The Environmental Protection Agency denies New York Daily News’ claim that the White House covered up documents recognizing the air around Ground Zero as harmful. On Friday, the paper ran an article reporting that, in 2002, George W. Bush signed an executive order granting the EPA permission to hide potentially damaging information by classifying it as “secret.” The official reason for the order was to protect national security by keeping such information confidential. But thousands of Ground Zero workers who have fallen ill don’t buy this explanation. In past articles, The Daily News has estimated that, since the attacks on 9/11, up to 12,000 emergency responders have been diagnosed with various ailments as a direct result of toxins in the air. More than 8,000 have joined a lawsuit targeting a $1 billion federal insurance fund that was established after 9/11 to support recovery work. Still, Christie Whitman, EPA chief in 2001, refutes accusations of insidiousness or deception made against her or the White House. And you wonder why the “Seinfeld” gang failed to help that fat guy being mugged.