NEW YORK (AP) - Gov. David Paterson asked the president Wednesday to extend the term of the official overseeing the federal government's response to ailing ground zero workers.



John Howard's appointment as director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health expires Saturday. The Bush administration hasn't announced a successor or said whether he will be retained. A call Wednesday to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which oversees NIOSH, wasn't immediately returned.



Paterson said Howard "played a pivotal role" in coordinating health programs for ground zero workers. His departure could jeopardize those efforts, the governor said.



Howard has held the post for six years. He has expressed interest in staying and was set this week to discuss his status with the director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



Lawmakers and Sept. 11 health advocates have supported keeping Howard in