EPA press release on apartment testing plan, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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to do their own cleaning on an ongoing effectiveness. EPAwill provide health and basis. Requests for testing or cleaning will be cleanup information to all residents through the taken through an EPA hotline that will be set hotline and on the agency Web site up within several weeks. (www.epa.g< >v/wtc). “FEMA strongly supports the EPA and N' w Also under the plan, the New York City- Yt fk City’s efforts to take immediate action Department ofEnvironmental Protection will aimed at alleviating concerns over environmen- supervise the cleaning ofa small group of tal conditions in Lower Manhattan,” said_____ hca-vily impacted buildings that have remained Joseph F. Picciano, acting regional director of unoccupied since September 11. Some ofthese the FEMA Region, “We are pleased to be able buildings have not been cleaned thoroughly; to fully fund this initiative.” most have not been cleaned at all. Worker safety EPA will collect samples ofsome pollutants during this cleanup will be coordinated with associated with the collapse ofthe World Trade OSHA. In addition, DEP has b^un contacting Center in apartments that have not been building owners to initiate the cleanup of impacted. The agency will use the data to residual debris on rooftops and building facades determine pre-existing or “background” levels in Lower Manhattan. Finally, the city is in interior spaces in NewYork City. The ' developing a database ofthe results ofsamples Agency is also preparing to test various cleanup taken indoors and outdoors by federal, state techniques in a still-imoccupied building near and local agencies as well as building owners the World Trade Center site to confirm their and contractors.

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