EPA asbestos testing program announcement, Sept 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Good afternoon. I am pleased to be here today with the EPA and our federal.

state and city partners to announce the launch of a comprehensive program to allay

the fears of Lower Manhattan residents concerned about possible asbestos

contamination in their homes caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center.

There are approximately 31,000 people living south of Canal Street, and none of them

should have to live with fear of the air they breathe. We are gratified that FEMA and

the EPA are providing emergency funding to allow residential dwellings to be tested

for asbestos, and to properly clean any homes in which evidence of contamination is

found. While our work to date has found minimal instances of asbestos In the

buildings surrounding Ground Zero, we recognize that New Yorkers are concerned

about the air quality in their homes, and we are confident that the measures

announced today will help further reassure residents of Lower Manhattan of the safety

of their living environment.

Immediately following the collapse of the Twin Towers, DEP coordinated

cleanup activities of streets, sidewalks, and exterior common areas with OEM, EPA,

DOS and NYC DOH. Since September IP**, we have established an air monitoring

network in and around Ground Zero to evaluate the exterior air quality on a

continuing basis; we expect to continue this close monitoring at least through June.

Since January, DEP inspectors have been conducting an assessment of building

exteriors of more than 800 buildings south of Canal Street to identify debris and dust

from the World Trade Center on rooftops and facades and to conduct appropriate

clean-ups as required. Where we have found exterior debris, it has formed into dense.

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