EPA lead cleanup effort for homes near Ground Zero

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

E.f^.A. to Lead Cleanup Effort OfHomes Close to Ground Zero Agency Reverses Policy 8 Months After Disaster By KIRK JOHNSON The federal Environmental Pro­ At least eight state, federal and tection Agency will lead an effort to city agencies, Including the state and clean up and test apartments south city health and environmental agen­ of Canal Street in Lower Manhattan cies, the Federal Emergency Man­ that were fouled by the dust and ash agement Agency and the mayor’s from the destruction of the World office, are expected to be involved. It Trade Center, a person who was could not be determined last night briefed on the plan said. how responsibilities or costs might The cleanup plan is a sharp rever­ be divided, except that the E.P.A. sal in policy by the E.P.A. and the would be in charge. I other government agencies that led. Dozens of questions swirl around the environmental response to the what the policy will mean in prac­ disaster. For months, despite criti­ tice. How many people will come cism from politicians and residents forward and request a cleanup is who said that the government was perhaps the greatest unknown. How shirking its responsibilities, the much each apartment may cost to agency said indoor spaces were the clean is another. About 20,000 people live within half province of owners and residents, not a mile of the World Trade Center site the government. So most people, if alone. The American Lung Associa­ only to get on with their lives, fol­ tion has estimated that a profession­ lowed that guidance and did the al cleanup typically costs about $1.50 cleanup work themselves or hired per square foot, or $1,500 for a 1,000- others to do so. square-foot apartment. Estimates Under the new plan, which is to be for more involved cleanup work announced as early as today, any range even higher. residents south of Canal Street will Public health experts have said be able to call an E.P.A. number and they have little evidence to suggest have their apartments cleaned — for that many apartments in Lower the first time, or again — at govern­ Manhattan are contaminated with ment expense, following guidelines asbestos or other materials that established by the federal Occupa­ might have blow In through cracks tional Safety and Health Administra­ or open windows when the twin tow­ tion, said the person who had been ers fell on Sept. 11, or that the spaces told of the plan. The apartment’s air have not been adequately cleaned up would then be tested. The plan covers only residential spaces. Continued on Pc^e B7

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