While we are all thankful that Continental Flight number 9 landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport, many questions remain concerning the more than 170,000 pounds of aviation fuel reportedly dumped over parts of Somerset and Middlesex counties,” Lance said. “Many of my constituents are rightly concerned about the environmental and health ramifications of such a large amount of fuel that was released into their communities. Agencies at all levels of government should work together to provide these answers.”

Lance said that he is reaching out to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services as well as state and local aviation and health officials to determine the cause and after-effect of Sunday’s fuel dump. The Seventh District Congressman has also reached out to officials at Continental Airlines for their comments on the incident.

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