Programmatic Environmental Assessment draft, Jan 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED

1.1 BACKGROUND

On Tuesday morning, September 11,2001, terrorist attacks occurred in both New York City and the District of Columbia. Ir. New York City, two highjacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center (WTC) complex located in lower Manhattan. The WTC complex was a seven building, 16-acre complex that included tv o 110-story office towers (North and South Towers), three smaller buildings, a United States Customs House, and a 22-story hotel. The WTC complex housed 430 companies from 28 countries, was the site of more than 40,000 jobs and was a stopping point for more than 150,000 daily visitors. The attack resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries. In the aftermath of the attack, three towers of the WTC (Buildings 1,2 and 7) collapsed and Buildings 4, 5, and 6 partially collapsed. Many buildings and facilities in the vicinity of the WTC also sustained major damage including the folio ving;

• No. 1 Liberty Plaza • American Express Building, • U.S. Custom House • East River Savings Bank • NJ Kallikow Financial Center • South Bridge • St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church • 90 West Street • Bankers Trust • PATH tunnel and station • Subways 1/9 and Cortlandt Street Station

Figure J-J provides a map of New York City and vicinity. Figure 1-2 identifies Manhattan’s land use patterns and Figure 1-3 identifies the area of potential effect in lower Manhattan. In addition to the loss of life, the attack resulted in fires and explosions that extensively damaged infrastrucLu.’’e, buildings, bridges, roadways, streets, utility lines, subway stations and tunnels, walkways, parks, and city-owned equipment and vehicles. The collapse of the World Trade Center buildings and skyscrapers generated approximately 1.6 million cubic yards of debris (USACE 2001 and 2002).

To ensure a rapid recovery, the President declared by Proclamation a national emergency by reason of certain terrorist attacks pursuant to the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seg). On September 18,2001, the naticnal emergency Proclamation was published in the Federal Register (Federal Register Document [FR Doc.] 01-23358). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to administer Federal disaster assistance pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law (P.L.) 93-288, as amended (the Act), and its implementing regulations found in Title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 206 (Federal Disaster Assistance). There are amendments to this Proclamation that include the

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