Congressional response to EPA cleanup responsibility, March 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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protect the air in Lower Manhattan while work proceeds to create a fitting memorial and rebuild our community.”

Port Authority Executive Director Joseph J. Seymour said, “As we continue the critically important work of rebuilding Lower Manhattan and improving our mass transit system, we need to try to minimize the short-term environmental impact on the neighboring community. We and our public sector partners, the MTA, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the City of New York, will link transit- modes and systems in a way that will not only foster an economic revival in Lower Manhattan, but which will also make mass transit use more attractive - thus providing substantial air quality benefits for those who live and work in the area.”

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph H. Boardman said, “The Department of Transportation currently has the highest number of alternate fuel vehicles of any State agency and continues to add more to our fleet regularly. The use of ultra-low sulphur diesel in the vehicles working to rebuild and reconnect Lower Manhattan is yet another example of Governor Pataki’s vision of a cleaner and greener New York.”

Peter Kalikow, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said, “We at the MTA have already begun to shoulder the responsibility of reducing emissions from passenger vehicles, support vehicles and heavy construction equipment. We enthusiastically embrace the Governor’s call to help improve the region's air quality and we are throwing all of our resources into answering that call.”

Paul J. Elston, chair. League of Conservation Voters, said, “The announcement that the government agencies are committed to using low sulfur fuel and particulate traps on the construction

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equipment used in the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan will produce a sigh of relief, and a deep breath, by the local residents and workers. This commitment will eliminate most of the small particulate pollution produced in the redevelopment effort. Governor Pataki has been a national leader in recognizing the severe health implications of these small particulates and in recognizing construction equipment and other off-road vehicles as a major source of this pollution. This program will be a model for the rest of the State and the nation. We thank the Governor and the leadership of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for this commitment to the health of the residents and workers of Lower Manhattan.”

Andy Darrel, New York regional director of Environmental Defense, said, “Nationally, non-road vehicles like the construction machinery being used to rebuild lower Manhattan emit more fine particulate matter than cars, trucks and power plants combined. Using ultra-low sulfur fuel and best available retrofits will transform the rebuilding of lower Manhattan into a national model for clean construction techniques. These cost-effective steps are good for the economy, good for the environment and good for the health of many New Yorkers who live, work and play downtown.”

Ashok Gupta, director. Air and Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, said, “This agreement is great news for New York’s environment and sets an important precedent for actions statewide.”

Madelyn Wils, chair of Community Board 1 and a member of LMDC, said, “We congratulate the State for setting a precedent in containing pollution fi-om the construction equipment that will be used in the massive reconstruction of the downtown area. This is great news for residents of lower Manhattan who have suffered through air quality issues the past year.”

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