DEP Biweekly Reports Folder 0049, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

days, and will become virtually inert in less than three months.

While the substance is Iodine-131, two material was in the pills. What the pills are composed of remains to be determined by testing, but they are not showing any active readings.

By February 7th, we were already addressing the concerns of the union representatives and employees at the Newtown Creek plant. All were assured that they were in no danger and NYCDOH administered `thyroid burden' tests on 55 employees who requested testing. There were no positive readings on any employee. We sent out investigative teams to check the regulators and other treatment equipment feeding the Newtown Creek plant, to ensure no trace of radiation appeared on the equipment. All readings were negative. At this point, there is no evidence of measurable exposure to staff. We will be meeting with NYCDOH, and possibly Geiger-counter manufacturers to iscuss detection of potential incidents in the future. Historically, the private hauler has monitored its pads for the last four years, and this is the first incident.. There are no manufacturers of I-131 in the United States, but there are packages in New York State and elsewhere in the U.S. No thefts of such materials have been reported to NYCDOH.

We are continuing to investigate all the treatment units at the plant including buildings, chambers, and containers. On Wednesday, February 14th, another packet of the material was found in another grit container. This packet appears to be from the earlier discovery, which suggests that a manufacturer or supplier may be involved. Joint investigations will continue both at the plant and as to pursuing a source.

As soon as we had confirmation of the materials we referred the matter to the United States Attorney's Eastern District Office, USEPA. The Chief of Environmental Litigation in the United States Attorney's office has expressed interest in opening a criminal investigation and has called in the FBI Environmental Crimes Unit, and the USEPA's Criminal Investigations Division. We are in the process of scheduling meetings with these parties to join together in investigating the source of this illegal incident. The FBI and USEPA and US Attorney's Office have been present during portions of the site investigations.

Ci Council Hearings on Grease Bills n February 6th the NYC Council held a hearing on three bills introduced by Council members Sabini and Harrison concerning grease in the sewer system. Intro 735 would codify DEP's grease rules in the Administrative Code but, we believe, narrow the scope of enforcement by eliminating certain premises from regulation. Intro 736 would stiffen criminal penalties for violations of the sewer use rules. However, as we pointed out to the Council, the Department does not pursue violators criminally for grease infractions but instead saves this tool for more toxic polluters. We asked the Council to raise the maximum civil penalty to $10,000 which would afford the agency a stronger penalty schedule to deal with all violators. Intro 830 would require food service establishments to have a contract with licensed master plumbers only for the routine maintenance

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NYC-WTC 000137969