September 11 public health conference agenda, Feb 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document 0J/17/0Z 11:23 FAX (£003

vacuumed) by properly trained personnel. Some sources have also indicated that even greater cleanup measures were taken.

However, even when foe EPA received test results from a study commissioned by the Task Force that indicated serious levels of asbestos and other materials inside downtown apartments, the EPA continued to guide residents to the NYC Department of Health (NYCDOH) for direction. The NYCDOH directed residents who ere the seme distance away from Ground Zero as the Federal buildings, to dean esbestos-iaden dust "with wet regs end mops" er "wet brooms.”

"We must ask why is what the EPA says Is good enough for New York residents not good enough for the EPA itself? Either the cleanup measures taken at the EPA office were necessary to protect Its workers or the EPA wasted waBt..d tax­ payer dollars on an unnecessary cleanup,* stated Congressman Nadler.

Moreover, the Congressman argued, thet by delegating authority to the more lenient City standard, the EPA may have violated the law. as the agency is compelled to ensure that such City standards are al least as stringent as Federal lew.

Today, ( have leveled some serious charges at the EPA because I believe I have the moral responsibility to de so. However, I went to make perfectly clear that vre still do not know the extent of the presence of hazardous materials in some areas downtown, it may or may not be dangerous in some indoor areas of lower Manhattan. I believe that given that we don’t have all of the facts, we cannot conclude anything. I do know that we must get the proper facts and act swiftly and appropriately to get the Jeb done right," said Rep. Nedler.

CALLS FOR ACTION

Rep. Naaier end the Qraund Zero Elected Officieis Task Force called for four actions by the EPA;

1) Expedited testing of lower Manhattan residences end workspaces for hazardous materials levels. If shown to be necessary by test results, the proper cleaning of such indoor spaces by the EPA or appropriate government agency or its designated contractors. Such a testing and cleanup'effort must be coordinated by a single agency utilizing the strictest Federal guidelines. '

2) The full, independent and unfettered investigation by the EPA National Ombudsmen into EPA’s response to the September 11* attacks in New York.

3) The release of all documents detailing the justification of the cleanup of 290 Broadway and 26 Federal Plaza, how that cleanup wes conducted, by whom, and et whose expense;

4} An immediate expianetion from EPA of why it didn’t utiliZB or enforce strict. Federal guidelines regarding hazardous testing and cleanup downtown, in favor of more lenient City standards.

In addition. Congressmen Nadler called for immediate Congressional hearings into ail of these matters.

Rep. Nadler has served In Congress since 1892. He represents the Sm Congressional District of New York, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, deluding the area surrounding ’Ground Zero.' He is the Chair of the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force. ** Rep. Nadler’s statement is attached

Statement of Representative Jerrold Nadler NY) Exposing EPA Mishandling of Response to Sept 11* r^tacks January 17,2002

Thank you all for being hers. I em Joined today by members of the Ground Zero Elected Officials Task Force and by Hugh Kaufman, Chief investigator for the EPA National Ombudsman. I want to also thank the New York Environmental Law and

Justice Project for their assistance in bringing some of these matters to my attention. 80/S0’d ZiiZiES 2T2 dd3azdd3 ’STI Bf:6T 2002-iT-Nbr

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