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American Morning
Investigators Making Huge Progress Collecting Debris Across Eastern Texas
Aired February 04, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our top story this morning, more now on the investigation of the Columbia tragedy. Investigators say they are making huge progress collecting debris across eastern Texas.
So far, 16,000 pieces of wreckage have been found in Nacogdoches County alone.
Ed Lavandera standing by at the command center there with the very latest.
Good morning, Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the reason authorities here feel like they're making more progress is because they've gotten guidance they've been waiting for from the federal government. Environmental Protection Agency teams have been heading out into the area, collecting the debris. Since Saturday morning, much of the debris has been protected by military officials, local and state authorities, as well as private land owners around here, so they haven't been able to move on to the other debris that's been phoned in until these calls have come in and these teams have been able to move out and start to collecting debris.
Now one of the concerns is and one of the proactive measures authorities are taking here in Nacogdoches is they've been told to be lookout out for parts of crew cabin, and they've also found 15 sites with human remains, a very delicate situation they must handle as well. So authorities understand they have much to look for and they've been told there are interesting things they should look for in the woods.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF THOMAS KERRS, NACAGDOCHES CO., TEXAS: There are still several components of the shuttle that is out there. We are still trying to make efforts to locate many of these pieces, but I would encourage our citizens to please not continue to try to take debris from a site that they think may be a collection for a souvenir or some other article. We've received some unconfirmed reports that debris, including some of the key components to the electronic panels that we are looking for, has been removed to a couple of residence locations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: No one's been arrested for stealing or take debris from anywhere in Nacogdoches County, and the local authorities here say they'll leave it up to federal prosecutors to deal with those people -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Ed. Ed Lavandera, reporting live from Texas for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Across Eastern Texas>
Aired February 4, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our top story this morning, more now on the investigation of the Columbia tragedy. Investigators say they are making huge progress collecting debris across eastern Texas.
So far, 16,000 pieces of wreckage have been found in Nacogdoches County alone.
Ed Lavandera standing by at the command center there with the very latest.
Good morning, Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the reason authorities here feel like they're making more progress is because they've gotten guidance they've been waiting for from the federal government. Environmental Protection Agency teams have been heading out into the area, collecting the debris. Since Saturday morning, much of the debris has been protected by military officials, local and state authorities, as well as private land owners around here, so they haven't been able to move on to the other debris that's been phoned in until these calls have come in and these teams have been able to move out and start to collecting debris.
Now one of the concerns is and one of the proactive measures authorities are taking here in Nacogdoches is they've been told to be lookout out for parts of crew cabin, and they've also found 15 sites with human remains, a very delicate situation they must handle as well. So authorities understand they have much to look for and they've been told there are interesting things they should look for in the woods.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF THOMAS KERRS, NACAGDOCHES CO., TEXAS: There are still several components of the shuttle that is out there. We are still trying to make efforts to locate many of these pieces, but I would encourage our citizens to please not continue to try to take debris from a site that they think may be a collection for a souvenir or some other article. We've received some unconfirmed reports that debris, including some of the key components to the electronic panels that we are looking for, has been removed to a couple of residence locations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: No one's been arrested for stealing or take debris from anywhere in Nacogdoches County, and the local authorities here say they'll leave it up to federal prosecutors to deal with those people -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Ed. Ed Lavandera, reporting live from Texas for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Across Eastern Texas>
