Memorandum comparing asbestos data in Manhattan to other sites and arguing for cleanup under the Superfund statute.
NYC-WTC_000140235–000140258Folder label: “EPA Cate Jenkins”
OCR status: ok · source: pdftotext
NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document t
1. ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION IN BUILDINGS, MANHATTAN COMPARED TO LIBBY SUPERFUND SITE
In Libby, Montana, interiors of homes and residential soils have been contaminated with asbestos from an adjacent vermiculite mining operation. Homes have vermiculite insulation in attics, and vermiculite was used for gardening. In addition, there are numerous waste piles of venniculite in the area.’ On December 20, 2001, the Governor of Montana designated Libby for fast-track listing as a Superfund site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERCLA)."
In Lower Manhattan, interiors of residences and offices were contaminated with asbestos, fiberglass, fine particulate matter, and possibly significant concentrations of other toxic materials from the fallout from the implosion of the World Trade Center (WTC).
Tables at the end of this memo provide levels of asbestos in settled dusts and air in two apartments before cleanup from the Ground Zero Task Force Study,’ and levels of asbestos in settled dusts in one apartment after cleanup from a study by the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project.*
Use of “PCM-equh'alent” asbestos data from Manhattan for comparison to Libby
In order to compare asbestos levels found in Manhattan with that from Libby, the data in the tables is for asbestos fibers longer than 5 pm, width greater than 0.25 pm, and an aspect ration greater than or equal to 3 to 1. This is called “PCM-equivalent asbestos.” The data from Libby only includes asbestos levels that are PCM-equivalent. The Ground Zero Task Force Study^ of WTC contamination provided not only total asbestos levels, but also PCM-equivalent asbestos levels.
The reason why only fibers longer than 5 pm (PCM-equivalent) are given in the Libby risk assessment is because many believe that asbestos fibers shorter than this cannot cause cancer, because they can be eliminated from the body. Not all agree.
Comparison of Libby and Lower Manhattan data
As can be seen from the above tables, the asbestos contamination in Lower Manhattan, up to seven blocks away from Ground Zero, is comparable or higher than that found in Libby,
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NYC-WTC_000140236
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NYC-WTC_000140138
EPA memorandum addressing World Trade Center asbestos contamination status and agency efforts to provide information on the situation.
17 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.983
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EPA memorandum on wipe sampling methods for asbestos in Lower Manhattan buildings, resuspension projections, and cancer risk estimates from WTC dust exposure.
18 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.980
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000140259
Memorandum detailing procedures for asbestos wipe sampling in Lower Manhattan and estimating associated cancer risks from dust exposure.
18 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.979
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000140083
Forwarded EPA memorandum dated June 9, 2002, concerning the Asbestos Reservoir and carpet testing methods.
13 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.979
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Technical memorandum from EPA discussing ultrasonication testing for asbestos in carpets and HEPA vacuuming effectiveness.
13 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.977
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000154652
Internal tracking document for managing reports, comments, and actions related to environmental compliance cases.
19 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.984
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000151635
EPA memorandum detailing plans for asbestos wipe sampling, projecting airborne dust levels, and estimating increased cancer risks from WTC dust exposure.
18 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.979
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000161674
Document excerpt listing counsel and staff members assigned to a paper on infrastructure related to World Trade Center recovery.
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Draft fact sheet from DOH and DEP addressing tenant concerns regarding asbestos fibers at 105 Duane Street.
24 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.973
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000155264
Letter from EPA official to a Congressional representative criticizing the adequacy of the 114 Liberty Street cleanup.
15 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.967
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000148115
Frequently asked questions and updates regarding disaster assistance, road reopenings, and victim support funds issued in October 2001.
23 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.967
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Correspondence criticizing the EPA and DEP regarding asbestos, silica levels, and safety clearance after cleaning at 114 Liberty Street.
15 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.967
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Summary of air and dust sampling results collected from private residences and common areas at 250 South End Avenue.
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NYC-WTC_000089519
Computer-generated sequence listing samples including pesticides and toxics analyzed under EPA Method 508 in late November and December 2001.
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NYC-WTC_000089710
Technical record outlining liquid-liquid extraction parameters, including drip rates and reagent lot numbers for environmental sample processing.
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Single page document header identifying the subject property as 250 South End Avenue with associated block and lot numbers.
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