Congressional response to EPA cleanup responsibility, March 2002

vogypee og NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document _ SEP!-13-@1 12:06 FROM: I] NYC- ey 000143984 ID: “ns es Sar, “360.808 MAY 25 1970 4% PA Substituting Rock Wool. For Asbestos at Trade Center. _ By MABRY CONNELLY :? The Port Authority an- i nounced today that as a | health precaution it had de- . ‘cided to substitute a rock ; wool fireproofing spray for ‘asbestos in construction of ithe World Trade Center. ' Use of an asbestos Spray : on the two World Trade Cen- ‘ter towers, as well aS on | : other consrtuction projects | , in the city, has caused mount: | ing concern in health circles. | Robert N. Rickles, new nae of the city’s ie t “exposure. to as- | bestes particies may result 1 in lung cancer, mesothelioma ' and cancer of the peritoneum ! (a rare disease roainly afflict- ‘ing asbestos workers). ii | wells of Cases ~*~ | Ina letter to Rickles today : by Austin Tobin executive di- : | tector of the Port Authority, obin said the authority had ' successfully tested and would | how require its contractor to ‘ use a nonasbestos material. | “In addition,” Tobin said, i “the relative small amount of | asbestos already in place will | be cocooned to prevent expo- | sure of the asbestos to the | circulating air. In aplying the. nonasbestos material, the : contractor will continue to use tarpaulin covers to mint- j mize dispersal of that ma- _ terial into the OE air.” f=. Tobin said the substitution would cost the Port of Au- thority $310,000 and its exter- ior wall contractor, ALCOA, ‘ $175,000. Sees No New Peril A question as to possible danger from silicates in the “substitute material, Tobin said, had been answered with an assurance from the sup- PAGE 374 plier “that any gitcates ate | sent will not occasion a bamrd | to the public health, Rickles has r that the city’s new ab? pointy” tion code include, @ provision” banning use of .asbestos” j Sprays in the city. Stringent | } regulations governing the use’ t ! of such sprays were Issued eartier this month. “7? is v*