EPA request to FEMA regarding Lower Manhattan indoor air approach,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Program: A consultant would be retained to identify central, recirculating HVAC systems in f V’ residential buildings in lower Manhattan which may have been impacted by the debris/dust tr from the WTC building collapse for assessment and or/inspection and to develop any needed recommendations for further actions.

Projected Cost: To be determined Status ofRequestfor FEMA mission assignment: Awaiting initial FEMA feedback.

B) Longer Term:

Identify potential compounds of concern, which resulted from the WTC collapse and subsequent fires and for which there is ambient data to suggest potential concern and which have not been evaluated in the indoor environments thus far. ► Conduct sampling of the potential compounds of concern to establish a NYC specific background data set. Create a Data system for Organizing Existing Information Collected by NYC from the Private Sector on environmental testing results and clean up activity.

Timing of the Longer Term Actions: Initial Actions have been initiated by agency staffs. Actions listed here could begin by June 1 and continue through February 2003. These several steps are needed, including peer review, since there are no widely accepted indoor air benchmarks for the potential compounds of concern, and there is not a good data base for understanding the “background” levels of the compounds which were in the NYC urban environment prior to 9/11.

1. Sampling to Determine Background Levels of Potential Contaminants

Objective: Establish a NYC specific quantitative data set which will enable a better evaluation of pre- 9/11 conditions likely to have existed in Lower Manhattan. This will assist in future evaluation of whether any further clean up advice or action will be necessary. Program: EPA will sample residences in areas of NYC unaffected by WTC-related debris to establish what may be considered pre-existing levels of potential compounds of concern. This sampling will occur in areas determined appropriate based upon improbability of any impacts from the WTC collapse and fire. This will assist EPA, ATSDR NYSDOH and NYCDOH in evaluating how the potential compounds of concern from the WTC disaster relate to pre-existing conditions. NYCDOH will obtain access agreements and prepare notifications to residents. Potential indicators of concern will be identified and air and debris/dust samples will be taken and analyzed for these compounds. Projected Cost: $1.3 million Status ofRequestfor FEMA mission assignment: Submitted as revised 4/11/02. Under consideration by FEMA.

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