310 GREENWICH STREET Block: 142 Lot: 25 BIN: 1083239 40 Harrison Street/Independence Plaza

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

request an HVAC specialist to inspect the ventilation systems at IPN as part of the whole-building cleanup. We believe all ventilation systems need to be examined and cleaned or re-cleaned by certified duct cleaners using state-of-the-art technology. Many apartments had some management-ordered cleaning of their bathroom vents but the cleaning was not done in an organized manner, leaving many vents uncleaned, and reports from tenants indicate that the cleaning that was done was far from adequate. In many bathrooms, black soot is still coming in from the vents.

Many tenants at our general tenants' meeting were concerned about mercury and lead, as well as other metals. In our conversation, you said that the EPA would be doing at least 200 wipe sample tests for metals at IPN and if the results showed elevated levels, the scope of the cleanup would be altered to address the situation. You also stated that: * EPA would consult with metal specialists. * Apartment cleaning would include wet wiping of hard surfaces and HEPA vacuuming, including the cleaning of books and other household items. * Clothing would be the responsibility of the tenants.

Our Environmental Committee has requested that we inform you of two additional concerns not included in our last letter: * How will the EPA address the cleaning/testing of room air conditioning units? Some tenants have not replaced their units or had them professionally cleaned and, since the units are likely reservoirs of contamination, we feel that they should be included in the apartment cleanup. (We have reports from many tenants that when they remove their washable filters from the airconditioners, they are loaded with almost fur-like dust which accumulates in a mere week of use.)

* The Independence Plaza North complex includes three towers, adjoining townhouse apartments, a public school and commercial spaces. P.S. 150 is housed in the plaza area between 310 Greenwich Street and Harrison Street. Additionally, a large supermarket, The Food Emporium, is on Greenwich Street, approximately at Duane Street. There is a small business alongside the entrance to 310 Greenwich Street. There are many garages on Greenwich Street and Harrison Street, within the IPN buildings. On Greenwich Street between Harrison and N. Moore, there are three commercial spaces serving food; a dog daycare center; a dry cleaner, nail salon and photo shop. To our knowledge, none of these spaces have had proper cleaning. We are especially worried about the commercial spaces dealing with food. We were told that The Food Emporium passed a Department of Health test before it re-opened, but as far as we know, the space was not tested for environmental hazards resulting from the 9/11 attack. Because the smoke and debris from the attack completely surrounded 310 Greenwich Street, there is a very possible contamination situation in the very place that most Tribeca residents do their food shopping.

'* What can the EPA do to assure that proper cleanup is done in all of these businesses, in case the businesses do not show an interest in cooperating with the full building cleanup?

* Will the EPA coordinate cleanup of P.S. 150 with the full-building cleanup?

Until last month, the Montessori School was renting space in the basement of 40 Harrison Street. There is a pool on that level. We heard from an employee of the

NYC-WTC 000134695