EPA/NYC Approach Draft Plan, May 20, 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document F

4. Clean Up of Exteriors of Buildings with Residual Debris/Dust

Program: NYCDEP will remove the remaining dust/debris resulting from the WTC collapse on building exteriors in Lower Manhattan thereby assuring this material will not become re-entrained in the air at a future time, thus creating a potential exposure to the public.

Implementation: NYCDEP will contract for the cleaning of the exteriors of approximately 250 buildings in Lower Manhattan and will provide direct oversight of the contractor. EPA and OSHA will provide limited oversight of contractors. Building owners have been notified and work \ ill begin on shortly. Air monitoring will be done on roofs when debris is being cleaned from the roofs and on the ground when facades are being cleaned.

5, Targeted Sampling to Determine if There are Occupied Locations Require Additional Cleaning

Progra:n: EPA will collect airborne ar\estos samnles within a variety of residential buildings in lower Manhattan south of Canal Street to have quaiitified data across a broad geographic area in v Lower Manhattan, south of Canal Street as the most likely areas of impact. Based upon this data, and other data available, EPA and NYC expect to have a better ability to provide a qualitative reassurance that clean ups already conducted by building owners and residence are effective.

Implementation: EPA will work with building owners and residents to obtain access for this sampling. This will be distinct from the self identifying program. Sampling will be for airborne asbestos using the same analytical procedures as for the direct assistance program. If sampling indicates that cleaning is required, EPA, working with NYC, will ensure that the cleaning is undertaken. EPA will publically release the information collected from this sampling as it becomes available on a rolling basis, to keep the public informed of results. NYCDEP will issue the contract for this as part of its monitoring contract. EPA will use its analytical contract.

6. Review of Cleaning Methods for HVAC Systems in Lower Manhattan,

Program: NYCDEP will obtain the services of individuals with HVAC expertise (industrial hygienists) to determine if additional recommendations for cleaning of HVAC systems are warranted.

B) Longer Term: The goal of the longer term aspects action plan are to identify potential indicators of concern, that is, compounds which resulted from the WTC collapse and subsequent fires that have not been evaluated in the indoor environments thus far. Several steps are needed, since there are no widely accepted indoor air benchmarks tor these compounds, 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. Gathering this additional data, along with the Pilot Building Clean Up Effort, will assis' Lcaitn agencies and EPA to evaluate qualitatively how the potential contaminant compounds relate to pre-9/11 conditions and how the clean up guidance addresses any potential concerns. This will lead finally to an assessment of whether any additional action is needed in Lower Manhattan regarding indoor air concerns.

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