[Baron Munchausen]

I don't think the government is spoofing on this. The violence of the break-up of the shuttle is no guarantee of safety. The hydrazine tanks are probably the strongest components of the shuttle. They had to be to contain the stuff. If a tank containing some residual hydrazine landed in the street near some homes the residents would have to be evacuated until they could bring in some HazMat team to remove it. Even a small leak could kill someone. It is VERY dangerous stuff.

And as Geo observed, Hydrazine is not the only toxic material that could have been in the shuttle. Many 'normal' things could be converted to toxic substances after being incinerated, too. Many pLastics produce dangerous fumes, for example. I think the government is on the straight-up on this one. The shuttle debris is dangerous.