EPA response to FEMA on WTC monitoring and cleanup, February

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

EPA Response to FEMA on World Trade Center Monitoring and Cleanup February 26,2002

A) Summary of Sampling Activities at the World Trade Center (WTC) -

EPA has collected and analyzed roughly 6200 samples for asbestos in air and dust. (At the height of sampling, up to 120 air samples were collected daily.) EPA has also analyzed samples for PCBs, dioxin, PAH, metals, silica, VOCs, and particulate matter. EPA’s database includes data from EPA; other federal, state, and local agencies (e,g., NYCDOH, NYSDOH, NYCDEP, NYSDEC, NJDEP ,OSHA), and private organizations. The database is estimated to include results from over 100,000 sample analyses: multiple analyses are conducted on each sample. More than 500 analytes were evaluated.

See the attached matrix which provides data on various entities’ data collection and analysis efforts. Although a number of organizations are collecting data and are represented in the matrix, many of these have not shared the data results with EPA.

B. Proposed Approaches for Indoor Sampling at the World Trade Center

1) Complete Sampling Activities for NYCDOH/ATSDR/EPA Pilot Residential Sampling

Thirty residential buildings were sampled to determine whether residents were being exposed to concentrations of materials that may be harmful and to determine whether areas cleaned up posed a public health concern. The air samples from inside the buildings showed no elevated levels of asbestos, however low levels of asbestos and fibrous glass were found in the settled dust in some of the residential units, common areas, and outdoor areas. Both fibrous glass and asbestos were found in residences previously cleaned, however elevated levels were not found in any of the background samples. It is recommended to conduct re-sampling of all the residences with either elevated levels of asbestos or fibrous glass in the dust, after additional cleanup is completed. This sampling event will confirm the effectiveness of cleanup techniques (e.g., wet wipes, HEPA-vacuum) as well as to ensure that the residences are safe.

Approximately 50 of the 98 areas (residential units, common areas, and outdoor areas) sampled during the November/December Pilot Residential pilot would require re-sampling.

Cost Estimates

Conduct Follow-up Sampling at 50 locations: Equipment and Laboratory Costs: $400,000 Travel and Per Diem for Sampling Team: $ 60,000

On-Site Technical and Community Education Support from ATSDR: 2 ATSDR Staff Travel and Per Diem Through July 2002: $140,000

Grand Total: $600,000

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