Remarks on Lower Manhattan Apartment Cleanup, May 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

in apartments with site visits to review interior and exterior conditions. To date, we have

received 218 complaints regarding possible asbestos contamination in apartments; only one

of these complaints has warranted a clean-up. We are confident that there is minimal

reason for pubhc concerns about the air in their homes. Regardless, we recognize that New

Yorkers need to be assmed that they are not being exposed to asbestos that might pose

long-term health risks. Through the partnership of these agencies, we are pleased to be

going forward with this program to offer professional cleaning and testing of residential

units south of Canal Street river-to-river.

The scientific data about immediate health risks from short-term exposure to

asbestos is reassuring, and in the few cases where it has been found in homes, professional

clean-up has been completed. Unformnately, there are few existing standards for indoor air

quahty and sampling protocols are still rudimentary at this point. The EPA Indoor Task

Force is working to develop accurate evaluation criteria. As we conduct the necessary

background smdies, we will keep the public informed about any new information that is

valuable in the short-term. By offering testing and clean-ups to all Lower Manhattan

residents while continuing to evaluate local interior and exterior air quahty, we aim to

address the public’s immediate concerns, while allowing us to ensure the long-term quality of

air Downtown.

Many details of the program will be fleshed out in the weeks to come. The time

frame for getting apartments cleaned will be determined by the number of people who

request testing, but funding has been identified to clean all residential units, if necessary.

DEP and the other local, state and federal agencies involved will make every effort to move

this process forward quickly and efficiently. We are pleased that our federal parmers — the

EPA and FEMA — have taken this proactive step to offer New Yorkers peace of mind and

ensure the safety and health of Lower Manhattan residents.

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